14 Jun 2025 at 2:07 PM
Edited on 14 Jun 2025 at 2:12 PM by SPC J.Erickson
Today, June 14th, 2025 marks the 250th Anniversary of the birth of the United States Army.
On June 14th, 1775 the Continental Congress, after reaching a consensus in the Committee of the Whole, adopted the American Continental Army. They authorized enlistment of riflemen to serve the United Colonies for one year. Congress took to raise ten companies of riflemen, approved an enlistment form and appointed a committee which included George Washington and Philip Schuyler to draft regulations for the government of the army. Expert riflemen were authorized as the first units to be raised as Continentals to serve as light infantry. Of the ten companies raised, six would be in Pennsylvania, two in Maryland and two in Virginia. Each company would have a captain, three lieutenants, four sergeants, four corporals, a drummer and 68 privates. Congress also accepted the responsibility for the 15,000 New England troops who had been requested for the defense of New York. The term limit was set at a one-year enlistment and would expire on July 1, 1776. The responsibility for the recruitment was given to three colony delegates who relied on their county committees who's areas had been noted for skilled marksmen. In Pennsylvania the response was so great that on June 22nd the companies were increased from six to eight and on July 11 delegate George Read secured the adoption of a ninth company. In Virginia, Daniel Morgan raised one company in Frederick County, Hugh Stephenson raised one in Berkeley County, and in Maryland, Michael Cresaps and Thomas Price raised two companies from Frederick County. The thirteen companies were to be organized by late June and early July and then sent to Boston.
George Washington was elected on June 15 unanimously as General and Commander in Chief of all continental forces raised or to be raised for the defense of American liberty. On the 19th of June, two more generals were appointed; General Philip Schuyler and General Israel Putnam. Washington was elected due to his previous military career in 1752 in the Virginia militia. He had served as Edward Braddock's volunteer aide and later then as commander of two Virginia Provincial regiments during the French and Indian War. He went on to command a brigade composed of units from Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. He was the only American in that war to lead such a large force.
On June 16, Congress authorized the appointment of other senior officers for the new army. Five major staff officers were created: Adjutant General, Commissary of Musters, Paymaster General, Commissary General and a Quartermaster General. A secretary and three aides were added as Washington's staff, a secretary for each separate department and six engineers, three for each force. A rank of Major General and Brigadier General were also created. On 22 June, Congress decided to add four more Major Generals, each would have two aides and eight Brigadier Generals. This allowed for each colony to have a share in the patronage. Congress then took the steps needed for the issue of paper money to finance the army and on 30 June adopted Articles of War.
The June 1775 decision to create the Continental Army seemed free from political friction as all delegates supported each step in the creation of the Army as a whole. British actions, at that time, had required defensive measures, quick actions and the idea of a citizen soldier had seen Congress adopt a short term Army, based on the Provincial model.
1775 saw the authorization and establishment of 10 Companies of Infantry, the office of Adjutant General, the Corp of Engineers, the Financial Corp, Quartermaster Corp, Field Artillery, Army Medical Department, Chaplains and Judge Advocate General.
-1776 saw the Office of Mounted Commands and the Armor Branch established with four regiments of Dragoons
-1812 the Ordnance Corp was established and in 1950 acquired it's current designation
-1860 the Signal Corp was established
-1918 the Chemical Corp was created and made a permanent branch of the Army in 1920
-1941 saw the establishment of the Military Police Corp
-1942 the Transportation Corp was created, though prior to that time the Quartermaster General had that responsibility
-1955 the Office of Civil Affairs was established
-1962 Military Intelligence Office was created and up till that time had been known as the Intelligence and Security Branch
-1983 the Aviation became a full member of the Army's combined arms team. Though, in 1947 the Army had begun the development of its own aviation assets in support of ground troops with the addition of light planes and rotary aircraft
-1987 the Special Forces was established as a basic branch of the Army. Originally formed in 1952 a major expansion was seen during
the 1960's with18 groups organized
Here's to the long illustrious career of the United States Army on their 250th Birthday ... HOOAH !
