United States Army: Difference between revisions

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Branch of the armed forces
 
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{{Short description|Land service branch of the U.S. military}}
{{Infobox Military Unit
{{Distinguish|Army of the United States|United States Department of the Army{{!}}Department of the Army|Army National Guard|United States Army Corps of Engineers{{!}}Army Corps of Engineers}}
|unit_name=United States Army
{{Use American English|date=February 2019}}
|image=[[image:army flag.gif|300px]]
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}<!-- Date format as in U.S. military date format per [[MOS:MILFORMAT]]. -->
|caption=US Army Standard
{{Infobox military unit
|dates=[[June 14]], [[1775]] - Present
|country unit_name =[[ United States|USA]] Army
| image = [[File:Military service mark of the United States Army.svg|frameless|180px]] <br />Service Mark of the United States Army<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defense.gov/Portals/1/Documents/Trademarks/DOD%20Guide%20about%20use%20of%20seals%20logos%20insignia%20medals-16%20Oct%2015F.PDF |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160405154729/http://www.defense.gov/Portals/1/Documents/Trademarks/DOD%20Guide%20about%20use%20of%20seals%20logos%20insignia%20medals-16%20Oct%2015F.PDF |url-status=dead|archive-date=5 April 2016 |title=Important Information and Guidelines About the Use of Department of Defense Seals, Logos, Insignia, and Service Medals |date=16 October 2015 |page=2 |access-date=5 April 2016 |publisher=United States Department of Defense}}</ref> <br />[[File:Logo of the United States Army 2023.svg|frameless|upright=1.0|class=skin-invert]] <br />Wordmark<ref>{{cite web |work=US Army |url= https://www.army.mil/article/264594/new_army_brand_redefines_be_all_you_can_be_for_a_new_generation |date=8 March 2023 |title=New Army brand redefines 'Be All You Can Be' for a new generation}}</ref>
|allegiance=Federal
| start_date = 3 June 1784 <br />({{Age in years and months|1784|6|3}}) <br />(in current form)
|branch=
----
|type=
14 June 1775 <br />({{Age in years and months|1775|6|14}})<br />(as the [[Continental Army]])<ref>{{cite book|last=Wright, Jr.|first=Robert K.|title=The Continental Army (Army Lineage Series)|year=1983|publisher=Center of Military History, United States Army|___location=Washington, D.C.|isbn=9780160019319|url=http://www.history.army.mil/books/RevWar/ContArmy/CA-fm.htm|oclc=8806011|access-date=30 October 2013|archive-date=9 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009065615/https://history.army.mil/books/RevWar/ContArmy/CA-fm.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|role=Foreign Defense
| dates = 14 June 1775–1783 (as [[Continental Army]]) <br />1792–1796 as [[Legion of the United States]] <br />1796–present as United States Army
|size=
| country = {{Flag|United States}}
|command_structure=
| type = [[Army]]
|current_commander=
| role = [[Land warfare]]
|garrison=[[The Pentagon]]
| size = {{ubl|452,689 active duty personnel<ref>{{cite web |title=Defense Manpower Data Center- Monthly Strength Summary |url=https://dwp.dmdc.osd.mil/dwp/api/download?fileName=ms0_2307.pdf&groupName=milTop |work=[[Defense Manpower Data Center]] |access-date=14 September 2023 |archive-date=4 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004043045/https://dwp.dmdc.osd.mil/dwp/api/download?fileName=ms0_2307.pdf&groupName=milTop |url-status=dead }}</ref> | 325,218 [[Army National Guard]] personnel | 176,968 [[United States Army Reserves|Army Reserve]] personnel<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dwp.dmdc.osd.mil/dwp/api/download?fileName=DRS_42486_SelRes_202307.pdf&groupName=resRankGrade |title=Department of Defense: Selected Reserves by Rank/Grade |date=July 31, 2023 |work=[[Defense Manpower Data Center]] |access-date=14 September 2023 |archive-date=18 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230918045809/https://dwp.dmdc.osd.mil/dwp/api/download?fileName=DRS_42486_SelRes_202307.pdf&groupName=resRankGrade |url-status=live }}</ref> | 954,875 total uniformed personnel (official data as of 31 July 2023) | 265,000 civilian personnel<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/find-your-path/army-civilians.html |title=Army Civilians|website=goarmy.com|access-date=16 June 2023}}</ref> | 4,406 crewed aircraft<ref name="WAF2018">{{cite journal |title=World Air Forces 2018 |journal=Flightglobal |page=17 |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/asset/21905 |access-date=13 June 2018 |archive-date=14 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614045619/https://www.flightglobal.com/asset/21905 |url-status=live }}</ref> }}
|ceremonial_chief=
| command_structure = [[United States Armed Forces]]<ref>{{USC|5|2101}}</ref> <br />[[Department of the Army]]
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
| garrison = [[The Pentagon]] <br />{{nowrap|[[Arlington County, Virginia]], U.S.}}
|nickname=
| garrison_label = Headquarters
|patron=
| motto = "This We'll Defend"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/about/|title=Who we are: The Army's Vision & Strategy|website=Army.mil|access-date=July 11, 2024}}</ref>
|motto="This We'll Defend"
| colors = Black, gold and white<ref>{{cite book |title=U.S. Future Combat & Weapon Systems Handbook |first=Ibp |last=Usa |page=15}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=U.S. Army Brand Guide |url=https://www.army.mil/aemo#org-army-brand |access-date=3 Nov 2022 |archive-date=13 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813192129/https://www.army.mil/AEMO#org-army-brand |url-status=live }}</ref> <br />{{color box|#030000}}&nbsp;{{color box|#FFD530}}&nbsp;{{color box|#FFFFFF}}
|colors=Blue and Gold
| colors_label = Colors
|march=The Army Goes Rolling Along (The Caisson Song)
| march = "[[The Army Goes Rolling Along]]" {{audio|Army goes rolling along.ogg|Play}}
|mascot=
| mascot = [[Army Mules]]
|battles=
| equipment = [[List of equipment of the United States Army|List of U.S. Army equipment]]
|notable_commanders=[[George Washington]]
| battles = {{collapsible list
|anniversaries=
| titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:left;font-weight:normal;
| title = See list
|[[File:Streamer RW.PNG|200px]] <br />[[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]] <br />[[File:Streamer W1812.PNG|200px]] <br />[[War of 1812]] <br />[[File:Streamer MW.PNG|200px]] <br />[[Mexican–American War]] <br />[[File:Streamer CW.PNG|200px]] <br />[[American Civil War|Civil War]] <br />[[File:Streamer IW.PNG|200px]] <br />[[American Indian Wars|Indian Wars]] <br />[[File:Streamer SC.PNG|200px]] <br />[[Spanish–American War]] <br />[[File:Streamer CRE.PNG|200px]] <br />[[China Relief Expedition]] <br />[[File:Streamer PC.PNG|200px]] <br />[[Philippine–American War]] <br />[[File:Streamer MS.PNG|200px]] <br />[[Mexican Expedition]] <br />[[File:Streamer WWI V.PNG|200px]] <br />[[World War I]] <br />[[Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War|Russian Civil War]] <br />[[Bonus Army suppression]] <br />[[File:World War II - American Campaign Streamer (Plain).png|200px]] <br />[[File:Streamer APC.PNG|200px]] <br />[[File:European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal streamer.png|200px]] <br />[[World War II]] <br />[[File:Korean Service Medal - Streamer.png|200px]] <br />[[Korean War]] <br />[[1958 Lebanon crisis]] <br />[[File:Vietnam Service Streamer vector.svg|200px]] <br />[[Vietnam War]] <br />[[File:Streamer AFE.PNG|200px]] <br />[[Dominican Civil War]] <br />[[File:Streamer AFE.PNG|200px]] <br />[[Korean DMZ Conflict (1966–1969)|Korean DMZ Conflict]] <br />[[File:Streamer AFE.PNG|200px]] <br />[[US invasion of Grenada|Invasion of Grenada]] <br />[[File:Streamer AFE.PNG|200px]]|[[United States Invasion of Panama|Invasion of Panama]] <br />[[File:Streamer AFE.PNG|200px]] <br />[[Unified Task Force|Somali Civil War]] <br />[[File:Streamer SAS.PNG|200px]] <br />[[Gulf War|Persian Gulf War]] <br />[[File:Streamer KC.PNG|200px]] <br />[[Kosovo War]] <br />[[File:Streamer gwotE.PNG|200px]] <br />[[Global War on Terrorism]] <br />[[File:Streamer AFGCS.PNG|200px]] <br />[[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|War in Afghanistan]] <br />[[File:Iraq Campaign streamer.svg|200px]] <br />[[Iraq War]] <br />[[File:Inherent Resolve Campaign streamer.svg|200px]] [[Operation Inherent Resolve]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://quicksearch.dla.mil/qsDocDetails.aspx?ident_number=70415 |title=ASSIST-QuickSearch Document Details |access-date=6 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207122448/http://quicksearch.dla.mil/qsDocDetails.aspx?ident_number=70415 |archive-date=7 February 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> <br />[[Battle of Khasham]]
}}
| anniversaries = [[U.S. Army Birthdays|Army Birthday]]: 14 June{{sfn|CMH}}
| website = {{ubl|{{URL|www.army.mil|army.mil}}|{{URL|www.goarmy.com|goarmy.com}} }}
<!-- Commanders -->
| commander1 = {{Flagicon image|Flag of the President of the United States.svg|size=25px}} [[President of the United States|President]] [[Donald Trump]]
| commander1_label = [[Powers of the president of the United States#Commander-in-chief|Commander-in-Chief]]
| commander2 = {{Flagicon image|Flag of the United States Secretary of Defense.svg|size=25px}} [[Pete Hegseth]]
| commander2_label = [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]]
| commander3 = {{Flagicon image|Flag of the United States Secretary of the Army.svg|size=25px}} [[Daniel P. Driscoll]]
| commander3_label = [[United States Secretary of the Army|Secretary of the Army]]
| commander4 = {{Flagicon image|Flag of the Chief of Staff of the United States Army.svg|size=25px}} [[General (United States)|GEN]] [[Randy George]]
| commander4_label = [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army|Chief of Staff]]
| commander5 = {{Flagicon image|Flag of the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army.svg|size=25px}} [[General (United States)|GEN]] [[James J. Mingus]]
| commander5_label = [[Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army|Vice Chief of Staff]]
| commander6 = [[Warrant officer (United States)|CW5]] [[Aaron H. Anderson]]
| commander6_label = [[Chief Warrant Officer of the Army]]
| commander7 = {{Flagicon image| Flag of the Sergeant Major of the United States Army.svg|size=25px}} [[Sergeant Major of the Army|SMA]] [[Michael Weimer]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/32423|title=Webcast: Relinquishment of Responsibility for GEN James McConville / Change of Responsibility SMA Michael Grinston|access-date=28 July 2023|website=DVIDS|archive-date=5 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230805111455/https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/32423|url-status=live}}</ref>
| commander7_label = [[Sergeant Major of the Army]]
| notable_commanders = <!-- Insignia -->
| identification_symbol = [[File:Flag of the United States Army (official proportions).svg|border|150px]]
| identification_symbol_label = [[Flag of the United States Army|Flag]]
| identification_symbol_2 = [[File:Field flag of the United States Army.svg|border|150px]]
| identification_symbol_2_label = Field flag{{Efn|Adopted in 1962.}}
| identification_symbol_3 = [[File:Logo of the United States Army.svg|100px]]
| identification_symbol_3_label = Logo
}}
[[Image:US Department of the Army Seal.png|right|thumb|US Army Seal]]
 
