Hierarchy of the US Military

I'm trying to follow some military documentaries, and to be honest, I'm a bit lost with all the different ranks and branches. Could someone simplify all branches and ranks in the US military? Maybe in a way that a junior in high school can understand? Thanks!

Sure, let's break it down!

First, let's tackle the branches. There are six branches in the U.S. military: the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force.

1. Army: The U.S. Army is the oldest and largest branch. It's primarily land-based and responsible for land warfare operations.

2. Navy: The Navy is responsible for warfighting on, above, and under the surface of oceans. They have a variety of vessels, such as aircraft carriers, submarines, and destroyers.

3. Air Force: This branch covers warfare in the air. They have a range of aircraft from bombers to fighter jets to surveillance planes.

4. Marine Corps: Marines are often the first on the ground in combat situations. They work closely with the Navy and are trained to fight by sea and land.

5. Coast Guard: The Coast Guard is unique. They carry out naval operations, but also enforce laws in U.S. waters, conduct search and rescue operations, and tackle environmental cleanup and maintenance.

6. Space Force: The youngest branch, the Space Force, organizes, trains, and equips personnel to protect U.S. and allied interests in space.

As for the ranks, they can be broken down into two categories: enlisted ranks and officer ranks. Enlisted personnel typically perform hands-on operations, while officers hold positions of authority, are responsible for overall military strategy, and manage enlisted personnel.

Some broad categories within these ranks are as follows:

1. Enlisted Personnel: This starts at Private (Army and Marine Corps), Seaman Recruit (Navy), Airman Basic (Air Force), or Seaman Recruit (Coast Guard) and goes up to Sergeant Major (Army and Marine Corps), Master Chief Petty Officer (Navy and Coast Guard), or Chief Master Sergeant (Air Force).

2. Officers: They begin as Second Lieutenants (Army, Air Force, Marine Corps) or Ensigns (Navy and Coast Guard), and can go all the way up to Four-Star General or Admiral for the highest-ranking officers.

Remember, each branch has different mission requirements and cultural histories, so their organizational structures vary slightly. This means ranks can differ across branches, although they usually have comparable categories of rank.

Also, please note that these categories and ranks are very basic summations. There are many subcategories, and ranks can be much more complex, especially when going into the various roles individuals in these ranks might play in the more nuanced hierarchies of their respective branches.

Hope this gives you a general outline!