Today, June 14th, 2025 marks the 250th Anniversary of the birth of the United States Army.
On June 14th, 1775 the Continental Congress, after reaching a consensus in the Committee of the Whole, adopted the American Continental Army. They authorized enlistment of riflemen to serve the United Colonies for one year. Congress took to raise ten companies of riflemen, approved an enlistment form and appointed a committee which included George Washington and Philip Schuyler to draft regulations for the government of the army. Expert riflemen were authorized as the first units to be raised as Continentals to serve as light infantry. Of the ten companies raised, six would be in Pennsylvania, two in Maryland and two in Virginia. Each company would have a captain, three lieutenants, four sergeants, four corporals, a drummer and 68 privates. Congress also accepted the responsibility for the 15,000 New England troops who had been requested for the defense of New York. The term limit was set at a one-year enlistment and would expire on July 1, 1776. The responsibility for the recruitment was given to three colony delegates who relied on their county committees who's areas had been noted for skilled marksmen. In Pennsylvania the response was so great that on June 22nd the companies were increased from six to eight and on July 11 delegate George Read secured the adoption of a ninth company. In Virginia, Daniel Morgan raised one company in Frederick County, Hugh Stephenson raised one in Berkeley County, and in Maryland, Michael Cresaps and Thomas Price raised two companies from Frederick County. The thirteen companies were to be organized by late June and early July and then sent to Boston.
George Washington was elected on June 15 unanimously as General and Commander in Chief of all continental forces raised or to be raised for the defense of American liberty. On the 19th of June, two more generals were appointed; General Philip Schuyler and General Israel Putnam. Washington was elected due to his previous military career in 1752 in the Virginia militia. He had served as Edward Braddock's volunteer aide and later then as commander of two Virginia Provincial regiments during the French and Indian War. He went on to command a brigade composed of units from Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. He was the only American in that war to lead such a large force.
On June 16, Congress authorized the appointment of other senior officers for the new army. Five major staff officers were created: Adjutant General, Commissary of Musters, Paymaster General, Commissary General and a Quartermaster General. A secretary and three aides were added as Washington's staff, a secretary for each separate department and six engineers, three for each force. A rank of Major General and Brigadier General were also created. On 22 June, Congress decided to add four more Major Generals, each would have two aides and eight Brigadier Generals. This allowed for each colony to have a share in the patronage. Congress then took the steps needed for the issue of paper money to finance the army and on 30 June adopted Articles of War.
The June 1775 decision to create the Continental Army seemed free from political friction as all delegates supported each step in the creation of the Army as a whole. British actions, at that time, had required defensive measures, quick actions and the idea of a citizen soldier had seen Congress adopt a short term Army, based on the Provincial model.
1775 saw the authorization and establishment of 10 Companies of Infantry, the office of Adjutant General, the Corp of Engineers, the Financial Corp, Quartermaster Corp, Field Artillery, Army Medical Department, Chaplains and Judge Advocate General.
-1776 saw the Office of Mounted Commands and the Armor Branch established with four regiments of Dragoons
-1812 the Ordnance Corp was established and in 1950 acquired it's current designation
-1860 the Signal Corp was established
-1918 the Chemical Corp was created and made a permanent branch of the Army in 1920
-1941 saw the establishment of the Military Police Corp
-1942 the Transportation Corp was created, though prior to that time the Quartermaster General had that responsibility
-1955 the Office of Civil Affairs was established
-1962 Military Intelligence Office was created and up till that time had been known as the Intelligence and Security Branch
-1983 the Aviation became a full member of the Army's combined arms team. Though, in 1947 the Army had begun the development of its own aviation assets in support of ground troops with the addition of light planes and rotary aircraft
-1987 the Special Forces was established as a basic branch of the Army. Originally formed in 1952 a major expansion was seen during
the 1960's with18 groups organized
Here's to the long illustrious career of the United States Army on their 250th Birthday ... HOOAH !