The '''United States Army''' ('''USA''') is the [[Land warfare|land service]] branch of the [[United States Armed Forces]]. It is designated as the Army of the [[United States]] in the [[United States Constitution]].<ref name=Constitution>Article II, section 2, clause 1 of the [[United States Constitution]] (1789).<br />See also [https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2010-title10/html/USCODE-2010-title10-subtitleB-partI-chap301-sec3001.htm Title 10, Subtitle B, Chapter 301, Section 3001] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919062157/https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2010-title10/html/USCODE-2010-title10-subtitleB-partI-chap301-sec3001.htm |date=19 September 2018 }}.</ref> It operates under the authority, direction, and control of the [[United States Secretary of Defense|United States secretary of defense]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=10 U.S. Code § 7011 - Organization |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/7011 |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=LII / Legal Information Institute |language=en |archive-date=24 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250324204510/https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/7011 |url-status=live }}</ref> It is one of the six armed forces and one of the eight [[uniformed services of the United States]]. The Army is the most senior branch in order of precedence amongst the armed services.<ref>{{cite web |title=Department of Defense Directive 1005.8 "Order of Precedence of Members of Armed Forces of the United States When in Formation" |date=31 October 1977 |url=https://permanent.access.gpo.gov/websites/dodandmilitaryejournals/www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/html2/d10058x.htm |website=Permanent.access.gpo.gov |access-date=7 July 2017 |archive-date=17 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220417150808/https://permanent.access.gpo.gov/websites/dodandmilitaryejournals/www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/html2/d10058x.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> It has its roots in the [[Continental Army]], formed on 14 June 1775 to fight against the British for independence during the [[American Revolutionary War]] (1775–1783).{{sfn|CMH}} After the Revolutionary War, the [[Congress of the Confederation]] created the United States Army on 3 June 1784 to replace the disbanded Continental Army.<ref name="Army_LOC">Library of Congress, [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=lljc&fileName=027/lljc027.db&recNum=166&itemLink=r%3Fammem%2Fhlaw%3A@field%28DOCID%2B@lit%28jc0271%29%29%230270001&linkText=1 Journals of the Continental Congress, Volume 27] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518033921/http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=lljc&fileName=027%2Flljc027.db&recNum=166&itemLink=r%3Fammem%2Fhlaw%3A%40field%28DOCID+%40lit%28jc0271%29%29 |date=18 May 2022 }}</ref><ref name=Army_History>{{cite web |date=15 November 2004 |title=Army Birthdays |publisher=[[United States Army Center of Military History]] |url=http://www.history.army.mil/faq/branches.htm |access-date=3 June 2010<!--based on date of introduction; see oldid=365887842--> |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420124819/http://www.history.army.mil/faq/branches.htm |archive-date=20 April 2010}}</ref>
 
The U.S. Army is part of the [[United States Department of the Army|Department of the Army]], which is one of the three military departments of the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]]. The U.S. Army is headed by a civilian senior appointed civil servant, the [[United States Secretary of the Army|secretary of the Army]] (SECARMY), and by a chief [[military officer]], the [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army|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#United States|fiscal year]] 2022, the projected end strength for the [[Regular Army (United States)|Regular Army]] (USA) was 480,893 soldiers; the [[Army National Guard]] (ARNG) had 336,129 soldiers and the [[United States Army Reserve|U.S. Army Reserve]] (USAR) had 188,703 soldiers; the combined-component strength of the U.S. Army was 1,005,725 soldiers.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Cancian |first=Mark F. |date=2021-10-21 |title=U.S. Military Forces in FY 2022: Army |url=https://www.csis.org/analysis/us-military-forces-fy-2022-army |journal=CSIS |language=en}}</ref> The Army's mission 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 commander]]s".<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/organization/|title=The United States Army – Organization|work=army.mil|access-date=1 April 2015|archive-date=8 July 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030708025938/https://www.army.mil/organization/|url-status=live}}</ref> The branch participates in conflicts worldwide and is the major ground-based offensive and defensive force of the United States of America.‌
The '''United States Army''' is the branch of the [[Military of the United States|United States armed forces]] that has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. As of [[fiscal year]] [[2004]] (FY04), it consisted of 485,500 soldiers (including 71,400 [[Woman|women]]) on active duty and 591,000 in reserve (325,000 in the [[Army National Guard ]] (ARNG) and 246,000 in the [[United States Army Reserve]] (USAR)). The [[Continental Army]] was formed on [[June 14]], [[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 3]], [[1784]] after the end of the American Revolutionary War, to replace the disbanded Continental Army. However, the US Army considers itself to be an evolution of the Continental Army, and thus dates its inception from the origins of the Continental Army.
 
==Mission==
==Components of the U.S. Army==
The United States Army serves as the primary land-based branch of the [[United States Department of Defense]]. [https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/7062 Section 7062 of Title 10, U.S. Code] defines the purpose of the army as:<ref>DA Pamphlet 10–1 ''Organization of the United States Army''; Figure 1.2 ''Military Operations''.</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=10 USC 3062: Policy; composition; organized peace establishment|url=http://uscodebeta.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section3062&num=0&edition=prelim|publisher=U.S. House of Representatives|access-date=21 August 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005010612/http://uscodebeta.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section3062&num=0&edition=prelim|archive-date=5 October 2013}}</ref>
Between 1775 and [[August 7]], [[1789]], the established Federal Army was the Continental Army. On the latter date, the Continental Army was replaced by the United States Army under the newly-established War Department. The structure of the US Army was constitutionally established as the Regular Army, the units of the State Militias when called to federal service, and units of Volunteers that were established for the duration of the emergency. This remained the normal scheme of things until the Civil War, when the first Conscription took place. The concept of the National Army as a Conscript Army was thus established in all but name, since units were established to accommodate the use of the conscripts in combat. The last time that the Volunteer Units were utilized was the Spanish-American War in 1898. From that time forward, the Regular Army, the State Militias, and the National Army were codified as standard. In 1908, the Organized Reserve Corps was established to provide trained Officers and Enlisted Men for immediate use in time of war.
* Preserving the peace and security and providing for the defense of the United States, the Commonwealths and possessions, and any areas occupied by the United States
* Supporting the national policies
* Implementing the national objectives
* Overcoming any nations responsible for aggressive acts that imperil the peace and security of the United States
 
In 2018, the ''Army Strategy 2018'' articulated an eight-point addendum to the Army Vision for 2028.<ref name=Strategy2018>[https://www.army.mil/e2/downloads/rv7/the_army_strategy_2018.pdf The Army Strategy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516182936/https://www.army.mil/e2/downloads/rv7/the_army_strategy_2018.pdf |date=16 May 2022 }} 2018</ref> While the Army Mission remains constant, the Army Strategy builds upon the Army's [[Brigade Modernization Command|Brigade Modernization]] by adding focus to [[corps]] and [[Division (military)|division]]-level echelons.<ref name=Strategy2018 /> The [[Army Futures Command]] oversees reforms geared toward [[conventional warfare]]. The Army's current [[Reorganization plan of United States Army|reorganization plan]] is due to be completed by 2028.<ref name=Strategy2018 />
During the [[World War I|First World War]], the "[[National Army]]" was organized to fight the conflict. It was demobilized at the end of World War I, and was replaced by the Regular Army, the Organized Reserve Corps, and the State Militias. In the 1920s and 1930s, the "career" soldiers were known as the "[[Regular Army]]" with the "Enlisted Reserve Corps" and "Officer Reserve Corps" augmented to fill vacancies when needed.
 
The Army's five core competencies are prompt and sustained land combat, [[combined arms]] operations (to include combined arms maneuver and wide–area security, [[armored forces|armored]] and [[mechanized infantry|mechanized operations]] and [[airborne forces|airborne]] and [[air assault infantry|air assault operations]]), [[special operations forces]], to set and sustain the theater for the joint force and to integrate national, multinational, and joint power on land.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/ARN18008_ADP-1%20FINAL%20WEB.pdf|title=Army Publishing Directorate|access-date=13 October 2020|archive-date=26 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026133759/https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/dr_pubs/dr_a/pdf/web/arn18008_adp-1%20final%20web.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 1941, the "[[Army of the United States]]" was founded to fight the [[Second World War]]. The Regular Army, Army of the United States, the National Guard, and Officer/Enlisted Reserve Corps (ORC and ERC) existed simultaneously. After World War II, the ORC and ERC were combined into the [[United States Army Reserve]]. The Army of the United States was re-established for the [[Korean War]] and [[Vietnam War]] and was demobilized upon the suspension of the [[Conscription|draft]].
 
==History==
Currently, the Army is divided into the [[Regular Army]], the [[Army Reserve]], and the [[United States National Guard]]. Prior to 1903 members of the National Guard were considered state Soldiers unless federalized by the President. Since the [[Militia Act of 1903]] all National Guard Soldiers have held dual status: as National Guardsmen under the authority of the governor of their state and as a reserve of the US Army under the authority of the President. Until such time as National Guardsmen retire from National Guard service, they are never considered members of the Army Reserve, but become members of the US Army Retired Reserve upon retirement, and remain in such status until their 60th Birthday, when they become full-fleged Retirees with a status equal to Regular Army Retirees.
{{main|History of the United States Army}}
 
===Origins===
Since the adoption of the [[total force policy]] in the aftermath of the [[Vietnam War]], reserve component soldiers have taken a more active role in US military operations. Reserve and Guard units took part in the [[Gulf War]], peacekeeping in [[Kosovo]], and the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]]. With recent manpower shortages in the military, some U.S. citizens have been concerned regarding a reinstitution of the draft (conscription) force. Federal and state lawmakers, however, have asserted that no such action is being planned.
The Continental Army was created on 14 June 1775 by the [[Second Continental Congress]]<ref>[https://www.loc.gov/item/05000059/ Cont'l Cong., Formation of the Continental Army, in 2 ''Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789'' 89–90 (Library of Cong. eds., 1905)].</ref> as a unified army for the colonies to fight [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]], with [[George Washington]] appointed as its commander.{{sfn|CMH}}<ref>[http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/hlaw:@field(DOCID+@lit(jc00238)): Cont'l Cong., Commission for General Washington, in 2 ''Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789'' 96–7 (Library of Cong. eds., 1905)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003101042/http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/hlaw:@field(DOCID+@lit(jc00238)): |date=3 October 2019 }}.</ref><ref>[http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/hlaw:@field(DOCID+@lit(jc00240)): Cont'l Cong., Instructions for General Washington, in 2 ''Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789'' 100–1 (Library of Cong. eds., 1905)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003101042/http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/hlaw:@field(DOCID+@lit(jc00240)): |date=3 October 2019 }}.</ref><ref>[http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/hlaw:@field(DOCID+@lit(jc00580)): Cont'l Cong., Resolution Changing "United Colonies" to "United States", in 5 ''Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789'' 747 (Library of Cong. eds., 1905)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002203636/http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/hlaw:@field(DOCID+@lit(jc00580)): |date=2 October 2018 }}.</ref> The army was initially led by men who had served in the [[British Army]] or colonial militias and who brought much of British military heritage with them. As the Revolutionary War progressed, [[Early Modern France|French]] aid, resources, and military thinking helped shape the new army. A number of European soldiers came on their own to help, such as [[Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben]], who taught [[Prussian Army]] tactics and organizational skills.
 
