U.S. Army Birthday – 1775

On June 14, 1775, the Second Continental Congress founded a united army to bring the 13 colonies together in the fight for independence from Great Britain. The U.S. Army was officially born. The Army was founded just months into the American Revolutionary War and predates the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Over its nearly 2½ centuries of service, the Army evolved from a ragtag militia hastily formed to fight against Britain to the largest branch of one of the most powerful militaries to ever exist. Today, over 450,000 active-duty service members, as well as about 300,000 National Guard soldiers and 175,000 reservists make up the Army — the largest of the six military branches.