The condition of the U.S armed forces at the time the U.S entered the war is that the United States was not ready for World War 1 is that it only had around 200,000 men in service when the war was declared. Many troops had no combat experience. America's armed forces usually consisted mainly of "citizen soldiers," men and women who were picked from the civilian life. The "citizen soldier" came from each State in the U.S and all economic and social strata. Many troops were volunteers, but the majority joined the military through the draft. Most draftees were assigned to the army.