[[File:Bataille Yorktown.jpg|thumb|left|The storming of Redoubt No. 10 in the [[Siege of Yorktown]] during the [[American Revolutionary War]], as depicted in a [[watercolor painting]] by [[H. Charles McBarron Jr.]] (1902–1992) prompted Great Britain's government to begin negotiations, resulting in the [[Treaty of Paris (1783)|Treaty of Paris]] and Great Britain's recognition of the United States as an independent state.]]
Various [[State Defense Forces]] also exist, sometimes known as State Militias, which are sponsored by individual state governments and serve as an auxiliary to the National Guard. Except in times of extreme national emergency, such as a mainland [[invasion]] of the United States, State Militias are operated independently from the U.S. Army and are seen as state government agencies rather than a component of the military.
The Army fought numerous pitched battles, and sometimes used [[Fabian strategy]] and [[hit-and-run tactics]] in the South in 1780 and 1781; under Major General [[Nathanael Greene]], it hit where the British were weakest to wear down their forces. Washington led victories against the British at [[Battle of Trenton|Trenton]] and [[Battle of Princeton|Princeton]], but lost a series of battles in the [[New York and New Jersey campaign]] in 1776 and the [[Philadelphia campaign]] in 1777. With a decisive victory at [[siege of Yorktown|Yorktown]] and the help of the French, the Continental Army prevailed against the British.
 
After the war, the Continental Army was quickly given land certificates and disbanded in a reflection of the [[Republicanism in the United States|republican]] distrust of standing armies. [[US state|State]] militias became the new nation's sole ground army, except [[First American Regiment|a regiment]] to guard the [[Northwest Territory|Western Frontier]] and one battery of [[artillery]] guarding [[West Point]]'s arsenal. However, because of continuing conflict with [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]], it was soon considered necessary to field a trained standing army. The [[Regular Army (United States)|Regular Army]] was at first very small and after General [[St. Clair's defeat]] at the Battle of the Wabash,<ref name=Buffenbarger>{{cite web |first=Thomas E. |last=Buffenbarger |publisher=U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center |title=St. Clair's Campaign of 1791: A Defeat in the Wilderness That Helped Forge Today's U.S. Army |date=15 September 2011 |url=https://www.army.mil/article/65594 |access-date=13 April 2025 |archive-date=28 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728040019/https://www.army.mil/article/65594 |url-status=live }}</ref> where more than 800 soldiers were killed, the Regular Army was reorganized as the [[Legion of the United States]], established in 1791 and renamed the United States Army in 1796.
Although the present-day Army exists as an all volunteer force, augmented by Reserve and National Guard forces, measures exist for emergency expansion in the event of a catastrophic occurrence, such as a large scale attack against the US or the outbreak of a [[World War III|major global war]]. The current "call-up" order of the United States Army is as follows:
[[Image:USAFLASH.gif|right|thumb|US Army Beret Flash]]
# Regular Army volunteer force
# Army Reserve total mobilization
# Full scale activation of all National Guard forces
# Recall of all retired personnel fit for military duty
# Re-establishment of the draft and creation of a conscript force within the Regular Army
# Recall of previously discharged officers and enlisted who were separated under honorable conditions
# Activation of the State Defense Forces/State Militias
# Full scale mobilization of the unorganized U.S. militia
 
In 1798, during the [[Quasi-War]] with France, the [[U.S. Congress]] established a three-year "[[Provisional Army of the United States|Provisional Army]]" of 10,000 men, consisting of twelve [[regiment]]s of [[infantry]] and six troops of light [[dragoon]]s. In March 1799, Congress created an "Eventual Army" of 30,000 men, including three regiments of [[cavalry]]. Both "armies" existed only on paper, but equipment for 3,000 men and horses was procured and stored.<ref>Gregory J.W.Urwin, ''The United States Cavalry: An Illustrated History, 1776–1944'', University of Oklahoma Press 2003 (1983), pp. 36—39</ref>
The final stage of Army mobilization, known as "activation of the unorganized militia" would effectively place all able bodied males in the service of the U.S. Army. The last time an approximation of this occurred was during the [[American Civil War]] when the [[Confederate States of America]] activated the "Home Guard" in 1865, drafting all males, regardless of age or health, into the [[Confederate Army]]. A similar event, albeit in a foreign country, occurred during [[World War II]] when [[Nazi Germany]] activated the [[Volkssturm]] in April and May of 1945.
 
=== 19th century ===
==Structure of the U.S. Army==
{{further|War of 1812|Army on the Frontier}}
Officially, a member of the U.S. Army is called a ''[[Soldier]]'' (always capitalized). The U.S. Army is divided into the following components, from largest to smallest:
[[File:Battle of New Orleans.jpg|thumb|right|General [[Andrew Jackson]] standing on the parapet of his makeshift defenses as his troops repulse attacking [[93rd (Sutherland Highlanders) Regiment of Foot|Highlanders]] during the [[Battle of New Orleans|defense of New Orleans]], the final major and most one-sided battle of the [[War of 1812]], mainly fought by militia and volunteers.]]
[[Image:USgenerals.jpg|thumb|200px|right|U.S. Generals, World War II, Europe: <br/>back row (left to right): [[Ralph Stearley|Stearley]], [[Hoyt Vandenberg|Vandenberg]], [[Walter Bedell Smith|Smith]], [[Otto P. Weyland|Weyland]], [[Richard E. Nugent|Nugent]]; <br/>front row: [[William H. Simpson|Simpson]], [[George S. Patton|Patton]], [[Carl Spaatz|Spaatz]], [[Dwight D. Eisenhower|Eisenhower]], [[Omar Bradley|Bradley]], [[Courtney Hodges|Hodges]], [[Leonard T. Gerow|Gerow]].]]
[[Image:HHCUSASSI.gif|right|thumb|HHC, US Army Shoulder Sleeve Insignia]]
[[Image:FlagArmies.gif|right|thumb|U.S. 1st Army]]
[[Image:US army.JPG|right|thumb|250px|U.S. Army boarding a plane]]
 
==== War of 1812 ====
:#[[Field Army]]: Usually commanded by a General (GEN; note that abbreviations of [[military rank]] within the U.S. Army are given in all capital letters without a period or other punctuation).
{{main|War of 1812}}
:#[[Corps]]: Consists of two or more divisions and organic support brigades. The commander is most often a Lieutenant General (LTG).
:#[[Division (military)|Division]]: Usually commanded by a Major General (MG). Generally consists of three maneuver brigades, a division artillery brigade, a division support command, a division aviation brigade, and other support assets. Until the [[Brigade Unit of Action]] program was developed, the division was the smallest self-sufficient level of organization in the US Army.
:#[[Brigade]] (or [[group]]): Composed of typically three or more battalions, and commanded by a Colonel (COL) or occasionally Brigadier General (BG). (See [[Regiment]] for combat arms units.) Since the [[Brigade Unit of Action]] program was initiated, brigades have become self sufficient, with organic supply, artillery, aviation, and support structures.
:#[[Battalion]] (or [[squadron]]): A Battalion usually consists of two to six companies and roughly 300 to 1000 soldiers. Most units are organized into battalions. Cavalry units are formed into squadrons. A battalion-sized unit is commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel (LTC), supported by a Command Sergeant Major/E-9 (CSM). This unit consists of a Battalion Commander (CO, LTC), a Battalion Executive Officer (XO,MAJ), a Command Sergeant Major (CSM) and headquarters, and 3-5 [[Company (military unit)|Companies]].
:#[[Company (military unit)|Company]] (or [[artillery battery]]/troop): A company usually consists of three to four platoons and roughly 100 to 130 soldiers. Artillery units are formed into batteries. Cavalry units are formed into troops. A company-sized unit is usually led by a Company Commander usually the rank of Captain/O-3 (CPT) supported by a First Sergeant/E-8 (1SG). This unit consists of a Company Commander (CO, CPT), a Company Executive Officer (XO, 1LT), A First Sergeant (1SG) and a headquarters, and two or more [[Platoons]].
:#[[Platoon]]: Usually led by a lieutenant supported by a Sergeant First Class/E-7 (SFC). This unit consists of a Platoon Leader (2LT/1LT), a Platoon Sergeant (SFC), a Radio-Telephone Operator (Usually a PFC or SPC) and two or more Squad Leaders (any NCO).
:#[[Section (military unit)]]: Usually directed by Staff Sergeants/E-6 (SSG) who supply guidance for junior NCO Squad leaders. Often used in conjunction with platoons at the company level.
:#[[Squad]]: Squad leaders are usually Staff Sergeants/E-6 (SSG). This unit consists of eight to ten Soldiers.
:#[[Fire team]]: Usually consists of four Soldiers: a fire team leader, a grenadier, an automatic rifleman, and a rifleman. Fire team leaders are usually Sergeants/E-5 (SGT), but sometimes Corporals/E-4 (CPL).
 
[[The War of 1812]] was the second and last war between the United States and Great Britain. The war was split between a Northern, Southern, and naval campaign.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NAMED CAMPAIGNS - WAR OF 1812 |url=http://www.history.army.mil/reference/18cmp.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240504142346/https://history.army.mil/reference/18cmp.htm |archive-date=4 May 2024 |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=www.history.army.mil |url-status=dead }}</ref> While a large part of the war was fought between the United States and Great Britain, there were a variety of native tribes that fought on both sides of the conflict. The result of the war is the [[Treaty of Ghent]] and is generally considered to be inconclusive, and brought upon a period of peace between the United States and Great Britain that has lasted for over two centuries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Avalon Project - British-American Diplomcay : Treaty of Ghent; 1814 |url=https://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/ghent.asp |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=avalon.law.yale.edu |archive-date=17 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117152625/https://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/ghent.asp |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Organization==
[[Image:United States Army Reserve Emblem.png|thumb|US Army Reserve Emblem]]
The Army is organized by function.
 
==== Seminole Wars ====
*Combat Arms include:
{{main|Seminole Wars}}
 
There was a long period of war between the United States and the [[Seminoles]] that lasted over 50 years. The usual strategies utilized against Native American tribes were to seize winter food supplies and to form alliances with enemies of a tribe. These were not viable options against the Seminoles, largely due to the fact of lack of climate variability in Florida and because of the long history of warring between the Seminole tribe and other tribes in the Florida region.<ref>Ron Field and Richard Hook, The Seminole Wars 1818–58 (2009)</ref>
# [[Infantry]],
# [[Armored |Armor/Cavalry]],
# [[Field Artillery]],
# [[Air Defense Artillery]],
# [[Corps of Engineers]] (The Engineers are classified as both an "Arm", and a "Support"),
# [[Army Aviation]],
# [[U.S. Special Forces|Special Forces]].
 
==== Mexican-American War ====
*Combat Support units include:
{{main|Mexican-American War}}
 
The U.S. Army fought and won the Mexican–American War, which was a defining event for both countries. The U.S. victory resulted in [[Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo]], conceded a large portion of land to the United States which included the modern-day states of [[California]], [[Nevada]], [[New Mexico]], [[Arizona]], [[Texas]], and parts of [[Colorado]] and [[Wyoming]].<ref>{{Cite web |title= The Mexican-American War |url=https://www.nps.gov/places/the-mexican-american-war.htm |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=National Park Service website |language=en}}</ref>
# [[Signal Corps]],
# [[Intelligence Corps]],
# [[Chemical Corps]],
# [[Military Police Corps]].
 
