The Pentagon is a building located in Arlington County, Va., near Washington, D.C. that houses the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense. The building has a unique pentagonal shape which surrounds an open courtyard, and houses 23,000 civilian…
A "gunslinger" is a modern term used to describe a professional gunman of the Old West in the United States. Nineteenth-century gunslingers worked on both sides of the law and might be bandits, contract killers, sheriffs or Pinkerton detectives. In…
A buffalo soldier was an African-American serving in one of the U.S. Army's African-American regiments. The term buffalo soldier is derived from an Indian term that described the perceived resemblance between the soldiers' hair and a buffalo's head hair. It…
The Witness Protection Program is a service provided by the United States government that protects witnesses in major criminal cases from physical harm and intimidation. Among law enforcement, the program is better known as the United States Federal Witness Security…
The Presidential Protective Division is charged with guarding the United States President and his immediate family. Since 1901, the Presidential Protection Division has been operated by the United States Secret Service, despite their unrelated purpose as a safeguard against counterfeit…
The United States (US) Navy and the US Marine Corps have historically enjoyed a very close relationship because the Marine Corps was originally, and continues to be, a part of the Navy. The two, however, operate autonomously, with their own…
The US Army and the US Marines are two very different services, with unique histories and goals, although there is some overlap in their capabilities in combat. The mission goals for the US Army and the US Marines are different,…
The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is a branch of the Army that specializes in engineering projects. The majority of its employees are actually civilians, overseen by a small group of military personnel. The branch's motto is “Relevant,…
The Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) is a U.S. government agency created in 1958. Originally created within the Department of Defense, the agency’s goal was to invest in and fund projects that developed new technology. More specifically, the agency’s primary…
A Reserve Office Training Corps (ROTC) is a college program that exists in many countries. Its purpose is to train students to become officers in the military force of their country, should they elect to serve after college. There are…