Armed Forces

Form N-400, Vocabulary to Study

The United States Armed Forces

The U.S. armed forces is the United States’ military. The Constitution says the President 

of the United States is the Commander in Chief of the U.S. armed forces. The Secretary of 

Defense is part of the Cabinet and advises the president. 

President = Commander in Chief 

Secretary of Defense = Part of the President’s Cabinet 

U.S. Armed Forces: 

U.S. Marine 

Corps 

U.S. Navy U.S. Coast

Guard 

U.S. Space

Force 

U.S. Army U.S. Air

Force 

U.S. National

Guard 

The Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force and Coast Guard are the armed forces of the United 

States. The Army National Guard and the Air National Guard are reserve components of their services that 

make the National Guard. 

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Armed Forces ★ uscis.gov/citizenship 2 

Armed Forces

Form N-400, Vocabulary to Study

Speaking Practice 

Form N-400 Part 12: 38A 

Practice with your partner. 

Are you currently a member of the U.S. armed forces? 

Yes, I am. 

No, I’m not. 

Review 

1. Name one branch of the U.S. armed forces. 

2. Who is the Commander in Chief? 

3. What is one Cabinet-level position? 

4. Name another Cabinet-level position. 

5. Have you ever served in the U.S. armed forces? 

6. Do you know anyone who has served in the U.S. armed forces? 
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Armed Forces

Form N-400, Vocabulary to Study

Other Parts of the Form N-400 that Ask About Arms 

and Armed Groups 

Underline any words you don’t know and look up the definitions.

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Armed Forces

Form N-400, Vocabulary to Study

Selective Service 

Draft = when you have to serve in the armed forces by law

World War I started in Europe in 1914. 

The United States entered the war in 1916. 

In 1917, the U.S. passed the Selective Service Act. 

The Selective Service Act gave the president the power 

to draft soldiers. 

Currently, being a part of the U.S. armed forces is voluntary but there is a law that allows the U.S. government to 

draft soldiers.

Selective Service registration is required for men 

between the ages 18 through 25. It is the law. 

Flagg, J. M. (ca. 1917) I want you 

for U.S. Army: nearest recruiting 

station / James Montgomery 

Flagg. United States, ca. 1917. 

[Photograph] Retrieved from the 

Library of Congress, https://www. 

loc.gov/item/96507165/. 

Review 

Why is Selective Service important? 
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Armed Forces

Form N-400, Vocabulary to Study

During your Form N-400 interview, the Immigration Services Officer may ask you about 

Selective Service registration. 

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 

For more information see Selective Service Administration – sss.gov 

USCIS is not responsible for the content on other websites or the information provided by other 

organizations. 
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Armed Forces

Form N-400, Vocabulary to Study

Celebrating our Armed Forces 

We celebrate and honor the U.S. armed forces in many ways. Two national holidays to honor the U.S. armed 

forces are Veterans Day and Memorial Day. 

Veterans Day 

Veterans Day is a U.S. holiday dedicated to American veterans 

(living or dead) of all wars. 

Veterans Day is on November 11th. 

Courtesy of the U.S. Department 

of Veterans Affairs; Veterans Day 

National Committee 

Memorial Day 

Memorial Day honors men and women who died in 

service to the United States. 

Memorial Day, Vietnam Memorial, Washington, D.C. 

Carol M. Highsmith’s America, Library of Congress, Prints and 

Photographs Division. 

LC-DIG-highsm- 04895 
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Armed Forces

Form N-400, Vocabulary to Study

Further reading: 

Veterans Day is different from Memorial Day. 

Memorial Day (the last Monday in May) honors American service members who died in 

service to the United States. 

Veterans Day (November 11th) pays tribute to all American veterans—living or dead. 

For more behind the history of Memorial Day you can read this article from the U.S. Department 

of Veterans Affairs - https://www.va.gov/opa/publications/celebrate/memday.pdf 

For more behind the history of Veterans Day you can read this article from the 

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - https://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp 

USCIS is not responsible for the content on other websites or the information provided 

by other organizations. 

Review 

When is Memorial Day? 

When is Veterans Day? 

What is Memorial Day? 

What is Veterans Day? 

Name three U.S. holidays. , and