United States Army

United States Army

Official seal of the United States Army[1]

Wordmark[2]
Founded14 June 1775 (1775-06-14)[a]
(248 years, 9 months ago)[3][4]
Country United States
TypeArmy
Size
  • 452,689 active duty personnel[5]
  • 325,218 Army National Guard personnel
  • 176,968 Army Reserve personnel[6]
  • 1,073,200 total uniformed personnel (official data as of July 31, 2023)
  • 330,000 civilian personnel[7]
  • 4,406 crewed aircraft[8]
Part ofUnited States Armed Forces
Department of the Army
HeadquartersThe Pentagon
Arlington County, Virginia, U.S.
Motto(s)"This We'll Defend"
ColorsBlack, gold and white[9][10]
     
March"The Army Goes Rolling Along" Play
Mascot(s)Army Mules
AnniversariesArmy Birthday: 14 June[11]
EquipmentList of U.S. Army equipment
Engagements
Website
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief President Joe Biden
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin
Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth
Chief of Staff GEN Randy A. George
Vice Chief of Staff GEN James J. Mingus
Sergeant Major of the Army SMA Michael R. Weimer[13]
Insignia
Flag
Field flag[b]

The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.[14] The Army is the oldest branch of the U.S. military and the most senior in order of precedence.[15] It has its roots in the Continental Army, which was formed on 14 June 1775 to fight against the British for independence during the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783).[16] After the Revolutionary War, the Congress of the Confederation created the United States Army on 3 June 1784 to replace the disbanded Continental Army.[17][18] The United States Army considers itself a continuation of the Continental Army, and thus considers its institutional inception to be the origin of that armed force in 1775.[16]

The U.S. Army is a uniformed service of the United States and is part of the Department of the Army, which is one of the three military departments of the Department of Defense. The U.S. Army is headed by a civilian senior appointed civil servant, the secretary of the Army (SECARMY), and by a chief military officer, the chief of staff of the Army (CSA) who is also a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It is the largest military branch, and in the fiscal year 2022, the projected end strength for the Regular Army (USA) was 480,893 soldiers; the Army National Guard (ARNG) had 336,129 soldiers and the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) had 188,703 soldiers; the combined-component strength of the U.S. Army was 1,005,725 soldiers.[19] As a branch of the armed forces, the mission of the U.S. Army is "to fight and win our Nation's wars, by providing prompt, sustained land dominance, across the full range of military operations and the spectrum of conflict, in support of combatant commanders".[20] The branch participates in conflicts worldwide and is the major ground-based offensive and defensive force of the United States of America.‌

  1. ^ "Important Information and Guidelines About the Use of Department of Defense Seals, Logos, Insignia, and Service Medals" (PDF). United States Department of Defense. 16 October 2015. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  2. ^ "New Army brand redefines 'Be All You Can Be' for a new generation". US Army. 8 March 2023.
  3. ^ Wright, Jr., Robert K. (1983). The Continental Army (Army Lineage Series). Washington, D.C.: Center of Military History, United States Army. ISBN 9780160019319. OCLC 8806011. Archived from the original on 9 October 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  4. ^ Maass, John R. "June 14th: The Birthday of the U.S. Army". U.S. Army Center of Military History. Archived from the original on 1 October 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  5. ^ "Defense Manpower Data Center- Monthly Strength Summary". Defense Manpower Data Center. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  6. ^ "Department of Defense: Selected Reserves by Rank/Grade". Defense Manpower Data Center. 31 July 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  7. ^ "Army Civilians". goarmy.com. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  8. ^ "World Air Forces 2018". Flightglobal: 17. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  9. ^ Usa, Ibp. U.S. Future Combat & Weapon Systems Handbook. p. 15.
  10. ^ U.S. Army Brand Guide. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  11. ^ "June 14th: The Birthday of the U.S. Army". U.S. Army Center of Military History. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  12. ^ "ASSIST-QuickSearch Document Details". Archived from the original on 7 February 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  13. ^ "Webcast: Relinquishment of Responsibility for GEN James McConville / Change of Responsibility SMA Michael Grinston". DVIDS. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  14. ^ Article II, section 2, clause 1 of the United States Constitution (1789).
    See also Title 10, Subtitle B, Chapter 301, Section 3001.
  15. ^ "Department of Defense Directive 1005.8". Permanent.access.gpo.gov. 31 October 1977. Retrieved 7 July 2017. Subject: "Order of Precedence of Members of Armed Forces of the United States When in Formation" (Paragraph 3. PRESCRIBED PROCEDURE)
  16. ^ a b "14 June: The Birthday of the U.S. Army". United States Army Center of Military History. Archived from the original on 1 October 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2011. an excerpt from Robert Wright, The Continental Army
  17. ^ Library of Congress, Journals of the Continental Congress, Volume 27
  18. ^ "Army Birthdays". United States Army Center of Military History. 15 November 2004. Archived from the original on 20 April 2010. Retrieved 3 June 2010.
  19. ^ Cancian, Mark F. (21 October 2021). "U.S. Military Forces in FY 2022: Army". CSIS.
  20. ^ "The United States Army – Organization". army.mil. Retrieved 1 April 2015.


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