armed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine - the military forces of a nation; "their military is the largest in the region"; "the military machine is the same one we faced in 1991 but now it is weaker"

formation - an arrangement of people or things acting as a unit; "a defensive formation"; "a formation of planes"

open order - a military formation leaving enough space between ranks to allow an inspecting officer to pass

close order - a military formation for drill or marching

extended order - a military formation for skirmishing; as widely separated as the tactical situation permits

sick call, sick parade - the daily military formation at which individuals report to the medical officer as sick