====American Civil War====
*Combat Service Support troops include:
{{further|Union Army}}
[[File:Thure de Thulstrup - L. Prang and Co. - Battle of Gettysburg - Restoration by Adam Cuerden.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Battle of Gettysburg]], the turning point of the American Civil War]]
 
The [[American Civil War]] was the costliest war for the U.S. in terms of casualties. After most [[slave state]]s, located in the southern U.S., formed the [[Confederate States of America|Confederate States]], the [[Confederate States Army]], led by former U.S. Army officers, mobilized a large fraction of Southern white manpower. Forces of the United States (the "Union" or "the North") formed the [[Union Army]], consisting of a small body of regular army units and a large body of volunteer units raised from every state, north and south, except [[South Carolina]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Tinkler|first1=Robert|title=Southern Unionists in the Civil War|url=http://www.csuchico.edu/inside/current-issue/bigpicture-1.shtml|work=csuchico.edu/|access-date=21 November 2016|archive-date=30 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230022357/http://www.csuchico.edu/inside/current-issue/bigpicture-1.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>
# [[Judge Advocate General's Corps]],
# [[Adjutant General's Corps]],
# [[Finance Corps]],
# [[United States Army Transportation Corps|Transportation Corps]],
# [[Quartermaster Corps]],
# [[Ordnance Corps]],
# [[Medical Corps]],
# [[Medical Service Corps]],
# [[Nurse Corps]].
 
For the first two years, Confederate forces did well in set battles but lost control of the border states.<ref>McPherson, James M., ed. ''The Atlas of the Civil War'', (Philadelphia, PA, 2010)</ref> The Confederates had the advantage of defending a large territory in an area where disease caused twice as many deaths as combat. The Union pursued a strategy of seizing the coastline, blockading the ports, and taking control of the river systems. By 1863, the Confederacy was being strangled. Its eastern armies fought well, but the western armies were defeated one after another until the Union forces captured New Orleans in 1862 along with the Tennessee River. In the [[Vicksburg Campaign]] of 1862–1863, General [[Ulysses Grant]] seized the [[Mississippi River]] and cut off the Southwest. Grant took command of Union forces in 1864 and after a series of battles with very heavy casualties, he had General [[Robert E. Lee]] under siege in Richmond as General [[William T. Sherman]] captured Atlanta and [[Sherman's March to the Sea|marched through Georgia]] and [[the Carolinas]]. The Confederate capital was abandoned in April 1865 and Lee subsequently surrendered his army at Appomattox Court House. All other Confederate armies surrendered within a few months.
==Named campaigns==
[[Image:RevWarStr.PNG|thumb|American Revolutionary War Campaign Streamer]]
{{sect-stub}}
 
The war remains the deadliest conflict in U.S. history, resulting in the deaths of 620,000 men on both sides. Based on 1860 census figures, 8% of all white males aged 13 to 43 died in the war, including 6.4% in [[Northern United States|the North]] and 18% in [[Southern United States|the South]].<ref>Maris Vinovskis (1990). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=gySktxKYPGoC&pg=PA7 Toward a social history of the American Civil War: exploratory essays]{{Dead link|date=January 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}''. Cambridge University Press. p. 7. {{ISBN|0-521-39559-3}}</ref>
===Revolutionary War===
{{Main|American Revolutionary War campaign streamers}}
 
====Later 19th century====
==US Units {Regular & National Guard} formed 1636-1783==
[[File:Soldiers of 1890.jpg|thumb|right|Army soldiers in 1890]]
*US Army Units active in 2000, with Colonial Roots 1636-1783:
**[http://www.mmmsmilitaryhistory.net/h3Before1700.htm See parts 1,2,3 ] Notes to 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery:
**[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/2-fa.htm Note to above-2nd Battalion, 5th Field Artillery claims descent from "D" Battery, 5th Field Artillery {Alexander Hamilton's artillery unit}]
**[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/3-13fa.htm Note to above-3rd Battalion,13th Field Artillery claims descent from "D" Battery, 5th Field Artillery {Alexander Hamilton's Artillery unit}].
*Rhode Island
**705th AAA Gun Battalion:
***"C" Battery {1774} [http://www.riguard.com/HISTORY/705AAABN/C/C-705.html]
***"D" Battery {1710}[http://www.riguard.com/HISTORY/705AAABN/D/d-705.html]
*New Jersey
**[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/3-112fa.htm Easten Company of Artillery Formed [[13 February]] [[1775]]-part of Thomas Procter's Artillery Regiment. Later"C" Battery, 3rd Battalion, 112th Field Artillery "NJ Guns"].
*Pennsylvania
**[http://www.dmva.state.pa.us/paarng/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=441381 1st Battalion, 111th Infantry (Stryker)]. The 111th Infantry traces its lineage to Franklin's Associators', formed 1747. Oldest Unit in Pennsylvania National Guard.
**[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/337eng.htm Captain Michael Doudles Company, Thompson's Rifle Battalion formed in 1775-now "C" Company, 337th Engineer Battalion]
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/usace.htm US Army Corps of Engineers [[June 16]] [[1775]]]
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/qm.htm Quartermaster Corps formed [[June 16]] [[1775]]]
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/mp.htm Military Police formed on [[June 1]] [[1778]]]
 
Following the Civil War, the U.S. Army had the mission of containing western tribes of Native Americans on the [[Indian reservation]]s. They set up many forts, and engaged in the last of the [[American Indian Wars]]. U.S. Army troops also occupied several Southern states during the [[Reconstruction Era]] to protect [[freedmen]].
*Continental Regiments 1st thru 27th [http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/RevWar/ContArmy/CA-04.htm per index on page 443 - Not Included online}
 
The key battles of the [[Spanish–American War]] of 1898 were fought by the Navy. Using mostly [[United States Volunteers|new volunteers]], the U.S. forces defeated [[Spain]] in land campaigns in [[Cuba]] and played the central role in the [[Philippine–American War]].
==US Units formed 1784 to 1821==
*''Legion of the United States'' {1791-1797)
** {1st Sub-Legion} ''1st American Regiment'' formed [[June 3]] [[1784]]-now [[3rd United States Infantry Regiment]] aka ''The Old Guard''.
** {2nd Sub-Legion} ''2nd American Regiment'' formed [[March 3]] [[1791]]-now 1st United States Infantry Regiment. 2 Battalions of this unit:
***[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1-1in.htm 1st Battalion] stationed at [[West Point Military Academy]].
***[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/2-1in.htm 2nd Battalion] is part of the 172nd Infantry Brigade.
** {3rd Sub-Legion} [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/4-1fa.htm Captain Moses Porter's Company of US 3rd Sublegion formed in 1792-later Company E of the 1st US Regiment of Artillery 1821-1901-now the 4th Battalion/1st Field Artillery]
*''US Corps of Artillerists and Engineers formed 1794'';
*''1st Regiment of Artillery'' formed 1802:
**[http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/FA/1FieldArtilleryRegiment.htm 1st Field Artillery Regiment Insignia]
**[http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/R&H/R&H-1Art.htm 1st Artillery Regiment History to 1894]
**[http://www.25thidacom/units2.html 25th Infantry Division Association-subsequent history of 1st Artillery Regiment]
*''2nd Regiment of Artillerists:
**[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1-1ada.htm Captain Lemuel Gate's Company of 2nd Regiment of Artillerists and Engineers {constituted [[27 April]] [[1798]]-formed May 1798} {Later 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment}]
**[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1-3ada.htm Captain John Lillie's Company of 2nd Regiment of Artillerists and Engineers {constitued [[27 April]] [[1798]]-formed 1799} {Later 1st Battalion, 3rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment}]
**[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1-62ada.htm Captain Callender Irvine's Company of Artillerisits and Engineers organized [[27 April]] [[1798]]. {Later 1st Battalion, 62 Air Defense Artillery}].
**[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1-6fa.htm 3rd Battalion of 2nd Regiment of Artillerists and Engineers {formed 1798 Fort Jay, New York} From 1821 to 1907 "B" Battery 4th US Light Artillery {later 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery}].
**[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/5-3fa.htm 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery-see history link-cliams lineage to beginngs late 1700's-2nd Regiment of Artillerists and Engineers]
**[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/2-3fa.htm Captain Donoho Company of Artillery 2nd Regiment formed [[11 January]] [[1812]] {Later 2nd Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery}]
*''3rd Regiment of Artillery'':
**[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/403ada.htm 3rd Com/4th Batt/3rd Regiment of Artillerists and Engineers (constituted [[May 9]] [[1794]]-formed [[7 August]] [[1794]]}. {later "C" Battery 4th Battalion 3rd Air Defense Artillery}].
*''4th Regiment of Artillery'':
**[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1-4ada.htm Captain Henry Burbeck's Company of Artillery formed [[20 October]] [[1786]] of West Point-later Company D of the 4th US Regiment of Artillery 1821-1901-now the 1st Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery]
**[http://five-four-fa.fifthinfantrydivision.com/history.htm Brevet Lt. Col. Samuel D. Harris Company of Light Artillery Formed 1813-later 5th Battalion, 4th Artillery.]
*Rhode Island National Guard:
**[http://www.globalsecurity.org/miliary/agency/army/1-103fa.htm Providence Marine Corps of Artillery formed October 1801. {later 1st Battalion, 103rd Field Artillery, RING}]
**US Infantry:
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1-4in.htm 4th US Infantry Regiment {Formed 1792} (1st Battalion)].
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1-5in.htm 5th US Infantry Regiment {Formed [[May 17]] [[1815]]; however 1st Battalion lineage goes back to 1808}]. formed 1796, reformed in 1798, reformed 1800, reformed 1808, reformed 1812. Two Infantry Units trace their lineage to the 5th US Infantry:
**[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/2-2in.htm The 2nd Battalion/2nd US Infantry Regiment traces its lineage to a company of the 5th US Infantry.] Formed [[April 12]] [[1808]].
**[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/5-20inf.htm The 5th Battalion/20th US Infantry Regiment traces its lineage to Company E, 2nd Battalion, 5th US Infantry] formed on [[May 3]] [[1861]].
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1ad-2bde.htm 6th US Infantry Regiment , formed 1796, reformed 1798, reformed 1808, reformed 1812; see 1-6 and 2-6 IN The Regulars]
*[http://www.cottonbalers.com/ 7th US Infantry Regiment {formed 1798} "Cottonbalers"]
*8th Infantry Regiment formed 1798, reformed 1808, reformed 1812<br>
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1-9inf.htm 9th US Infantry Regiment {formed 1799}]see also [[Joseph Lovell]]. formed 1798, reformed 1808, reformed 1812<br>
*10th Infantry Regiment formed 1798, reformed 1808, reformed 1812<br>
*11th Infantry Regiment formed 1798, reformed 1808, reformed 1812<br>
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1-12in.htm 12th US Infantry Regiment (formed [[July 3]] [[1798]])].
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1bct-bde.htm 13th US Infantry Regiment {formed [[July 16]] [[1798]]} See 2-13 Infantry and 3-13 Infantry Listings]
*[http://1-14th.com/hist104.htm 14th US Infantry Regiment {formed 1798-1800; 1812-1815; formed again 1847} reformed [[May 3]] [[1861]]]{See below}
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1-15in.htm 15th US Infantry {formed [[July 16]] [[1798]]}]
*16th US Infantry Regiment formed 1798, reformed 1812<br>
*[http://www.17thinfantry.com/history.asp 17th US Infantry [Formed [[January 11]] [[1812]]]
*18th US Infantry Regiment formed 1812<br>
*19th US Infantry Regiment formed 1812<br>
*20th US Infantry Regiment formed 1812<br>
*21st US Infantry Regiment formed 1812<br>
*[http://1-22infantry.org/history/historytile.htm 22nd US Infantry] formed [[June 6]] [[1812]]
*[http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/R&H/R&H-23IN.htm 23rd US Infantry formed June 26, 1812 {First Formation}]
*24th US Infantry Regiment formed 1812<br>
*25th US Infantry Regiment formed 1812<br>
*26th US Infantry Regiment formed 1813<br>
*27th US Infantry Regiment formed 1813<br>
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1-28in.atm 28th US Infantry formed January 29, 1813 {First Formation}]
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/29inf-reg.htm 29th US Infantry Regiment formed [[29 January]] [[1813]]]
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/3-30in.htm 30th US Infantry Regiment formed 1813]<br>
*31st US Infantry Regiment formed 1813<br>
*32nd US Infantry Regiment formed 1813<br>
*33rd US Infantry Regiment formed 1813<br>
*34th US Infantry Regiment formed 1813<br>
*35th US Infantry Regiment formed 1813<br>
*36th US Infantry Regiment formed 1813<br>
*37th US Infantry Regiment formed 1813<br>
*38th US Infantry Regiment formed 1813<br>
*39th US Infantry Regiment formed 1813<br>
*40th US Infantry Regiment formed 1813<br>
*41st US Infantry Regiment formed 1813<br>
*42nd US Infantry Regiment formed 1813<br>
*43rd US Infantry Regiment formed 1813<br>
*44th US Infantry Regiment formed 1813<br>
*45th US Infantry Regiment formed 1814<br>
*46th US Infantry Regiment formed 1814<br>
*47th US Infantry Regiment formed 1814 - listed in the Army 1815 register(not available online) - redesginated when lower numbered regiments were consolidated due to low recruitment - <br>
*48th US Infantry Regiment formed 1814 - listed in the Army 1815 register(not available online) - redesginated when lower numbered regiments were consolidated due to low recruitment<br><br>
*US Regiment of Riflemen with colors inscribed 1st Rifle Regt.-US – formed 12 April 1808<br>
*3 companies recruited from NY, VT<br>
*3 companies recruited from South & LA Territory <br>
*4 companies recruited from KY, OH, IN Territory<br>
 
