The civilian's guide to the U.S. military

Does a corporal have to salute a lieutenant or is it the other way around? What are forward-deployed units? Is an "armored cow" a type of tank or something soldiers eat? Are Polaris missiles dropped from the air or launched from a submarine? If someone calls you a "Cat 4" should you be honored or offended? A Civilian's Guide to the U.S. Military can help you answer these questions and others. Author Barbara Schading decodes each branch-Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and the Coast Guard-in simple terms you can understand. You'll get the background information, an easy-to-read chart showing rank and insignia, and an explanation of the organization of each branch. You'll find an entire chapter that covers special operations forces like the Green Berets, Force Recons, Army Rangers, and others. You'll learn about their specific training, missions, and history. In addition, the book has extensive glossaries that cover terms, acronyms, slang, and equipment. The book also covers other important aspects of the military like: flag and saluting etiquette, military funerals, the Tombs of the Unknown, military law, military academies, medals and decorations, an explanation of the Geneva Conventions, the American Legion, USO, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and other groups, a list of resources to help you find more information. - Publisher.