While the United States Military might seem like a relatively straightforward idea, there are many things you might not know about our men and women in uniform and their fascinating history.
Not Just Anyone Can Make It
Fewer than 28 percent of Americans between the ages of 17-23 are qualified for military service.
Commanders In Chief Who Paid Their Dues
Of U.S. Presidents, 32 have served in the military, 24 during times of war. Crazy, right?
War Hasn’t Been Declared Since WWII
While it may be referred to as the "Afghanistan War," the US never official declared war on Afghanistan. They use the term "authorization to use military force" to invade, instead of war.
No Marble Floors
The Pentagon does not contain any marble because it was constructed during World War II — when Italy, the source of marble, was part of the enemy Axis Powers.
The US Aircraft Carriers Are Second To None
The US has a total of ten Nimitz-class carriers, while the closest competitor (Italy) has only two. The carriers are also nuclear-powered — meaning these babies can go over 20 years without needing to be refueled!
An Expensive Proposition
Each day in Afghanistan costs the government more than it did to build the entire Pentagon.
They Are The Largest Employer In The World
The Department of Defense has roughly 3.2 million employees. That's nearly a million more employees than Walmart has.
That’s… A Lot Of Drugs
The Coast Guard seizes 169 pounds of marijuana and 306 pounds of cocaine, a haul worth about $9,589,000.00 every day.
The Size Of A Small Country
The area of land occupied by US bases and facilities is 15,654 square miles — an area larger than Washington DC, Massachusetts and New Jersey collectively.
Operation Acoustic Kitty
In the '60s, the CIA tried to use cats to spy on the Kremlin and Soviet embassies. A small microphone was implanted in the cat's ear, which would secretly record conversations. The operation ultimately failed and ended up costing $20 million.
Army Astronauts?
There are 16 people who have taken spaceflight missions while members of the U.S. Army.
A Colonio
George Washington selected the color of the traditional blue Army Dress uniform.
Modern Horse Soldiers
Somewhat unbelievably, the U.S. Army employs horseback calvary in the 21st century, even deploying them in Afghanistan.
The Army Is HUGE
If the U.S. Army were a city, it would be the tenth-biggest city in the United States!
An Old Institution
The U.S. Army evolved from the Continental Army, which was founded in 1775. This means the Army is actually older than the U.S.A. itself!
