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"

military reserve, reserve - armed forces that are not on active duty but can be called in an emergency

soldier - an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army; "the soldiers stood at attention"

Wave - a member of the women's reserve of the United States Navy; originally organized during World War II but now no longer a separate branch

weekend warrior - a reservist who fulfills the military obligation on weekends