The United States Army was founded on June 14, 1775, making its 250th anniversary part of the America250 period.
The Second Continental Congress established the Continental Army to coordinate the colonies’ military effort during the Revolutionary War. George Washington was appointed its commander in chief shortly afterward, on June 19, 1775.
The Army predates the Declaration of Independence by more than a year. The Declaration was adopted on July 4, 1776, while the Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787. Those dates are important national milestones, but they do not mark the Army’s founding.
The Army’s birthday is celebrated each year on June 14. In 2025, the service observed its 250th anniversary with a large parade in the Washington, D.C., region, linking the military commemoration to the broader national anniversary cycle.