The United States Armed Forces (USAF or Armed Forces) are the military forces of the United States. The Armed Forces include six distinct forces:
• Army
• Navy
• Air Force
• Marine Corps
• Coast Guard
• Space Force
The President of the United States is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces and works with the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to formulate U.S. military policy.
In Utah, as in all states, the United States Armed Forces operate under the federal jurisdiction and are governed by national laws and policies. The President, as Commander in Chief, oversees the six branches of the Armed Forces: the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force. The Department of Defense (DoD) is the primary agency responsible for the military forces, with the exception of the Coast Guard, which is under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) during peacetime but can be transferred to the DoD during wartime or by Presidential directive. While state law does not govern the operations of the Armed Forces, Utah state statutes may include provisions related to state benefits and support for military members and their families, as well as regulations for the National Guard, which operates both under state and federal authority.