===20th century===
10 FEB 1814 - Three additional RIFLE REGIMENTS authorized<br>
Starting in 1910, the army began acquiring [[fixed-wing aircraft]].<ref>Cragg, Dan, ed., ''The Guide to Military Installations'', Stackpole Books, Harrisburg, 1983, p. 272.</ref> In 1910, during the [[Mexican Revolution]], the army was deployed to U.S. towns near the border to ensure the safety of lives and property. In 1916, [[Pancho Villa]], a major rebel leader, attacked [[Columbus, New Mexico]], prompting a [[Pancho Villa Expedition|U.S. intervention in Mexico]] until 7 February 1917. They fought the rebels and the Mexican federal troops until 1918.
 
====World Wars====
*1st Rifle Regiment - recruiting depot Shepardstown,Va & Savannah,Ga<br>
{{main|United States Army during World War II}}
*2nd Rifle Regiment - recruiting depots at Chillicothe,OH, Nashville, Tn, & Lexington, Ky<br>
{{Hatnote|For a list of campaigns see [[List of United States Army campaigns during World War II]]}}
*3rd Rifle Regiment - recruiting depots at Charlotte, NC, Bath Courthouse, VA, & Gallatin, TN<br>
[[File:At close grips2.jpg|thumb|right|U.S. Army troops assaulting a German bunker in [[France]], {{circa|1918}}]]
*4th Rifle Regiment - recruiting depots at Utica, NY, & Western PA<br><br>
[[File:Us army world war 1 johnstown pennsylvania common history.jpg|thumb|U.S. Army unit before heading to France during World War I]]
*US Rangers<br>
*Three battalions of Rangers (12 companies)1812-1815<br>
*Regiment of Mounted Rangers - 17th U.S. Regiment - Col. William Russell commanding (not to be confused with the 17th US Infantry Regiment) - 1812-1815<br>
*35th US Infantry Regiment - 1813-1815 - alleged "Ranger" designation<br> <br>
 
The [[American entry into World War I|United States joined World War I]] as an "Associated Power" in 1917 on the side of [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|Britain]], [[French Third Republic|France]], [[Russian Empire|Russia]], [[Kingdom of Italy|Italy]] and the other [[Allies of World War I|Allies]]. U.S. troops were sent to the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]] and were involved in the last offensives that ended the war. With the armistice in November 1918, the army once again decreased its forces.
Main sources:<br>
Can be verified by a search of the American State Papers in the public ___domain and view of images to include those at:
 
In 1939, estimates of the Army's strength ranged between 174,000 and 200,000 soldiers, smaller than that of [[Portugal]]'s, which ranked it 17th or 19th in the world in size. General [[George C. Marshall]] became Army chief of staff in September 1939 and set about expanding and modernizing the Army in preparation for war.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2014/jun/13/ken-paxton/us-army-was-smaller-army-portugal-world-war-ii/|title=U.S. army was smaller than the army for Portugal before World War II|work=Politifact|access-date=23 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ssi.armywarcollege.edu/pubs/summary.cfm?q=358|title=Excerpt – General George C. Marshall: Strategic Leadership and the Challenges of Reconstituting the Army, 1939–41|website=Ssi.armywarcollege.edu|access-date=23 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124005751/http://ssi.armywarcollege.edu/pubs/summary.cfm?q=358|archive-date=24 January 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
[http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName=016/llsp016.db&Page=535 Report of the strength and distribution of the army previous to July 1, 1814]
 
[[File:U.S. Soldiers at Bougainville (Solomon Islands) March 1944.jpg|thumb|left|U.S. soldiers hunting for Japanese infiltrators during the [[Bougainville Campaign]]]]
[http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName=016/llsp016.db&recNum=517 Documents showing the amount disbursed as bounties and premiums for recruits since January 27, 1814, and the distribution of the same, October 27, 1814]
The United States joined [[World War II]] in December 1941 after the [[Empire of Japan|Japanese]] [[attack on Pearl Harbor]]. Some 11 million Americans were to serve in various Army operations.<ref name= debruyne>{{citation |url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL32492.pdf |author=Nese DeBruyne, Congressional Research Service |date=18 September 2018 |title=American War and Military Operations Casualties: Lists and Statistics |at=Page 3, note j — |quote=World War II: 10.42 million (1 December 1941-31 August 1945) |access-date=21 April 2019 |archive-date=14 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514171012/https://sgp.fas.org/crs/natsec/RL32492.pdf |url-status=live }}. Other sources count the Army of Occupation up to 31 December 1946. By 30 June 1947 the Army's strength was down to 990,000 troops.</ref><ref name="amh-v2">{{citation |publisher=[[United States Army Center of Military History]] |chapter-url=https://history.army.mil/books/AMH-V2/AMH%20V2/chapter4.htm |title=American Military History |volume=2 |chapter=Chapter 4: "GRAND STRATEGY AND THE WASHINGTON HIGH COMMAND" |quote=10.4 million |page=122 |access-date=16 March 2019 |archive-date=9 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609173553/https://history.army.mil/books/AMH-V2/AMH%20V2/chapter4.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> On the [[European Theatre of World War II|European front]], U.S. Army troops formed a significant portion of the forces that landed in French North Africa and [[Tunisia campaign|took Tunisia]] and then [[Allied invasion of Sicily|moved on to Sicily]] and later [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|fought in Italy]]. In the June 1944 [[Normandy landings|landings in northern France]] and in the subsequent [[Western Front (World War II)#1944–45: The Second Front|liberation of Europe]] and defeat of [[Nazi Germany]], millions of U.S. Army troops played a central role. In 1947, the number of soldiers in the US Army had decreased from eight million in 1945 to 684,000 soldiers and the total number of active divisions had dropped from 89 to 12. The leaders of the Army saw this demobilization as a success.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Points Were All That Mattered: The US Army's Demobilization After World War II |url=https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/points-system-us-armys-demobilization#:~:text=The%20US%20Army%20finally%20ended,684%2C000%20on%20July%201%2C%201947. |website=The National WWII Museum New Orleans | date=27 August 2020 |access-date=November 4, 2022}}</ref>
 
In the [[Pacific War]], U.S. Army soldiers participated alongside the [[United States Marine Corps]] in capturing the [[Pacific Islands]] from Japanese control. Following the [[Axis Powers|Axis]] surrenders in May (Germany) and August (Japan) of 1945, army troops were deployed to Japan and Germany to occupy the two defeated nations. Two years after World War II, the [[Army Air Forces]] separated from the army to become the [[United States Air Force]] in September 1947. In 1948, the army was [[Desegregation in the United States|desegregated]] by [[Executive Order 9981|order 9981]] of President [[Harry S. Truman]].
[http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName=016/llsp016.db&recNum=521 Report of the Secretary of War, showing the number of enlistments in the year 1814, and the expenses of the recruiting service, November 10, 1814]
 
====Cold War====
=====1945–1960=====
[[File:Exercise Desert Rock I (Buster-Jangle Dog) 003.jpg|thumb|upright|U.S. Army soldiers observing an atomic bomb test of [[Operation Buster-Jangle]] at the [[Nevada Test Site]] during the [[Korean War]]|alt=]]
 
The end of World War II set the stage for the East–West confrontation known as the [[Cold War]]. With the outbreak of the [[Korean War]], concerns over the defense of Western Europe rose. Two corps, [[V Corps (United States)|V]] and [[VII Corps (United States)|VII]], were reactivated under [[Seventh United States Army]] in 1950 and U.S. strength in Europe rose from one division to four. Hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops remained stationed in West Germany, with others in [[Belgium]], the [[Netherlands]] and the [[United Kingdom]], until the 1990s in anticipation of a possible [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] attack.<ref name=PerkinsAOC>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-46HlgVPYDQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/-46HlgVPYDQ |archive-date=11 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=Perkins discusses operationalizing the Army Operating Concept|last=US Army TRADOC|date=16 September 2015|publisher=[[YouTube]]|access-date=2 November 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref>{{rp|minute 9:00–10:00}}
Amplifying information as obtained from:<br>
 
[[File:US Army tanks face off against Soviet tanks, Berlin 1961.jpg|thumb|right|US tanks and Soviet tanks at [[Checkpoint Charlie]], 1961]]
Selected excerpt from William Addleman Ganoe's "History of the United States Army"<br>
During the Cold War, U.S. troops and their allies fought [[Communism|communist]] forces in Korea and [[Vietnam]]. The Korean War began in June 1950, when the Soviets walked out of a UN Security Council meeting, removing their possible veto. Under a [[United Nations]] umbrella, hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops fought to prevent the takeover of [[South Korea]] by [[North Korea]] and later to invade the northern nation. After repeated advances and retreats by both sides and the Chinese [[People's Volunteer Army]]'s entry into the war, the [[s:Korean Armistice Agreement|Korean Armistice Agreement]] returned the peninsula to the status quo in July 1953.
In these post Revolutionary years the army passed through swift periods of rise and fall. It was the thermometer of the nation's fear. At first, under the constitution, it was barely 1 regiment, then 2 in 1789, 3 in 1791, a legion corresponding to 5 in 1792, 6 in 1796, 9 in 1798, 6 in 1800, and 3 again in 1802. In 1808 it suddenly sprang to 11 regiments each having 8, 10, or 20 companies depending on the law by which the particular organization was born (April 1808 - "...war with Great Britain was threatening. again the army, which recently bee cut down, was increased; 5 regiments of infantry, 1 regiment of riflemen, 1 regiment of light artillery and 1 regiment of light dragoons, to be enlsited for five years were added. p.111)<br>
 
