What did the National Security Act of 1947 accomplish concerning the military structure of the United States?

The National Security Act of 1947 significantly restructured the military organization of the United States by establishing the United States Air Force (USAF) as a separate and independent military service. Prior to this act, the Air Force had been part of the U.S. Army. The creation of an independent Air Force acknowledged the increasing importance of air power in modern warfare, especially in the context of post-World War II military strategy and the onset of the Cold War. This separation allowed for a more focused development of air capabilities and organization, reflecting the evolving nature of military operations and the recognition that air superiority was crucial for national security.

The act also introduced other structural changes, like the creation of the National Security Council and the Central Intelligence Agency, but the establishment of the USAF as an independent entity is particularly significant in the context of military history, as it marked a major transformation in how air power was integrated into national defense policy. Other options, such as the creation of a unified military strategy or the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security, are related concepts but were not direct consequences of the National Security Act of 1947. Furthermore, the act did not end the draft, which continued until it was abolished in the early 1970s.