United States Army

The U.S. Army, in the 21st Century21st Century, has primarily been defined by the War on Terror in Afghanistan and the War in Iraq. Although the initial post-September 11, 2001 invasion was of Afghanistan, by 2003, the focus was shifted to Iraq. Afghanistan was treated in some ways as a forgotten war, which allowed the Taliban in the area to regroup and rebuild, while the United States troops assisted with nation-building efforts. The U.S. Army remained in the country in an advisory capacity to help rebuild and allow Afghanistan forces to take on the security burden. The conflict in Afghanistan formally ended on December 28, 2014.

This saw American troops play a central role in the invasion of Europe during the D-Day invasion and the subsequent liberation of Europe and the defeat of Nazi Germany. In the Pacific, Army solders participated alongside U.S. Marines in capturing the Pacific Islands from Japanese control. Following the Axis surrenders of Germany in May and of JapanJapan in August of 1945, Army troops were deployed to Japan and Germany to occupy the two defeated nations. Two years after World War II, the Army Air Forces separated from the Army to become the United States Air Force. In 1948, the Army desegregated by order of President Harry S. Truman.