The United States Army was established by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775.
Congress created the Continental Army to coordinate the military forces of the thirteen colonies during the Revolutionary War. George Washington was appointed its commander in chief shortly afterward, on June 19, 1775.
The Army’s founding predates the Declaration of Independence by more than a year. Its 250th anniversary falls in 2025, making it an important related milestone during the broader America250 period. The Army later became the land warfare service of the federal United States.
The Navy was established by Congress in 1775 as well, but on October 13. The Marine Corps dates from November 10, 1775, and the Air Force became a separate service in 1947. Those dates make the Army the correct service for June 14.