The United States Armed Forces include the Army, the Navy, the Marine Corps, the Air Force, the Space Force, and the Coast Guard. The Army, established in 1775, is the largest and oldest service in the U.S. military and provides the ground forces that protect the United States. The Navy, established in 1775, serves on, above, and below the water as America’s forward-deployed force and a major deterrent to aggression around the world. The Marine Corps, also established in 1775 and a component of the Department of the Navy, maintains amphibious and ground units for contingency and combat operations. The Air Force, established in 1947, provides a rapid, flexible, and lethal air and space capability to deliver forces anywhere in the world within hours. The Space Force, established in 2019 within the Department of the Air Force, organizes, trains, and equips space forces to protect U.S. and allied interests in space and provide space capabilities to the joint force. The Coast Guard, established in 1790, provides law and maritime safety enforcement, marine and environmental protection, and military naval support. The Department of Defense is the largest employer in the U.S., with more than 1.4 million active-duty personnel, 1.1 million National Guard and Reserve personnel, and 700,000 civilians.