The Birth of the Army
The United States Army was born on June 14, 1775, when the Continental Congress authorized enlistment of riflemen to serve the colonies in their fight for independence from Great Britain. The Continental Army was created by the Second Continental Congress and was composed of state militia forces. The first commander-in-chief of the Continental Army was General George Washington.
Early Years of the Army
In its early years, the Continental Army faced many challenges. It lacked a unified command structure, adequate supplies, and experienced officers. Despite these obstacles, the army persevered and achieved victory over the British in 1783. After the Revolutionary War, the Continental Army was disbanded and replaced by a much smaller standing army.
Modern Day U.S. Army
Today, the U.S. Army is one of the largest and most powerful military forces in the world. It is comprised of more than 1 million active duty personnel and over 800,000 reserve personnel. The modern day U.S. Army is organized into several branches including infantry, armor, artillery, aviation, special operations, and logistics.