=====1960–1970=====
"The Legion persisted for another year and a half, then went out of existence by act of Congress effective 31 October 1796. In the new establishment the infantry of the four sublegions became the 1st, 2d, 3d, and 4th Infantry.<br>
{{main|United States Army during Vietnam War}}
The [[Vietnam War]] is often regarded as a low point for the U.S. Army due to the use of [[The Draft|drafted personnel]], the unpopularity of the war with the U.S. public and frustrating restrictions placed on the military by U.S. political leaders. While U.S. forces had been stationed in [[South Vietnam]] since 1959, in intelligence and advising/training roles, they were not deployed in large numbers until 1965, after the [[Gulf of Tonkin Incident]]. U.S. forces effectively established and maintained control of the "traditional" battlefield, but they struggled to counter the [[guerrilla war|guerrilla]] hit and run tactics of the communist [[National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam|Viet Cong]] and the [[People's Army of Vietnam|People's Army of Vietnam (NVA)]].<ref>Woodruff, Mark. ''Unheralded Victory: The Defeat of the Viet Cong and the [[North Vietnamese Army]] 1961–1973'' (Arlington, VA: Vandamere Press, 1999).<!--page#?--></ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Shidler|first=Derek|title=Vietnam's Changing Historiography: Ngo Dinh Diem and America's Leadership|url=https://www.eiu.edu/historia/Historia2009Shidler.pdf|access-date=7 April 2021|archive-date=23 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023202450/https://www.eiu.edu/historia/Historia2009Shidler.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
[[File:DakToVietnam1966.jpg|thumb|left|A U.S. Army infantry patrol moving up to assault the last [[North Vietnamese Army]] position at Dak To, South Vietnam during [[Operation Hawthorne]]]]
[http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/Lineage/in/infantry.htm#2 Army Lineage Series: Infantry Part I: Regular Army - pp.12-16]
During the 1960s, the Department of Defense continued to scrutinize the reserve forces and to question the number of divisions and brigades as well as the redundancy of maintaining two reserve components, the [[Army National Guard]] and the [[United States Army Reserve|Army Reserve]].<ref>Wilson, John B. (1997). ''Maneuver and Firepower: The Evolution of Divisions and Separate Brigades''. Washington, DC: Center of Military History, Chapter XII, for references see Note 48.</ref> In 1967, Secretary of Defense [[Robert McNamara]] decided that 15 combat divisions in the Army National Guard were unnecessary and cut the number to eight divisions (one mechanized infantry, two armored, and five infantry), but increased the number of brigades from seven to 18 (one airborne, one armored, two mechanized infantry and 14 infantry). The loss of the divisions did not sit well with the states. Their objections included the inadequate maneuver element mix for those that remained and the end to the practice of rotating divisional commands among the states that supported them. Under the proposal, the remaining division commanders were to reside in the state of the division base. However, no reduction in total Army National Guard strength was to take place, which convinced the governors to accept the plan. The states reorganized their forces accordingly between 1 December 1967 and 1 May 1968.
 
=====1970–1990=====
Peace promised to prevail, so that during 1796 and 1797 the entire Army was reduced, and the size of regiments and companies as well. For scattered use, a large complement of officers and small companies filled the bill. All too soon the sense of security evaporated as war loomed with France. In consequence, the establishment swelled precipitately, and the strength of units with it. By 1799 a total of forty infantry regiments was authorized, although none but the 1st through the 4th ever attained the required strength. Only 3,400 men were raised for the 5th through the 16th, and none at all for any others. Fortunately, the war with France never took shape; by 1800 the crisis was over and the immediate need for more infantry gone. In addition, a new administration took office in 1801, an administration that almost pathologically feared a standing army. Accordingly, under Thomas Jefferson the infantry was cut back in 1802 to two regiments, the 1st and 2d.....<br> Jefferson's administration had only a brief chance to test its convictions regarding a strong militia and a small standing army, for war clouds were gathering once more. The United States almost began the second war with England when the British warship Leopard attacked the American Chesapeake in 1807. This aggression caused Congress to add five Regular infantry regiments in 1808, the 3d through the 7th, and also to constitute the Regiment of Riflemen. The latter was a product of the Revolutionary experience and the first rifle unit since the end of the Legion in 1796. Rifle elements re-entered the service through the agency of Brig. Gen. James Wilkinson, commanding the army, and Henry Dearborn, Secretary of War, both of whom had had firsthand experience with them in the last war.
[[File:Operation Just Cause Rangers 3rd sqd la comadancia small.jpg|thumb|right|U.S. Army soldiers preparing to take ''La Comandancia'' in the El Chorrillo neighborhood of [[Panama City]] during [[United States invasion of Panama|Operation Just Cause]]]]
 
The Total Force Policy was adopted by Chief of Staff of the Army General [[Creighton Abrams]] in the aftermath of the Vietnam War and involved treating the three components of the army – the [[Regular Army (United States)|Regular Army]], the [[Army National Guard]] and the [[United States Army Reserve|Army Reserve]] as a single force.<ref name="Army National Guard Constitution">{{cite web|url=http://www.arng.army.mil/aboutus/history/Pages/ConstitutionalCharteroftheGuard.aspx |title=Army National Guard Constitution |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521130934/http://www.arng.army.mil/aboutus/history/Pages/ConstitutionalCharteroftheGuard.aspx |archive-date=21 May 2013}}</ref> General Abrams' intertwining of the three components of the army effectively made extended operations impossible without the involvement of both the Army National Guard and Army Reserve in a predominantly combat support role.<ref>Carafano, James, [http://www.fpri.org/enotes/20050203.military.carofano.totalforcepolicyabramsdoctrine.html ''Total Force Policy and the Abrams Doctrine: Unfulfilled Promise, Uncertain Future''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100410064613/http://www.fpri.org///enotes/20050203.military.carofano.totalforcepolicyabramsdoctrine.html |date=10 April 2010}}, Foreign Policy Research Institute, 3 February 2005.</ref> The army converted to an all-volunteer force with greater emphasis on training to specific performance standards driven by the reforms of General [[William E. DePuy]], the first commander of [[United States Army Training and Doctrine Command]]. Following the Camp David Accords that was signed by Egypt, Israel that was brokered by president [[Jimmy Carter]] in 1978, as part of the agreement, both the United States and [[Egypt]] agreed that there would be a joint military training led by both countries that would usually take place every 2 years, that exercise is known as [[Exercise Bright Star]].
Aside from the augmentation of April 1808 there was no further preparation for a fight until just six months before the second war with England. At that time, that is, in January 1812, Congress constituted ten new regiments of Regular infantry. The act of 11 January 1812 which created them was remarkable in at least two ways: first, it provided for the largest regiments and battalions authorized in the United States before the Civil War and, second, it established an organization that was at variance with the seven existing regiments. As a result, in the first six months of 1812 there were three different-sized infantry regiments, besides one of riflemen. The 1st and 2d regiments made up the infantry of the "military peace establishment," and they had ten companies in them of seventy-six enlisted men. The 3d through the 7th regiments,authorized in 1808, were called the infantry of the "additional force," and comprised ten companies with two more officers and two more enlisted men each than the 1st and 2d had. The 8th through the 17th in no way resembled the others, for they had eighteen companies of 110 enlisted men, arranged in two battalions.<br>
Although some of the bulky eighteen-company regiments were raised, several never acquired their second battalions. Recruiting was so difficult that they lacked the time to raise many men before Congress voted a fresh reorganization. Late in June 1812, the legislators changed the law. According to the new arrangement there were to be twenty-five regiments of infantry, exclusive of the rifle regiment, each containing ten companies of 102 men. Thus all the infantry regiments were made uniform on paper, and a standard of organization was established that persisted throughout the conflict. This standard was more often than not honored in the breach. Once constituted, all the twenty-five regiments organized and recruited actively, but during the first two years of the struggle their efforts brought in less than half of the total number of infantrymen authorized.<br>
Regulars at first could only enlist for five years, but late in 1812 newcomers were given a chance to enroll "during the war." All the while the states competed with the Federal government for soldiers, and the shorter "hitches" they offered drew men into their service. To combat this Congress directed the creation, in January 1813, of twenty new infantry regiments enlisted for just one year. Nineteen of them were raised and designated as the 26th through the 44th Infantry. Later, they were converted into long-term outfits (five years or the duration) , but all the units constituted after 1811 had men in them enlisted for different terms. For example, there were in a single regiment one-year regulars, eighteenmonth men, three- and five-year men, and some in for "during the war."<br>
 
The 1980s was mostly a decade of reorganization. The [[Goldwater-Nichols Act]] of 1986 created [[Unified Combatant Command|unified combatant commands]] bringing the army together with the other four [[United States Military|military services]] under unified, geographically organized command structures. The army also played a role in the invasions of [[Grenada]] in 1983 ([[Invasion of Grenada|Operation Urgent Fury]]) and [[Panama]] in 1989 ([[Operation Just Cause]]).
Early in 1814 four more infantry regiments and three more regiments of riflemen were constituted. Finally, therefore, forty-eight infantry regiments, numbered from the 1st to the 48th, came into being, plus four rifle regiments, the 1st through the 4th. This was the greatest number of infantry units included in the Regular Army until the world wars of the twentieth century. A mighty effort was made in 1814 to raise the Army to strength, and nearly 27,000 men came in, but in spite of this, four of the regiments had to be consolidated because they were too small. The 17th, 19th, 26th, and 27th were joined to form a new 17th and a new 19th, while the two highest numbered, the 47th and 48th, were redesignated the 27th and 26th, respectively.<br>
 
By 1989 [[German reunification|Germany was nearing reunification]] and the Cold War was coming to a close. Army leadership reacted by starting to plan for a reduction in strength. By November 1989 Pentagon briefers were laying out plans to reduce army end strength by 23%, from 750,000 to 580,000.<ref>An Army at War: Change in the Midst of Conflict, p. 515, via [[Google Books]]</ref> A number of incentives such as early retirement were used.
No sooner was war over than Congress scrambled to rid itself of its more than 30,000 infantrymen. An act of 3 March 1815 set the peace establishment at 10,000 men, divided among infantry, rifle; and artillery regiments. Cavalry was eliminated, and eight infantry regiments and one rifle regiment arose from the ruins of the forty-six and four in existence. The rifles were consolidated and the infantry, after many rearrangements, settled as follows:<br><br>
 
====1990s====
1st Infantry formed by consolidation of the 2d, 3d, 7th, and 44th<br>
[[File:Abrams in formation.jpg|thumb|left|[[M1 Abrams]] tanks moving out before the [[Battle of Al Busayyah]] during the [[Gulf War]]]]
2d Infantry formed by consolidation of the 6th, 16th, 22d, 23d, and 32d<br>
3d Infantry formed by consolidation of the 1st, 5th, 17th, 19th, and 28th<br>
4th Infantry formed by consolidation of the 14th, 18th, 20th, 36th, and 38th<br>
5th Infantry formed by consolidation of the 4th, 9th, 13th, 21st, 40th, and 46th<br>
6th Infantry formed by consolidation of the 11th, 25th, 27th, 29th, and 37th<br>
7th Infantry formed by consolidation of the 8th, 24th, and 39th<br>
8th Infantry formed by consolidation of the 10th and 12th<br><br>
 
