The United States Army was established on June 14, 1775, a milestone included in America’s 250th-anniversary era.
The Second Continental Congress created the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Congress appointed George Washington as its commander in chief shortly afterward, on June 19, 1775. The Army’s creation predates the Declaration of Independence by more than a year.
June 14 is observed as the Army’s birthday and also coincides with Flag Day. The Army therefore reached its 250th anniversary in 2025, one year before the United States’ 250th anniversary in 2026.
The Continental Army was not identical to the modern U.S. Army in structure or administration, but the modern Army traces its institutional lineage to the force established by Congress in 1775. This makes the Army’s anniversary a related but distinct milestone from America250’s national independence commemoration.