Includes index

Introduction, military rank, and protocol -- Understanding the U.S. Army -- Understanding the U.S. Navy -- Understanding the U.S Marine Corps -- Understanding the U.S. Air Force -- Understanding the U.S. Coast Guard -- Understanding the U.S. Special Operations Forces -- Interesting military tidbits. includes military law, decorations and ribbons -- Military music, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the missing man formation -- Department of Veterans Affairs, the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the united Service Organization -- Changes in the American military over the years, by Richard Schading -- The Geneva Conventions -- Glossaries -- Glossary A. Terms, Abbreviations and acronyms used by the U. S. military -- Glossary B. Slang and expressions used by the U.S. military -- Glossary C. Military equipment -- Appendices -- Appendix A. Useful resources for understanding the U.S. military -- Appendix B. Rank, pay grades, and insignia of the U.S. military branches