Florida Veteran Health Heroes

2021 Florida Veteran Health Heroes 4 MARINE CORPS Trained to improvise, adapt, and overcome all obstacles in all situations, members of the U.S. Marine Corps form the maritime land force branch of the United States Armed Forces. Originally founded on November 10, 1775, as the Continental Marines, the Marine Corps serves as the tip-of-the-spear in rapid deployment operations. On February 20, 1962, Colonel Glenn piloted the Mercury-Atlas 6 “Friendship 7” spacecraft on the first manned orbital mission of the United States. Launched from Cape Canaveral (later re-named Cape Kennedy), Florida, Glenn’s “Friendship 7” completed a successful three-orbit mission around the earth. Semper Fidelis! COAST GUARD The United States Coast Guard is a unique branch of the military responsible for an array of maritime duties, from ensuring safe and lawful commerce to performing rescue missions in severe conditions. Now part of the Department of Homeland Security, the Coast Guard was founded on August 4, 1790, as the United States Revenue-Marine. Notable “Coasties” include Alex Haley, the acclaimed Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Roots, astronaut Bruce Melnick who spent 188 days in space over the course of four missions, and golfing legend Arnold Palmer who served as a yeoman in the Coast Guard from 1951-53. SPACE FORCE The U.S. Space Force (USSF) is the military’s newest service branch (the first new branch of the armed services in 73 years), with advanced defensive operations on land, in the air, and in orbit. The Space Force maintains the U.S. military’s competitive edge in space with specialized training and enhances its capabilities through the acquisition and development of next-generation space-based systems. The establishment of the USSF resulted from widespread recognition that space was a national security imperative. When combined with the growing threat posed by near-peer competitors in space, it became clear there was a need for a military service focused solely on pursuing superiority in the space domain. INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE UNITED STATES ARMED SERVICES