A military or An Army are groups of people who are leveraged with the responsibility to protect the common people of a nation and have the right to take lethal actions against perceived threats. Given the safety and risk of an entire nation depend on their actions they are carefully selected people who are highly trained before being deployed to the field.
Military vs Army
The main difference between a military and an army is that the military is the combined force involving land, air, and navy forces whereas the army is the group of people who are charged with responsibilities that are limited to the land.
The military and Army differ in their size since given that the army is a part of the military whereas the military is all forces that safeguard a country combined. The military has several ranks respective to the navy, air force, and troops on land whereas Army which operates only on land has a limited number of ranks.
The main ranks in an Army are Lieutenant General, Major General, Brigadier General, Colonel, Major, etc. The military includes ranks such as Midshipman, Commander, Rear Admiral, and Admiral from the navy, and Air Chief Marshal, Air Marshal, and Wing Commander from air force besides the one from Army.
Comparison Table Between Military and Army
| Parameter of Comparison | Military | Army |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Larger than an Army | The army is a part of the military, thus small than the later |
| Includes | Military involves land, air, and navy forces | The army is limited to the land |
| Operation area | Operates on International borders | Operates both on international and national borders |
| Ranks | Midshipman, Commander, Rear Admiral, and Admiral from the navy, and Air Chief Marshal, Air Marshal, and Wing Commander from air force besides the one from Army | Lieutenant General, Major General, Brigadier General, Colonel, Major, etc. |
| Political Influence | Controlled by the central government and Politicians | Has less influence from politicians |
What is Military?
A military is a large unit of armed forces that are charged with the responsibility of protecting the country from all threats and attacks that are posed internationally or within the nation. It is also often used by the Government to regulate law and order among the people of the country.
The word military was derived from the Latin word “militaris” which meant soldiers. They were named so because they are authorized to carry lethal weapons and use them when ordered and required primarily to retaliate to any threats posed to the country. Militaries often have their subculture with separate hospitals, schools, shopping complexes, and many other facilities.
The military being extremely disciplined and trained is always bound by orders from the higher ranks. The military includes ranks such as Midshipman, Commander, Rear Admiral, and Admiral from the navy, and Air Chief Marshal, Air Marshal, and Wing Commander from air force besides the one from Army.
The military may be used as a noun to denote in general the armed forces under the government or may be used to refer to the higher-ranking officers in command. As an adjective, it may denote anyone involved with the military organizations of the country.
What is Army?
The army is the part of the military that operates on land and is limited to the protection from enemies on land. They are also highly trained and carefully chosen since they are leveraged with the duty to protect the citizens from all foreign threats that operate through the land.
Army also includes forces like paramilitary and field army which are often excluded from the military. They may also have an exclusive aviation unit that operates to work only for the land forces. These forces are armed but their operation is strictly controlled by laws and regulations set by the government.
An army may also include the irregular armies that are not bound by any laws and doctrines and can be privately owned by organizations such as those who provide personal bodyguards. However, there may be several non-statutory forces such as the Guerilla and revolutionary armies.
The word Army is derived from the word “Armata” which is Latin for Armed forces. Whichever army it may refer to, an army is always land-based. The largest army is the People’s Liberation Army or PLA from China followed by the Indian Army.
Main Differences Between Military and Army
- The main difference between a military and an army is that the military is the combined force involving land, air, and navy forces whereas the army is the group of people who are limited to the land.
- The military and Army differ in their size since given that the army is a part of the military whereas the military is all forces that safeguard a country combined.
- The military has several ranks respective to the navy, air force, and troops on land whereas Army which operates only on land has a limited number of ranks.
- The word military was derived from the Latin word “militaris” which meant soldiers whereas the word Army is derived from the word “Armata” which is Latin for Armed forces.
- Army also includes forces like paramilitary and field army which are often excluded from the military.
Conclusion
Both military and army are highly trained groups of people who are charged with the responsibilities of protection of civilians from any external foreign threats that may arise against the threat. In general many deem the military and army to be the same. However, they have significant differences in a literary sense.
The main difference between a military and an army is that the military is the combined force involving land, air, and navy forces whereas the army is the group of people who are limited to the land. Army also includes forces like paramilitary and field army which are often excluded from the military.
The word military was derived from the Latin word “militaris” which meant soldiers whereas the word Army is derived from the word “Armata” which is Latin for Armed forces. The military and Army also differ in their size since given that the army is a part of the military whereas the military is all forces that safeguard a country combined.
References
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1047279705001109
- https://muse.jhu.edu/article/447081/summary