The American Army was created on June 14, 1775, when the Continental Congress first authorized the muster of troops to serve under its own authority. Those soldiers came from the provincial forces of the colonies, which were at that time laying siege to Boston. From its birth, the American Army has relied on the citizen soldier, exemplified by the militia and the Minutemen who fought the British at Lexington and Concord. Commanded by General George Washington and supported by our French allies, the Continental Army defeated the British at Yorktown and secured the freedoms so eloquently stated in the Declaration of Independence. Thus, the birth of the Army preceded and guaranteed the birth of the nation.

The Army's fundamental purpose is to fight and win the Nation's wars by establishing conditions for lasting peace through land force dominance. This dominance is established through integration of the complementary capabilities of all the services. With this fundamental purpose in mind, the framers of the Constitution intended that armies were to be raised to "provide for the common defence" and, together with the Navy, to "repel invasion." Throughout the formative years of the Nation, the Army responded-on the frontiers, in the War of 1812, in the War with Mexico-in fulfillment of this role. During the Civil War, the Army was called upon to support another clause of the Constitution, to "suppress insurrection." As the Nation became a colonial power following the Spanish-American War, the Army was called upon to secure and administer new territories.

When the United States became a world power in the 20th century, the Army was called upon to defend our national interests and rights on a wider scale that drew us into alliances in regions far removed from our shores. In the combat operations of the World Wars, in Korea, Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf, the Army responded to the call to duty and performed that duty well. To soldiers on the ground, Operations Urgent Fury in Grenada, and Just Cause in Panama were indistinguishable from the combat operations of their forefathers. Operations Provide Comfort in Iraq and Restore Hope in Somalia, although peace operations, also proved to be dangerous. However, like those who went before them, American Soldiers responded readily in fulfilling the unlimited liability aspect of their contract. Knowing that simply joining the Army demands a willingness to place one's self at risk, many have still joined and made the ultimate sacrifice. (FM 100-1)

The United States Army participated in 175 military campaigns worldwide since its inception in 1775.

Each streamer on the Army flag represents a campaign.

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