armies

An army is the land-based branch of a nation's armed forces responsible for ground warfare and related operations. It operates alongside the navy and air force, and in some countries includes paramilitary or territorial forces. Primary tasks include defense of territory, deterrence, offensive campaigns, peacekeeping, and disaster relief.

Armies are organized hierarchically into units ranging from squads and platoons to companies, battalions, and brigades. Larger formations include divisions, corps, and field armies. Command typically flows from a senior army commander through theater or regional commands to subordinate units. A modern army comprises infantry, armored and mechanized units, artillery, engineers, reconnaissance, signals, medical, and logistics, together with specialty formations such as airborne, mountain, or special operations. Mechanization and combined arms tactics aim to coordinate these capabilities on the battlefield.

Personnel may be full-time soldiers or conscripts, with reserve forces available for expansion. Training covers weapons handling, tactics, physical fitness, and leadership, with specialized schools for combat arms, engineering, logistics, and medicine. Equipment ranges from rifles and artillery to armored vehicles, aircraft, and communications systems, varying with doctrine and budget.

Historically, armies evolved from feudal levies to standing professional forces and, in the modern era, to highly professional, technology-driven organizations capable of rapid deployment and joint operations. Today, armies also participate in humanitarian assistance, disaster response, and international security missions as part of broader national defense and alliance commitments.