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Military
The U.S. military has been a power to recon with since it first organized as a group of independent militias working together to fight for independence. Since then the U.S. military has played an important role in several domestic and international wars including the American Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, and the current war on terrorism. Without the dedication, sacrifices and courage of the men and women of the U.S. military, this world would be a much worse place to live in.
U.S. Air Force
Protecting the air above the U.S. is the United States Air Force. This branch of the U.S. military started out as a part of the U.S. Army, however, in September of 1947 is was established as its own official branch of the military. It is made up of three main components, the Regular Air Force, the Air Force Reserve Command and the Air National Guard. The U.S. Air Force is made up of half a million active and reserve duty personnel as well as over 150,000 civilian personnel.
U.S. Army
The U.S. Army is the United States' largest branch of the military. There are four main components to the U.S. Army's arsenal of soldiers, the Regular Army, the National Guard, the Army Reserve and the State Defense Forces. Currently it has over a million soldiers in its different components working to protect life, liberty, democracy and the interests of the United States. The main areas of the U.S. Army's expertise are land maneuvers and operations.
U.S. Coast Guard
The U.S. Coast Guard is the only branch of the U.S. military that is governed by the Department of Homeland Security. Its main function is to patrol the coastal borders of the U.S., enforce maritime laws, provide assistance to mariners in trouble, provide marine search and rescue services and to assist in national security operations. The U.S. Coast Guard currently is the smallest of all of the U.S. military branches.
U.S. Marine Corps
The U.S. Marine Corps can be viewed as the amphibious assault branch of the U.S. military. Soldiers in this branch of the military are trained for land and sea operations, and they have been credited with revolutionizing amphibious warfare. While the Marine Corps is one of the oldest branches of the U.S. military, it is the smallest branch governed by the Department of Defense. (The Coast Guard is smaller than the Marine Corps, but it is governed by the Department of Homeland Security).
U.S. Navy
The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world. It currently has nearly half a million active duty and reserve duty personnel. Its fleet is made up of about 278 ships and over 4,000 aircraft. The major components of the U.S. Navy include the Military Sealift Command, the Regular Navy, the U.S. Navy Reserve and the Naval Special Warfare Command. The U.S. Navy is responsible for guarding international waters, for naval assaults and for delivering support to the other branches of the U.S. military.
Business Cards in Japan
Of interest to those serving in Japan, business cards have an even greater signifigance than they do in the United States. The Japanese call business cards "Meishi" and they are a universal part of all business, governmental, and military interactions. The giving of a business card is a serious gesture in Japan; it is a type of commitment, for it automatically opens the door to direct contact at any time. Normally given during introductions, the card to the Japanese symbolically represents them, so please do not disrespect them by writing on it, folding it, etc.
