The United States Armed Forces is composed of five branches of service. In no particular order, these branches of service are the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard. The Army is the oldest and largest of the armed forces, established by an act of the Continental Congress on July 14, 1775. Its main function is to defend American interests and to enforce American initiatives on land. The Navy is the second oldest branch of service, created by order of the Continental Congress on October 13, 1775. Its mission is to defend American shipping and enforce American initiatives at sea. The Marine Corps is by far the most versatile branch of service. Originally, the function of the USMC was to defend American ships and board enemy ships during combat; however, its current function is to operate as an amphibious, rapidly deployed, combined-arms task force. The Air Force is the youngest branch of service, established after World War II from the U. S. Army Air Corps. The Air Force defends U. S. air space, provides air support in times of war, operates communications and reconnaissance satellites, and guards the country's nuclear capability. Finally, the Coast Guard was established in 1780 through an act of the Continental Congress to defend America's coastlines, interdict smugglers and pirates, and support American forces in times of war. All branches of service report to the Department of Defense, though in peacetime the U. S. Coast Guard reports to the Department of Homeland Security.