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United States Army, U.S. Army

The United States Army is the branch of the United States Military responsible for land-based military operations.  The U.S. Army is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military and is one of seven uniformed services. The modern Army has its roots in the Continental Army which was formed on 14 June 1775, before the establishment of the United States, to meet the demands of the American Revolutionary War. Congress created the United States Army on June 14, 1784 after the end of the war to replace the disbanded Continental Army. The United States Army considers itself to be descended from the Continental Army and thus dates its inception from the origins of that force.

Mission of the U.S. Army

The primary mission of the United Sates Army is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities in support of the National Security and Defense Strategies."  Control and operation of the U.S. Army is administered by the Department of the Army, one of the three military departments of the Department of Defense. The civilian head of the US Army is the Secretary of the Army.  The highest ranking military officer in the department is the Chief of Staff, unless the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff or Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are Army officers. In 2008, the Army reported a strength of 539,675 soldiers; the Army National Guard (ARNG) reported 360,351 and the United States Army Reserve (USAR) reported 197,024 putting the combined component strength total 1,097,050 soldiers.