The United States Army was established on June 14, 1775, giving it a 250th anniversary in 2025.
The Second Continental Congress created the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. The date is also observed annually as the Army’s birthday and falls on Flag Day in the United States. In 2025, the Army’s 250th anniversary served as an early major event connected with the wider America250 period.
The Army predates the Declaration of Independence by more than a year. That timing is why its anniversary is June 14, 1775, rather than July 4, 1776. The modern United States Army traces its institutional lineage to the Continental Army, although the country’s armed forces later developed into several separate military branches.
The Army’s 250th anniversary should not be confused with the national semiquincentennial, which is observed on July 4, 2026. They are related commemorations with different founding dates.