June 14 marks the 241st anniversary since the creation of what would become the United States Army. The oldest of the U.S. Armed Services, the Army was established by the Continental Congress in 1775 and later became a military department of the U.S. federal government under the Constitution, enacted in 1789. That Army consisted of about 22,000 militia men from across the American colonies, according to an Army.mil news article.
In the spring of 1775, New England militias were nearing a confrontation with a much more pro-fessionally-trained British Army, according to an online account by U.S. Center for Military His-tory Historian John R. Maass.
"Recognizing the need to enlist the support of all of the American seaboard colonies, the Massa-chusetts Provincial Congress appealed to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia to as-sume authority for the New England army," wrote Maass. "Reportedly, at John Adams' request, Congress voted to adopt the Boston troops on June 14, although there is no written record of this decision."
The modern U.S. Army began to take shape at the turn of the 20th Century, according to the U.S. Army's website. A codified, professionalized officer corps was the first step taken toward development of today's U.S. Army. Later, perceptions that professional soldiering was limited to officer ranks were shattered during the aftermath of the Vietnam War: professional development opportunities were extended to warrant officers, noncommissioned officers and Army civilians in the post-Vietnam, all-volunteer Army.
For more Army history, birthday graphics, messages and news, visit www.army.mil/birthday.
For a more detailed account of the Army's creation, read Robin Wright's The Continental Army online at http://go.usa.gov/cSpDy.
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