How America’s military shaped the nation’s history and evolved over 250 years

A PBS report looks at how the US military has grown from forces organised largely at state level into a global power, and how that growth has shaped ideas of American identity and the country’s history. It also examines a widening gap: the military’s reach has expanded while fewer Americans serve in uniform.

The report traces the shift from a mix of volunteers and conscripts to an all-volunteer force, following the use of the draft through the First and Second World Wars and Vietnam. It notes that the armed forces now have six branches and more than two million uniformed personnel. Former Marine Jeremy Villanueva’s son, now a Navy officer, illustrates how military service can span generations.