The Army (Defending the Nation)

This book introduces the U.S. Army. Historical information covers its roots in colonial America, early militias, the Revolutionary War and the formation of the Continental Army, the millions of soldiers who fought in the American Civil War, World War I, and World War II, and the modern wars against terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan. Key army commanders are highlighted, including presidents General George Washington and General Dwight D. Eisenhower, as well as General H. Norman Schwarzkopf. Chapters on women and diversity expand information on the armys history and introduce important figures such as former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Colin Powell. Other chapters introduce the reader to the hierarchy and structure of the army, aided by a sidebar of officer and enlisted ranks, as well as enlistment requirements, training, officer education, and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and the disaster relief efforts and other duties of the ROTC, the Army National Guard, and the Army Reserve. The book also highlights weapons, vehicles such as tanks and helicopters, the importance of technology, and the future of the U.S. Army. Full-color photographs, sidebars, fun facts, a graphic timeline, a glossary, and an index accompany this easy-to-read text.