The United States Army was founded on June 14, 1775, the date used for its America250-era 250th anniversary.
The Second Continental Congress created the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, before the Declaration of Independence was adopted. Congress appointed George Washington as its commander in chief on June 15, 1775, one day after establishing the army. The Continental Army became the direct predecessor of today’s United States Army.
The Army’s anniversary is distinct from July 4, 1776, the date associated with the Declaration of Independence. It is also different from September 29, 1789, when Congress established the Department of War under the new federal government. The Army traces its institutional history to the Continental Army’s creation in 1775.
A major 250th-anniversary parade took place in June 2025 in Arlington, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. It was presented as an early or “soft launch” event for celebrations connected with the broader United States Semiquincentennial.