Which U.S. military branch was founded on November 10, 1775, reaching 250 years during America250?

The United States Marine Corps was founded on November 10, 1775, and therefore reached its 250th anniversary in 2025 during the broader America250 period.

The Second Continental Congress authorized two Marine battalions to serve with the Continental Navy during the Revolutionary War. The Corps commemorates November 10 as its birthday, a tradition that began with birthday celebrations in the twentieth century.

The Marine Corps is a military service within the Department of the Navy, but it is a separate armed service with its own commandant and operational identity. That relationship sometimes causes people to identify the Navy as the answer to questions about the Corps’ founding.

The Army also dates to 1775, but Congress founded it on June 14. The Navy’s recognized birthday is October 13. These three dates make 1775 an especially important year in the history of the United States armed forces.