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Ancient Warfare Military scientists know they can learn a lot by studying ancient warfare. If you are interested in the art of war, or if you are a history buff, you'll find these resources fascinating. Although military equipment is a lot different than it used to be, human nature doesn't change and neither do the goals of war. Web:
Armed Forces of the World These Web sites are great sources of information about various military organizations around the world. You can find links to defense forces, journals, documents, maps, military bases, military reserves, research centers and intelligence organizations. For example, I was able to learn how the Israeli military forces follow a doctrine of "speed, initiative and audacity". You can also find a lot of interesting information (such as the fact that Cyprus has four aircraft and eight helicopters even though they don't have an air force or a navy). Web:
Chemical and Biological Warfare We hear a lot about chemical and biological warfare, but not many people really understand it. These Web sites can help you appreciate the power of these types of weapons and how they work. Learn about substances such as nerve gas, mustard agents, tear gases and hydrogen cyanide, as well as handy tips for protecting yourself should it become necessary. Web:
Defense Ministries of the World All around the world, there are government departments whose job is to make sure their country is ready for war. Each of these departments maintains the armed forces for that country and, just as important, they keep track of what is happening everywhere. Well, you have your own life to worry about, so maybe you should keep track of these guys. Start here, with the Web sites for defense ministries in Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, India, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Taiwan and the U.K. Web:
Medieval Armor and Weapons In the Middle Ages, there were no guns, and it was common for warriors to use armor to protect themselves, and metal and wood weapons to fight. Today, such armor and weapons -- bows and arrows, swords, spears, axes, and so on -- are anachronisms that are studied and reconstructed by Middle-Ages-armor-buffs. If you are a MAAB, you will enjoy learning about the armor and the weapons: what they look like, how they are constructed, and what technical terms are used to talk about them. Web:
Military Academies A military academy is a school or college that provides a full-time military living environment for young men and women while they are following a regular academic program. Traditionally, one of the main purposes of a military academy is to train future officers for the armed services. In the United States, there are a great many military academies for students of all ages. The most well-known academies are the three college-level schools: the Military Academy at West Point, New York; the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland; and the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado. There is also the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, and the Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York. I've included links to the main academies as well as links to military academies in other countries. If you would like to discuss life in a military school -- especially if you are a cadet -- you may enjoy participating in the Usenet group. Web:
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Military Brats Children who grow up in a military family -- military brats -- have lives that are just a tad different than the children of civilians. These Web sites and the Usenet discussion group are for you, whether you are currently in such a family or whether you grew up in one. Web:
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Military History People may scoff at the idea of war, but if it weren't for war, there wouldn't be a need for the military; and if there weren't a military, there wouldn't be any military history; and if there weren't any military history, there wouldn't be any military history Web sites. Which brings us back to war. Here are some resources you can use to find information on all the important wars, the armed services, and related topics. Web:
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Military Medals In the military, medals have two important roles: to honor people who have demonstrated merit of some type, and to encourage such behavior. In the United States, the Medal of Honor (often referred to as the Congressional Medal of Honor), is the highest award given for valor in action against an enemy. The most famous Medal of Honor winner was Audie Murphy (1924-1971), the most decorated combat soldier of World War II. Murphy received every decoration for valor offered by the U.S., as well as five decorations from France and Belgium. Later in life, Murphy became a successful movie actor and song writer. However, he also suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which caused him problems later in life, including depression, insomnia, and an addiction to sleeping pills. Web:
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Military News In the world of the military, Jane's is the name for info. This is the place to come for news about defense forces around the world. I bet that after you spend even ten minutes at this site, you'll be glad that someone is keeping track of all this stuff. Otherwise, there would be a lot going on that no one would ever know about. Web:
Military Police The military police are the men and women who are responsible for law enforcement within a branch of a service as well as at military installations. Military police also provide certain services to the government, such as guarding embassies. In the U.S., the various services each have their own police, with the Marines providing some of the military police for the Navy. Web:
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Military Talk and General Discussion The military is a lot more important and more powerful than most people realize. Moreover, there are lots of important military topics that bear discussion: military science, weapon design and deployment and, of course, politics. There are a number of Usenet groups devoted to ongoing discussions of military topics. Here are the places you can talk about the latest military technology, the various armed services around the world, life in the service, military urban legends, and much more. Usenet:
Military Terms and Acronyms Have you ever encountered a military term that you didn't understand? It's not surprising -- there are literally tens of thousands of such terms and nobody knows them all. If you are interested in any aspect of the military, here are some useful tools that can save you a lot of running around. Web:
Military Uniforms Military uniforms are fascinating. Examine these Web sites and you will see what I mean. One of my favorite sites has pictures of European military uniforms from the early 19th-century and from the Burgoyne Expedition (1777). The early 19th century images cover armies from Austria, Britain, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Prussia, Russia, Saxony, Spain and Sweden. The Burgoyne section has uniforms of British, German and American soldiers. Note: John Burgoyne (1722-1792) was a British general who was a hero in the Seven Years War, a worldwide conflict that was fought from 1753-1763 in Europe, North America and India. Burgoyne was elected to Parliament (1761) and led troops during the American Revolutionary War. Later, he became a playwright and was known by the nickname "Gentleman Johnny". Web:
Military Vehicles If you are into testosterone-laced fighting machines, here are some resources that will get your motor running. There are lots of pictures of various types of military vehicles from the United States and other countries. Read about vehicles such as the M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank, the AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter or, my personal favorite, the HMMWV or Humvee (a super-cool jeep with a thyroid condition). Watch and listen to video clips, sounds and animations, and read factsheets about various military crafts. Web:
