Description of the United States Army

The United States Army exists to support the national and international policies and interests of the United States government. Therefore, the Army must be ready at all times to defend the nation against aggressive enemy attacks. In peacetime, the Army's most important function is to train its personnel and improve its combat (fighting) forces. Some of the Army's other peacetime duties include disaster relief, such as controlling floods; civil works, such as building dams; and controlling civil disturbances whenever, and wherever, necessary. In times of war, the Army's sole purpose is to secure and defend the United States in cooperation with the other branches of the armed forces.

How the United States Army is Organized

The United States Army operates under the supervision of the President of the United States, the secretary of defense, the secretary of the Army, and the Army chief of staff, who is responsible for all military activities.

Women's Role in the Army

The Women's Army Corps (WAC) was established during World War II. The WAC was made a permanent organization in 1948, three years after the end of the war. But in 1978, the Women's Army Corps was dissolved.

Today women are almost completely integrated within the Army. They are assigned to positions requiring a wide range of skills but not to positions in which there is a high probability of routine engagement in direct combat. Only three branches of the Army, therefore, are completely closed off to women: the infantry, armor, and special forces.

United States Army

Major Events in the United States Army's History

IMPORTANT DATES IN U.S. ARMY HISTORY
1775	Continental Congress created the Continental Army.
1783	End of Revolutionary War.
1789	Congress established a Department of War.
1802	U.S. Military Academy was established at West Point, New York.
1804 1806	Capt. Meriwether Lewis and Lt. William Clark explored Louisiana Purchase territory westward to Pacific Ocean.
1812 1815	War of 1812.
1842	Second Lieutenant John C. Fremont began explorations of Rocky Mountains area and far West.
1846 1848	Mexican War.
1861 1865	Civil War.
1863	Congress passed the first draft law (the Enrollment Act).
1890	Last major action of Indian Wars.
1898	Spanish-American War.
1899 1901	Philippine War.
1900	Major Walter Reed, an Army surgeon, played important part in discovering the cause of yellow fever.
1903	General Staff system was created and office of the Chief of Staff set up.
1908	Army Reserve organized.
1914	Panama Canal, built by Army engineers, was completed.
1916	National Defense Act divided Army into Regular Army, Volunteer Army, Organized Reserves, and National Guard.
1917	United States entered World War I.
1920	National Defense Act ordered reorganization of Army and War Department.
1940	Congress passed the first peacetime compulsory military service act.
1941	United States entered World War II.
1944	United States and Allied forces landed at Normandy, France, in the greatest land, sea, and air attack in history.
1945	Atomic bomb carried by Army Air Forces bomber was exploded over Hiroshima, Japan; world War II ended.
1947	Department of Defense was established.
1950	American troops came to the defense of South Korea following North Korean invasion.
1959	St. Lawrence Seaway, built with assistance of Army Corps of Engineers, opened.
1965	United States Army combat troops officially entered fighting in Vietnam.
1969 1972	Phased withdrawal of United States troops from Vietnam.
1970	First female general officer selected.
1973	Establishment of the all-volunteer Army.
1976	Women were admitted to U.S. Military Academy.
1978	Women's Army Corps was dissolved.
1983	Army troops participated in the invasion of Grenada.