Armed Forces Law and Legal Definition
In the federal government, the term ''armed forces'' means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. States also have armed forces. The militia of a state is allowed to accept all able-bodied male citizens, and all other able-bodied males who have declared their intention to become citizens of the United States, between certain ages, and who are residents of the state, and of such other persons, male and female, as may upon their own application, be enlisted or commissioned
States maintain only such troops as are authorized by the President of the United States, but the state may use the National Guard and State Guard and equipments issued the National Guard by the state and the United States within its boundaries in time of peace. The armed forces have there own code of conduct and system of justice. Members of the armed forces may receive nonjudicial punishment (NJP) under Article 15 of the UCMJ. NJP can be appealed up the chain of command, to a correction board, and to federal courts.
