Working as a Public Affairs Specialist

The US Department of the Army has its marching orders. One of the three military departments (along with the Air Force and Navy) of the US Department of Defense, the Army provides ground-based military forces to deter and fight wars and protect the security of the US. The army has more than 675,000 soldiers, including active duty soldiers (nearly 75%) and reservists (Army National Guard and Army Reserves). Army personnel are deployed in about 80 countries. The Army operates about 40 forts throughout the US and has bases in Africa, Europe, Japan, the Middle East, and South Korea.

America’s Navy is the most versatile branch of the military, forging defense on land, in the air, and at sea. With opportunities across the globe and a commitment to serve the greater good, the Navy offers a life of fulfillment, advancement, and innovation to every Sailor.

No matter how you measure it, by aircraft, ships, or active-duty military personnel, the US Department of Defense (DoD) is big. Except for Social Security, the Department of Defense -- comprising the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, National Guard, Reserves, and more than a dozen defense agencies -- is the largest component of US government spending. The 2012 budget for the Department of Defense is more than $670 billion, 18% of which will be used to fund the ongoing military engagements in Afghanistan and Iraq. The DoD maintains a force of about 1.4 million active duty service members and operates thousands of facilities around the world.

To be a marine, you gotta have faith. The United States Marine Corps' motto, Semper Fidelis, Latin for always faithful, reflects service members' dedication to each other, their corps, and their country. The Marine Corps has two missions: make Marines and win battles. The military branch operates artillery, aviation, expeditionary, and infantry units. It has four divisions and works out of about 35 bases and stations in the US and Japan. It is the smallest of the military branches with just more than 202,000 active duty personnel and some 40,000 reservists. The Marine Corps traces its roots to the American Revolution and 1775, when the Continental Marines was formed.

Being a good neighbor is about more than just being there when things go completely wrong. It's also about being there for all of life's moments when things go perfectly right. With a passion for serving customers and giving back in our communities, we've been doing well by doing good for almost 100 years. And we're happy you decided to get to know us better.

If it's a disaster, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is there. Part of the Department of Homeland Security, FEMA is charged with building and supporting the nation's emergency management system. FEMA leads federal efforts to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters that overwhelm state and local resources. FEMA's services include planning and training, coordinating federal resources, and offering financial assistance to individuals, businesses, and communities to aid in recovery.The agency also manages the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) as well as programs designed to reduce future losses due to floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters.

Much of the nation's infrastructure was built on the proverbial back of the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). In the 19th and 20th centuries, it built coastal fortifications, improved harbors, eliminated navigation hazards on key rivers, surveyed roads and canals, protected natural resources, constructed buildings and monuments, and explored and mapped much of the western frontier. Today, the USACE is the world's largest public engineering, design, and construction management agency and is involved in research and development, military contingencies, humanitarian assistance, environmental protection, and water resource development. The USACE employs some 34,000 civilians and soldiers.

As the U.S. government's official web portal, USA.gov makes it easy for the public to get U.S. government information and services on the web.

VA offers Veterans the largest, most technologically advanced, integrated health care system in the United States. We serve more than 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health system and operate more than 1,200 care sites, including 170 medical centers and more than 1,070 outpatient clinics, across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. Currently, more than 322,000 full-time health care professionals and support staff work in interdisciplinary care teams to deliver patient services daily. VA’s patient population crosses a wide spectrum of individuals — from elderly World War II Veterans to younger heroes who served in operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. VA also serves a growing number of female Veterans, who currently account for 7% of the total Veteran population.