Identify themes, and importance in American military history and America’s place in the world today.

The American military has evolved from a small colonial militia needed for “protection” on the frontier to a large, standing group of multiple branches of armed forces that comprise one of the largest and most influential militaries in the world. In your essay, choose three to four events (or time periods) in which you believe the American military made leaps toward being an organized, trained, well-equipped, and respected entity. For each event (or period), describe the initial state of the military, the changes brought about by the event or during the time period, and the impact these changes had on the role, strength, and/or influence of the military. Finally, discuss your opinion on how your chosen events/periods still affect and/or influence the military today.