In 1990, [[Iraq]] [[Invasion of Kuwait|invaded]] its smaller neighbor, [[Kuwait]], and U.S. land forces quickly deployed to assure the protection of [[Saudi Arabia]]. In January 1991 [[Operation Desert Storm]] commenced, a U.S.-led coalition which deployed over 500,000 troops, the bulk of them from U.S. Army formations, to [[Gulf War|drive out Iraqi forces]]. The campaign ended in total victory, as Western coalition forces routed the [[Iraqi Army]]. Some of the largest tank battles in history were fought during the Gulf war. The [[Battle of Medina Ridge]], [[Battle of Norfolk]] and the [[Battle of 73 Easting]] were tank battles of historical significance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.militaryeducation.org/10-most-epic-tank-battles-in-military-history/|title=10 Most Epic Tank Battles in Military History|website=Militaryeducation.org|access-date=2 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113173424/http://www.militaryeducation.org/10-most-epic-tank-battles-in-military-history/|archive-date=13 November 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>VUA Citation</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/6-massive-tank-battles-from-us-history|title=These were the 6 most massive tank battles in US history|date=24 March 2016|website=Wearethemighty.com|access-date=2 November 2017|archive-date=21 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621020459/https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/6-massive-tank-battles-from-us-history|url-status=live}}</ref>
The eight remaining infantry regiments were smaller than their war predecessors because, although the number of companies in each remained at ten, every company contained 78 men instead of 103. There was no effort to preserve the honors or traditional numbers of any of ,the prewar regiments. The 1st was merged with other regiments and redesignated the 3d, and the old 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th were likewise lost in the remains of disbanded regiments. The new numbers were founded on the seniority of the colonels, the senior colonel commanding the 1st, and so forth. As a consequence of the reduction, 25,000 infantrymen were separated from the service. Another consequence was that the form of the infantry establishment was set roughly for the next thirty years. Not until the Mexican War, thirty-one years later, was it substantially expanded.<br>
 
[[File:Destroyed Iraqi tank TF-41.jpg|thumb|right|Iraqi tanks destroyed by [[Task Force 1-41 Infantry]] during the Gulf War, February 1991]]
The Germinal Period., 1816-1860<br>
After Operation Desert Storm, the army did not see major combat operations for the remainder of the 1990s but did participate in a number of peacekeeping activities. In 1990 the Department of Defense issued guidance for "rebalancing" after a review of the Total Force Policy,<ref>[http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA235382 Section 1101, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429005041/http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA235382 |date=29 April 2011}}, Department of Defense Interim Report to Congress, September 1990 (see "[[Rebalancing (investment)|rebalancing]]" as used in finance.)</ref> but in 2004, [[USAF Air War College]] scholars concluded the guidance would reverse the Total Force Policy which is an "essential ingredient to the successful application of military force".<ref>Downey, Chris, [http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA424059 ''The Total Force Policy and Effective Force''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429005034/http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA424059 |date=29 April 2011}}, Air War College, 19 March 2004.</ref>
 
===21st century===
After the reorganization of 1815, the Regular infantry fluctuated in size with the whole military establishment. Prospects of peace appeared to improve, and in 1821 Congress felt safe enough to cut expenses by disbanding the Rifle Regiment and the 8th Infantry. Having reduced the infantry establishment to seven foot regiments, which were thought adequate to meet all contingencies, the legislators next sliced the size of companies to fifty-one enlisted men, the smallest ever. This arrangement endured for fifteen years when, as usual, the Indians forced an enlargement. " <br><br>
[[File:Flickr - DVIDSHUB - Operation in Nahr-e Saraj (Image 5 of 7).jpg|thumb|right|U.S. Army Rangers taking part in a raid during an operation in [[Nahr-e Saraj District|Nahr-e Saraj]], [[Afghanistan]]]]
 
On 11 September 2001, 53 Army civilians (47 employees and six contractors) and 22 soldiers were among the 125 victims killed in [[Casualties of the September 11 attacks#Pentagon|the Pentagon]] in a [[terrorism|terrorist attack]] when [[American Airlines Flight 77]] commandeered by five [[Al-Qaeda]] [[aircraft hijacking|hijackers]] slammed into the western side of the building, as part of the [[September 11 attacks]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.patriotresource.com/wtc/victims/pentagon.html|title=September 11, 2001 Pentagon Victims|work=patriotresource.com|access-date=13 November 2015|archive-date=25 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190625175936/http://www.patriotresource.com/wtc/victims/pentagon.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In response to the 11 September attacks and as part of the [[War on Terror|Global War on Terror]], U.S. and [[NATO]] forces [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|invaded Afghanistan]] in October 2001, displacing the [[Taliban]] government. The U.S. Army also led the combined U.S. and allied [[2003 invasion of Iraq|invasion of Iraq]] in 2003; it served as the primary source for ground forces with its ability to sustain short and long-term deployment operations. In the following years, the mission changed from conflict between regular militaries to [[counterinsurgency]], resulting in the deaths of more than 4,000 U.S. service members (as of March 2008) and injuries to thousands more.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Burnham |first1=Gilbert |last2=Lafta |first2=Riyadh |last3=Doocy |first3=Shannon |last4=Roberts |first4=Les |date=12 October 2006 |title=Mortality after the 2003 invasion of Iraq: a cross-sectional cluster sample survey |url=|journal=The Lancet |language=en |volume=368 |issue=9545 |pages=1421–1428 |citeseerx=10.1.1.88.4036 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(06)69491-9 |pmid=17055943 |s2cid=23673934|issn=0140-6736}}</ref><ref name="Lancet supplement">{{cite web|url=http://web.mit.edu/CIS/pdf/Human_Cost_of_War.pdf|title=The Human Cost of the War in Iraq: A Mortality Study, 2002–2006|access-date=16 December 2011|archive-date=13 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230513225449/http://web.mit.edu/CIS/pdf/Human_Cost_of_War.pdf|url-status=live}}&nbsp;{{small|(603&nbsp;KB)}}. By Gilbert Burnham, Shannon Doocy, Elizabeth Dzeng, Riyadh Lafta, and Les Roberts. A supplement to the second ''Lancet'' study.</ref> 23,813 insurgents were killed in Iraq between 2003 and 2011.<ref>597 killed in 2003, [https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2007-09-26-insurgents_N.htm] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110428200503/http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2007-09-26-insurgents_N.htm |date=28 April 2011 }}, 23,984 killed from 2004 through 2009 (with the exceptions of May 2004 and March 2009), [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/oct/22/true-civilian-body-count-iraq] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250116122148/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/oct/22/true-civilian-body-count-iraq |date=16 January 2025 }} 652 killed in May 2004, [http://www.iraqbodycount.org/analysis/numbers/warlogs/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420005153/https://www.iraqbodycount.org/analysis/numbers/warlogs/ |date=20 April 2020 }} 45 killed in March 2009, [http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/CJAL-7QPQB7?OpenDocument] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903190008/http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/CJAL-7QPQB7?OpenDocument |date=3 September 2009 }} 676 killed in 2010, [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-30/iraq-civilian-deaths-drop-for-third-year-as-toll-eases-after-u-s-drawdown.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140804181246/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-30/iraq-civilian-deaths-drop-for-third-year-as-toll-eases-after-u-s-drawdown.html |date=4 August 2014 }} 451 killed in 2011 (with the exception of February), [http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-world/jan-iraq-death-toll-highest-in-four-months-20110201-1ac9m.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714071733/http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-world/jan-iraq-death-toll-highest-in-four-months-20110201-1ac9m.html |date=14 July 2014 }} [http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2011/04/03/Two-US-troops-killed-in-Iraq/UPI-84151301845983/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150209184621/http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2011/04/03/Two-US-troops-killed-in-Iraq/UPI-84151301845983/ |date=9 February 2015 }} [http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Iraq_monthly_death_toll_falls_in_April_999.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812043950/http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Iraq_monthly_death_toll_falls_in_April_999.html |date=12 August 2014 }} [http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=46442] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150209184820/http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=46442 |date=9 February 2015 }} [http://www.thedailynewsegypt.com/death-toll-spikes-for-iraqis-us-troops.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111145441/http://www.thedailynewsegypt.com/death-toll-spikes-for-iraqis-us-troops.html |date=11 January 2012 }} [http://arabia.msn.com/news/middleeast/afp/2011/august/7991554.aspx] {{Webarchive|url=http://web.archive.bibalex.org/web/20111208174352/http://arabia.msn.com/news/middleeast/afp/2011/august/7991554.aspx |date=8 December 2011 }}{{cite web |title=239 people killed in Iraq in August and killed by the U.S. Military |url=http://www.nenosplace.com/showthread.php?45792-239-people-killed-in-Iraq-in-August-and-killed-by-the-U.S.-military |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112042255/http://www.nenosplace.com/showthread.php?45792-239-people-killed-in-Iraq-in-August-and-killed-by-the-U.S.-military |archive-date=12 January 2012 |access-date=22 October 2011 }} {{cite web |title=Gulf Times – Qatar's top-selling English daily newspaper – Gulf/Arab World |url=http://gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no%3D2%26item_no%3D461485%26version%3D1%26template_id%3D37%26parent_id%3D17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002182259/http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=461485&version=1&template_id=37&parent_id=17 |archive-date=2 October 2011 |access-date=15 October 2011 }} {{cite web |title=Iraq death toll up sharply in October |url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/Iraq+death+toll+sharply+October/5638077/story.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111064434/http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Iraq+death+toll+sharply+October/5638077/story.html |archive-date=11 November 2011 |access-date=3 November 2011 }} for a total of 26,405 dead.</ref>
==US Regulars raised 1832-1860==
* Battalion of Mounted Rangers formed 1832
* see [http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/Lineage/arcav/arcav.htm Army Lineage Series: Armor-Cavalry Part I: Regular Army and Army Reserve]
*Cavalry-see [[US Cavalry]]
*Infantry-
**8th US Infantry formed 1838:
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1-8in.htm 8th US Infantry (Company A}-now 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment].
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/2-8in.htm 8th US Infantry {Company B}-now 2d Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment]
**10th US Infantry formed 1855:
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/militiary/agency/army/2-10in.htm 2d Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment]
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/militiary/agency/army/3-10in.htm 3d Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment]
 
