Continental Army
The first regular U.S. fighting force was formed on June 14, 1775 by the Second Continental Congress to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies against Great Britain. George Washington took command of the Continental Army on July 3, 1775.

Creation of the U.S. Army
The Congress of the Confederation created the U.S. Army on June 3, 1784 to replace the disbanded Continental Army. The U.S. Army considers itself a continuation of the Continental Army.

Military campaigns
The U.S. Army has fought in many wars, including the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, the American Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

Cold War
After World War II, the U.S. entered the Cold War standoff with the Soviet Union, which led to conflicts in Korea and Vietnam.

Post-Cold War
After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the U.S. Army focused on Western Asia, participating in the Gulf War, the war in Iraq, and the war in Afghanistan.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has played a major role in the nation's development, including construction projects for NASA and the postal service, and environmental preservation and restoration.