What is Military: Definition and 114 Discussions

A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically officially authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct military uniform. It may consist of one or more military branches such as an army, navy, air force, space force, marines, or coast guard. The main task of the military is usually defined as defence of the state and its interests against external armed threats.
In broad usage, the terms armed forces and military are often treated as synonymous, although in technical usage a distinction is sometimes made in which a country's armed forces may include both its military and other paramilitary forces. There are various forms of irregular military forces, not belonging to a recognized state; though they share many attributes with regular military forces, they are less often referred to as simply military.

A nation's military may function as a discrete social subculture, with dedicated infrastructure such as military housing, schools, utilities, logistics, hospitals, legal services, food production, finance, and banking services. Beyond warfare, the military may be employed in additional sanctioned and non-sanctioned functions within the state, including internal security threats, population control, the promotion of a political agenda, emergency services and reconstruction, protecting corporate economic interests, social ceremonies and national honour guards.The profession of soldiering as part of a military is older than recorded history itself. Some of the most enduring images of classical antiquity portray the power and feats of its military leaders. The Battle of Kadesh in 1274 BC was one of the defining points of Pharaoh Ramses II's reign, and his monuments commemorate it in bas-relief. A thousand years later, the first emperor of unified China, Qin Shi Huang, was so determined to impress the gods with his military might that he had himself buried with an army of terracotta soldiers.
The Romans paid considerable attention to military matters, leaving to posterity many treatises and writings on the subject, as well as many lavishly carved triumphal arches and victory columns.

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  1. E

    Comparing US and Russian Military Technology

    Whose military technology do you think better, Russia or United States?
  2. T

    Military Lasers: How Do They Work?

    How does the combat lasers work? Military around the world is working on them and Russia used them on Chinese troops in some major border skirmishes in 1960's. I want to know what kind of light is used to temporary/prmanently blind opposing troops? do they use infra red or visible light ...
  3. S

    News Is the Military a viable alternative to Containment?

    It's not unheard of (paticularly for youths) for a convicted person to be given the alternative to join the military as opposed to prison. Do you believe everyone (most) should be given this opportunity? what would be the advantages/disadvantages of it being sentenced? (as in; forced upon, not...
  4. wasteofo2

    News Supporters of the war: what will it take for you to sign up for the military?

    It always amazes me how people who are young enough and fit enough to serve in the military can both support the war, and yet not sign up for the military. The way I see it, if you think there's a cause out there worth fighting and dying for, then you should be willing to fight and die for it...
  5. Tsu

    News On Capitol Hill, Military Warns of Being under Strain

    http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/iraq/la-fg-troops18nov18,0,6045845,print.story Getting ready for the draft?
  6. Atrayo

    News Japanese Military Forces, Did Post-WWII Neuter Them

    Hello Everyone, (Note: I have no discrimination against Japanese or Chinese cultures nor, their nations overall.) After the Japanese were defeated in WWII, and the Marshall Plan of reconstruction took hold where American democracy was instilled into them. (although it seems the US...
  7. E

    News There is research and then there is military research.

    Who here thinks NASA should be given more money and the US military a whole lot less? I know I do seeing how I'm a pacifist and don't believe in war. I know most people would never completely drain the military of funding. But really its got way to much funding, I mean its not like people are...
  8. C

    News US military confirms more horrific pics & vids

    The Bush administration was bracing itself last night for the release of new pictures and video footage from Abu Ghraib which show US soldiers having sex with an Iraqi woman prisoner, troops almost beating a prisoner to death, and the rape of young boys by Iraqi guards at the jail. Senior...
  9. ShawnD

    Why does the US military advertise?

    I assume that Americans know what the military is, so why is there a need to advertise? It's not like the US military needs more people in it; many of the Americans I know online are in the military or are going to be. Americans I have associated with have said there are military recruiters at...
  10. D

    Bypass Military Base Firewall: Tips & Tricks

    I've got a friend who lives on a military base. The base has a firewall that blocks out a ton of stuff and such so I was wondering if anyone knew something that could bypass this firewall. I remeber someone had http tunnel client a while back and that worked but you have to pay for that.
  11. Dissident Dan

    News Military Actions and US Law

    What are the conditions necessary for military attacks in the United States, and by what laws? Who can make the decision? What conditions must be met before the decision can legally be made?
  12. kat

    News U.S. says pulling virtually all military from Saudi Arabia

    How do you think this will affect the ME? Saudi, Islamic fundamentalist views towards the U.S.? Saudi's human rights issues?
  13. A

    News Saddam can not win in a military confrontation

    In the face of certain defeat and the deaths of may Iraqis, Saddam Hussein has been offered an alternative. Give yourself up and the US will not make war on your country. If Saddam truly cared about his people, he would leave the country, thus sparing the Iraqi people death and destruction...
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