Army units and organization

An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" [feminine]) or
land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on land. In the broadest sense, it is the
land-based military branch, service branch or armed service of a nation or state. It may also
include aviation assets by possessing an army aviation component. In certain states, the
term army refers to the entire armed forces (e.g., People's Liberation Army). Within a
national military force, the word army may also mean a field army.

In several countries, the army is officially called the Land Army to differentiate it from an air
force called the Air Army, notably France. In such countries, the word "army" on its own
retains its connotation of a land force in common usage. The current largest army in the
world, by number of active troops, is the People's Liberation Army Ground Force of China
with 1,600,000 active troops and 510,000 reserve personnel followed by the Indian Army
with 1,129,000 active troops and 960,000 reserve personnel.

By convention, irregular military is understood in contrast to regular armies which grew

slowly from personal bodyguards or elite militia. Regular in this case refers to standardized
doctrines, uniforms, organizations, etc. Regular military can also refer to full-time status
(standing army), versus reserve or part-time personnel. Other distinctions may separate
statutory forces (established under laws such as the National Defence Act), from de facto
"non-statutory" forces such as some guerrilla and revolutionary armies. Armies may also be
expeditionary (designed for overseas or international deployment) or fencible (designed for
– or restricted to – homeland defence)