Col. Douglas Woodall, chief of staff, U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence (USAICoE) and Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Latter, USAICoE, lead the Army Birthday Run to celebrate the 242nd birthday of the U.S. Army June 14 at Warrior-Sentinel Field, F...

Hundreds of Soldiers from units across Fort Huachuca march in formation after completing the Army birthday run to celebrate the 242nd birthday of the U.S. Army June 14 at Warrior-Sentinel Field, Fort Huachuca.
(Photo Credit: Fort Huachuca Public Affa...

The winner of the installation Best Warrior 2017 competition, Staff Sgt. Joshua DeBee, an instructor at the Noncommissioned Officer Academy, is recognized with a saber at the Army birthday run June 14 at Warrior-Sentinel Field, Fort Huachuca.
(Photo ...

The official birthday cake was cut by the youngest and oldest Soldiers in attendance, Pvt. Tanner Mitchel, Alpha Company, 305th Military Intelligence Battalion, and Sgt. Maj. Arnold Hill, Raymond W. Bliss Army Health Center. They were accompanied by ...

During the Army birthday lunch, the youngest Soldier in attendance, Pfc. Cindy Nunes, Thunderbird Dining Facility culinary specialist, cuts the cake with a saber with Lt. Col. Kevin Reeves, 40th Expeditionary Signal Battalion commander (left), and Co...

FORT HUACHUCA, Arizona -- Fort Huachuca celebrated the 242nd birthday of the U.S. Army June 14 with a run, cake cuttings and a community lunch.

Hundreds of Soldiers from units across the installation participated in an early morning run hosted by the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club. The Military Intelligence Corps Band played music before and during the event.

The winner of the installation Best Warrior 2017 competition, Staff Sgt. Joshua DeBee, an instructor at the Noncommissioned Officer Academy, received a saber and a coin in recognition of his achievements.

The official birthday cake was cut by the youngest and oldest Soldiers in attendance, Pvt. Tanner Mitchel, Alpha Company, 305th Military Intelligence Battalion, and Sgt. Maj. Arnold Hill, Raymond W. Bliss Army Health Center. They were accompanied by Col. Douglas Woodall, chief of staff, U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence (USAICoE) and Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Latter, USAICoE.

"It's important to reflect not just on our history here, celebrating the Army's 242nd birthday, but the critical mission of what we do as [Army] professionals," Woodall said.

As the guest speaker, Woodall spoke of the importance of the Army from its inception to its current status as the premier fighting force in the world and honoring the World War I Soldiers and their impact to today's Army.

Later in the day, the Thunderbird Dining Facility hosted a lunch time meal in honor of the Army birthday, featuring steak, shrimp and chicken. The 40th Expeditionary Signal Battalion (ESB) sponsored the birthday cake and the youngest Soldier in attendance, Pfc. Cindy Nunes, Thunderbird Dining Facility culinary specialist, Lt. Col. Kevin Reeves, 40th ESB commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Jason McCoy, 40th ESB, cut the cake with a saber.

The U.S. Army celebrates the day the Second Continental Congress voted to create and monetarily support a Continental Army. George Washington received his appointment as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army the next day, on June 15, 1775.