The United States Navy is the second oldest branch of the military and the largest branch if you include it with the marines. The United States Navy is also one of the largest branches of the military. Every other branch would be virtually nothing without the Navy. The difference is that the Navy and Marine Corps could remain functional without help from other branches of the military. The reason they could remain functional without those of the other branches is that the Navy and Marines together cover all aspects of warfare, thus making the Navy the most flexible branch of the military (Navy.Mil). First of all, the United States Navy is the second largest branch of the military on its own. branch of the army but that's not counting the marines which are coupled with the navy. The Navy had 317,054 active-duty military personnel as of December 2013 and nearly 104,650 reservists. It operates 341 ships and more than 3,700 aircraft, ranging from fighter jets like the F-18 to AWACS like the E2-C Hawkeye and helicopters like the CH-46 Sea Knight. The United States Navy actively operates 10 aircraft carriers; these carriers house more than 5,000 sailors for periods of 6 to 8 months. Overall, the United States Navy is a force to be reckoned with no matter what country we face (Navy.Mil). The navy is very flexible and also has its own special forces team. The United States Navy Seals are one of the most elite fighting forces in the world. They are capable of operating in all environments, including maritime, air and land. Their training is among the most advanced in the world and requires thirty months of blood, sweat and tears. Only about 25% of potential Navy Seals will successfully complete vigorous training (Luttrell). Normal Navy Seal missions generally involve reconnaissance, capture/kill... middle of paper ... The US blockade of the strait would not allow any ships to resupply or any incoming ships to exit. After several weeks of the Navy's blockade of the Bosphorus, the Russian economy would begin to suffer damage and Putin might be more willing to comply with our rules (). In conclusion, without the Navy, many of the critical missions that the military is known for would not be possible. No other branch would be able to transport as many troops, weapons or supplies to the combat zone. The Navy is also able to provide mobile air support, without an aircraft carrier. If we wanted planes in the air, we would have to build airfields in the country we wanted to attack. They are also capable of providing a nuclear safety net that no other branch could provide and ultimately they are the only branch capable of providing large-scale humanitarian assistance for almost any disaster..