Mine Warfare A mine is a bomb that is placed in a specific location in such a way that it will explode when a person or piece of equipment sets it off. Some mines -- called land mines -- are designed to be buried in the ground so that, when you walk on them and press on a sensor, they will explode. If you are lucky, you are maimed. If you are unlucky, you die. Other mines -- such as naval mines -- are deployed in water, on or below the surface. These mines have sonar or magnetic sensors that make them useful for blowing up warships and other marine vessels. These Web sites offer a wide variety of information about the various types of mines (of which there are many) and the worldwide efforts to remove unused mines. Look at pictures, read the facts, and be glad you live in a safe place. Web:
Nuclear Weapons Now that the Cold War is over and the Soviet Union has broken up, we don't think about nuclear weapons all that much. Although the numbers are decreasing, there are massive arsenals of these weapons around the world, especially in the U.S. Somebody should keep an eye on all of this. Fortunately, somebody does. Web:
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Prisoners of War When the conflict is over, it's all too easy to forget the people who were POWs (prisoners of war) or MIAs (missing in action). One of these Web sites has information about the U.S. government's Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office. The other site is maintained by families of missing persons, working to get them home or to at least have their deaths documented. Web:
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Selective Service System The United States Selective Service System (SSS) is an independent agency that is part of the executive branch of the federal government. The job of the SSS is twofold. (1) In case of emergency, the SSS is to deliver untrained manpower to the U.S. Department of Defense. (2) At the same time, the SSS is to administer an alternative service program for conscientious objectors. Basically, the SSS works by forcing all young men to register so the organization can keep track of them in case they are needed to serve in the military. In the aftermath of the Vietnam War the program was suspended, but in 1980 (during the last year of Jimmy Carter's presidency), the registration requirement was reinstated. Right now, in the United States, the law says that all men between the ages of 18 and 26 are required to register with the Selective Service System. (You can get the form in any post office.) When a young man turns 18, he must register within 30 days of his birthday. In the event of an emergency that required a military draft, a lottery would be held to choose who has to go. Priority would be given to those who are currently 20 years old. By the way, young women are not required (or allowed) to register. This rule was upheld by the Supreme Court in 1981. Web: Special Operations You have probably heard of the Green Berets and the Rangers (Army), the SEALs (Navy) and the Air Commandos (Air Force). These are all examples of special operations units (sometimes called special forces): highly trained groups of men who respond with speed, skill and authority to high-risk situations. Most countries with a significant military force have such groups, and in the United States there are actually a great many special operations units. This Web site contains lots and lots of links to information about the various special operations units. These men train for years to be able to carry out jobs that most people wouldn't even think are possible. Web: United States Armed Forces These are the official Web sites of the main branches of the United States armed forces: the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Navy and Marine Corps. Each of these sites is independent, and the information varies from one page to the next. In general, though, you can find out a lot about each of the services, including what they do and how to join. I find visiting these sites interesting, as they show how the various branches of the U.S. armed services have distinct personalities and ways of looking at the world. If you need any information at all about part of the U.S. military, one of these Web sites is a good place to start. You can read about what each service does, its history, recruiting policies (including various careers), retirement information, alumni organizations, news and press releases, upcoming public events, and much more. Web:
U.S. Department of Defense This Web site is the official Internet public visiting area of the United States Department of Defense (DoD). You will find lots of cool information about the DoD, what they do and who runs the show. (I know it's hard to believe that such information can be cool, but check it out yourself and you will see what I mean.) This is the place to look for links to all the organizations within the Department of Defense, such as the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the various branches of the military. If you are American, take a few minutes to explore this site. These guys spend a lot of money, so you might as well have an idea of what they are doing. Web: U.S. Military Magazines These magazines are for people interested in U.S. military culture. I have selected these sites to provide you with magazines devoted to the major branches of the armed services. I find the articles interesting, even though I have no connection at all with the military (except that they protect me against Communism). Web:
U.S. Military Reunions If you served in a branch of the United States military, and you look back fondly on your days in the service, you may want to get together and reminisce. As Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye sang in the movie White Christmas: "Gee, I wish I were back in the army / The Army wasn't really bad at all. / Three meals a day / For which you didn't pay / Uniforms for winter, spring and fall..." Web:
Veterans There are several tens of millions of military veterans in the United States. If you are one of them, you will find these veteran resources useful. Read about news, POW/MIA issues, reunions, and what the government is doing that affects you. You can also talk with other veterans and look for old friends. Web:
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Vietnam Veterans The American involvement in the war in Vietnam lasted from 1961-1973, with most of the troops being deployed in the late 1960s. Although it may be hard to believe, in 1969 there were well over 500,000 American troops in Vietnam -- about four percent of all the men in America. In other words, in 1969, about one out of every twenty-five American males was in Vietnam. It is no surprise then that, almost thirty years later, there are a lot of resources on the Net devoted to Vietnam veterans. If you fought in Vietnam, this Web site has a large collection of resources in which you may be interested, including veteran organizations, support groups and information about reunions. For veterans and their families, the Usenet discussion group is a good place to talk. Note: The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a monument in Washington, D.C., containing the names of all the servicemen and women who were killed or presumed missing in the Vietnam War. The memorial is a tall V-shaped black granite wall, measuring 493 feet (150 meters) long. Along the long, black surface are inscribed 58,000 names. This is a good image to keep in mind the next time you hear someone talk about starting a war. (Interestingly enough, out of 58,000 names, you will find very few belonging to the politicians and older Americans who supported the war -- although their sons are well-represented.) Web: Usenet:
Women in the Military These sites are devoted to women and the military: women who are currently in the service, retired from active duty, or even thinking about joining. Read about life after joining the military, family life and childcare, women in combat, harassment issues, women who served in war zones, military humor, and more. Web:
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