[[File:U.S. Army firefight in Kunar.jpg|thumb|U.S. Army soldiers with the 2nd Battalion, [[327th Infantry Regiment]], [[101st Airborne Division]] returning fire during a firefight with Taliban forces in Barawala Kalay Valley in [[Kunar Province|Kunar province]], Afghanistan, March 2011]]
[http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/R&H/R&H-FM.htm The Army of the United States, Historical Sketches of Staff and Line with Portraits of Generals-in-Chief.]
Until 2009, the army's chief modernization plan, its most ambitious since World War II,<ref>{{cite news|title=Defense Secretary Gates observes Army Future Combat Systems progress|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1478644341.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525180514/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1478644341.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 May 2017|access-date=12 May 2017|work=US Fed News Service|date=9 May 2008}}</ref> was the [[Future Combat Systems]] program. In 2009, many systems were canceled, and the remaining were swept into the [[BCT Modernization|BCT modernization program]].<ref>{{cite news|title=FCS Program Transitions to Army BCT Modernization|url=http://www.defencetalk.com/fcs-program-transitions-to-army-bct-modernization-20092/|access-date=21 November 2016|agency=Defencetalk.com|publisher=defencetalk.com|date=26 June 2009|archive-date=28 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228063112/https://www.defencetalk.com/fcs-program-transitions-to-army-bct-modernization-20092/|url-status=live}}</ref> By 2017, the Brigade Modernization project was completed and its headquarters, the Brigade Modernization Command, was renamed the Joint Modernization Command, or JMC.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fortblissbugle.com/bmc-redesignated-jmc-new-name-better-reflects-evolving-organizational-mission |title=BMC redesignated JMC New name better reflects evolving organizational mission &#124; Fort Bliss Bugle |access-date=22 March 2017 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216213925/http://fortblissbugle.com/bmc-redesignated-jmc-new-name-better-reflects-evolving-organizational-mission/ |archive-date=16 February 2017}}</ref> In response to [[Budget sequestration in 2013]], Army plans were to shrink to 1940 levels,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/24/us/politics/pentagon-plans-to-shrink-army-to-pre-world-war-ii-level.html|title=Pentagon Plans to Shrink Army to Pre-World War II Level|last1=Shanker|first1=Thom|last2=Cooper|first2=Helene|date=23 February 2014|work=The New York Times Company|access-date=23 February 2014}}</ref> although actual Active-Army end-strengths were projected to fall to some 450,000 troops by the end of FY2017.<ref name=troopLevels2015Plan>{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/151992/army_to_realign_brigades_cut_40000_soldiers_17000_civilians|title=Army to realign brigades, cut 40,000 Soldiers, 17,000 civilians|website= Army.mil|date=10 July 2015}}</ref><ref name= authorizedStrength2020>[https://www.army.mil/article/218533/soldier_pay_quality_of_life_modernization_among_priorities_in_budget_proposal Joe Lacdan, Army News Service (March 13, 2019) Soldier pay, quality of life, modernization among priorities in budget proposal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328154017/https://www.army.mil/article/218533/soldier_pay_quality_of_life_modernization_among_priorities_in_budget_proposal |date=28 March 2019 }} Requested troop strengths: Active (480,000), NG (336,000), and Reserve (189,500) for 2020 budget</ref> From 2016 to 2017, the Army retired hundreds of [[OH-58 Kiowa Warrior]] observation helicopters,<ref name="retired">{{cite news|title=Kiowa Warriors pass torch to Apache attack helicopters in South Korea|url=https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/kiowa-warriors-pass-torch-to-apache-attack-helicopters-in-south-korea-1.450886#.WRZUIuXyvic|access-date=13 May 2017|work=Stars and Stripes|date=26 January 2017|archive-date=25 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525180404/https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/kiowa-warriors-pass-torch-to-apache-attack-helicopters-in-south-korea-1.450886#.WRZUIuXyvic|url-status=live}}</ref> while retaining its Apache gunships.<ref name= faraScoutCapability>{{Cite web|url=https://breakingdefense.com/2019/03/dont-panic-about-apaches-army-not-junking-gunships/|title=Don't Panic About Apaches: Army Not Junking Gunships|first=Barry|last=Rosenberg|date=28 March 2019|access-date=7 April 2019|archive-date=31 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331212232/https://breakingdefense.com/2019/03/dont-panic-about-apaches-army-not-junking-gunships/|url-status=live}}</ref> The 2015 expenditure for Army research, development and acquisition changed from $32&nbsp;billion projected in 2012 for FY15 to $21&nbsp;billion for FY15 expected in 2014.<ref name=Drw>Drwiega, Andrew. "[http://www.aviationtoday.com/rw/services/finance-and-insurance/Missions-Solutions-Summit-Army-Leaders-Warn-of-Rough-Ride-Ahead_82218.html Missions Solutions Summit: Army Leaders Warn of Rough Ride Ahead] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714153025/http://www.aviationtoday.com/rw/services/finance-and-insurance/Missions-Solutions-Summit-Army-Leaders-Warn-of-Rough-Ride-Ahead_82218.html |date=14 July 2014}}" ''Rotor&Wing'', 4 June 2014. Accessed: 8 June 2014.</ref>
<!-- I will cite this part later once I remember how to do citations in wikipedia EDITED BY
THEOPHILUS FRANCIS RODENBOUGH
BVT. BRIGADIER GENERAL U.S.A.
AND
WILLIAM L. HASKIN
MAJOR, FIRST ARTILLERY
NEW YORK
MAYNARD, MERRILL, & CO.
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==US Civil WarOrganization==
[[File:Organization of U.S. Space Force.svg|thumb|350x350px|Organization of the United States Army within the Department of Defense]]
*US Regular Units raised 1861-1865:
*Artillery:
**[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/4-5ada.htm 5th Regiment]
*Cavalry:-see [[US Cavalry]]
*Infantry:
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/11inf-r.htm 11th U.S. Infantry] constituted [[May 3]] [[1861]].
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1-21in.htm 12th U.S. Infantry] {changed to 21st Infantry 1867}.
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1-14in.htm 14th U.S. Infantry] formed [[May 3]] [[1861]] {second formantion}.{[http://www.25thida.com/23dinf.html#History Note the modern 23rd US Infantry Regiment] formed [[Sept 21]] [[1866]] claims descendent from 1st Battalion of the 14th US Infantry}.
*[http://www.16thinfantry-regiment.org/sir/go/3331/Default.aspx 16th U.S.Infantry] which traces its lineage from 1st Battalion, 11th US Infantry which was constituted on [[May 3]] [[1861]].
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1-17in.htm 17th U.S. Infantry] constituted [[May 3]] [[1861]].
*[http://www.18inf.org/line.htm#top 18th U.S. Infantry] constituted [[May 3]] [[1861]].
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/itb.htm 19th U.S. Infantry] constituted [[May 3]] [[1861]]. {See 1-19 Infantry and 2-19 Infantry}.
 
===Planning===
----
By 2017, a task force was formed to address Army modernization,<ref name= afcTF2017>[https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/ARN6391_AD2017-33_Web_Final.pdf Army Directive 2017–33 (Enabling the Army Modernization Task Force) (7 November 2017)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403204155/https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/ARN6391_AD2017-33_Web_Final.pdf |date=3 April 2019 }} References Decker-Wagner 2011</ref> which triggered shifts of units: [[United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Command|CCDC]], and [[United States Army Capabilities Integration Center|ARCIC]], from within [[United States Army Materiel Command|Army Materiel Command]] (AMC), and [[United States Army Training and Doctrine Command|Army Training and Doctrine Command]] (TRADOC), respectively, to a new Army Command (ACOM) in 2018.<ref name= G.O.2018-10>Secretary of the Army, Mark T. Esper (4 June 2018), ESTABLISHMENT OF UNITED STATES ARMY FUTURES COMMAND [https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/ARN11199_GO1810_FINAL.pdf Army General order G.O.2018-10] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903215148/https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/ARN11199_GO1810_FINAL.pdf |date=3 September 2018 }}</ref> AFC's mission is modernization reform: to design hardware, as well as to work within the acquisition process which defines materiel for AMC. TRADOC's mission is to define the architecture and organization of the Army, and to train and supply soldiers to FORSCOM.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDlNNckJzTY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/tDlNNckJzTY |archive-date=11 December 2021 |url-status=live|title="The Future Army," featuring U.S. General David G. Perkins|last=Center for Strategic & International Studies|date=29 April 2014|publisher=[[YouTube]]|access-date=2 November 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref>{{rp|minutes 2:30–15:00}}<ref name=PerkinsAOC/> [[United States Army Futures Command#Cross-functional teams|AFC's cross-functional teams (CFTs)]] are Futures Command's vehicle for sustainable [[United States Army Futures Command#Need for modernization reform|reform of the acquisition process]] for the future.<ref name= acqReformCulture>{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/219858/acquisition_reform_requires_culture_shift_officials_say|title=Acquisition reform requires culture shift, officials say|website=Army.mil|date=9 April 2019|access-date=10 April 2019|archive-date=10 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410112734/https://www.army.mil/article/219858/acquisition_reform_requires_culture_shift_officials_say|url-status=live}}</ref> In order to support the Army's modernization priorities, its FY2020 budget allocated $30&nbsp;billion for the top six modernization priorities over the next five years.<ref name=fy2020,30billion>{{Cite news|url=https://www.army.mil/article/217813/army_fy20_budget_proposal_realigns_30_billion|title=Army FY20 budget proposal realigns $30 billion|website=army.mil|archive-date=28 February 2019|access-date=7 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228121756/https://www.army.mil/article/217813/army_fy20_budget_proposal_realigns_30_billion|url-status=live}}</ref> The $30&nbsp;billion came from $8&nbsp;billion in cost avoidance and $22&nbsp;billion in terminations.<ref name=fy2020,30billion />
 
==1865=Army to 1900Components===
{{see also|Structure of the United States Army}}
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1-24in.htm 24th US Infantry organized November 1, 1869 from the 34th and 41st Infantry Regiments]
[[File:DA Pam 10-1 Figure 1-1.png|thumb|upright=1.15|U.S. Army organization chart<ref>DA Pam 10–1 ''Organization of the United States Army'', Figure 1-1. '"Army Organizations Execute Specific Functions and Assigned Missions"</ref>]]
 
The task of organizing the U.S. Army commenced in 1775.<ref>[https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/pdf/p10_1.pdf Organization of the United States Army: America's Army 1775 – 1995, DA PAM 10–1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250208090021/https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/pdf/p10_1.pdf |date=8 February 2025 }}. Headquarters, Department of the Army, Washington, 14 June 1994.</ref> In the first one hundred years of its existence, the United States Army was maintained as a small peacetime force to man permanent [[forts]] and perform other non-wartime duties such as [[United States Army Corps of Engineers|engineering]] and construction works. During times of war, the U.S. Army was augmented by the much larger [[United States Volunteers]] which were raised independently by various state governments. States also maintained full-time [[militia]]s which could also be called into the service of the army.
 
[[File:American World War II senior military officials, 1945.JPEG|thumb|Senior American commanders of the [[European theatre of World War II]]. <br />*Seated are (from left to right) Generals [[William H. Simpson]], [[George S. Patton]], [[Carl A. Spaatz]], [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]], [[Omar Bradley]], [[Courtney H. Hodges]], and [[Leonard T. Gerow]] <br />*standing are (from left to right) Generals [[Ralph Francis Stearley|Ralph F. Stearley]], [[Hoyt Vandenberg]], [[Walter Bedell Smith]], [[Otto P. Weyland]], and [[Richard E. Nugent]]]]
== 1900 to Present ==
By the twentieth century, the U.S. Army had mobilized the U.S. Volunteers on four occasions during each of the major wars of the nineteenth century. During World War I, the "[[National Army (USA)|National Army]]" was organized to fight the conflict, replacing the concept of U.S. Volunteers.<ref name="autogenerated3">{{cite book|last=Finnegan|first=John Patrick|author2=Romana Danysh|editor=Jeffrey J. Clarke|year=1998|title=Military Intelligence|chapter=Chapter 2: World War I|series=Army Lineage Series|publisher=[[Center of Military History, United States Army]]|isbn=978-0160488283|oclc=35741383|___location=Washington, D.C., United States|at=online|chapter-url=http://www.history.army.mil/books/Lineage/mi/ch2.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090830141819/http://www.history.army.mil/books/Lineage/mi/ch2.htm|archive-date=30 August 2009}}</ref> It was demobilized at the end of World War I and was replaced by the Regular Army, the Organized Reserve Corps, and the state militias. In the 1920s and 1930s, the "career" soldiers were known as the "[[Regular Army (United States)|Regular Army]]" with the "Enlisted Reserve Corps" and "Officer Reserve Corps" augmented to fill vacancies when needed.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |last=Pullen |first=Randy |date=23 April 2008|title=Army Reserve Marks First 100 Years|format=online article|publisher=DefenceTalk|archive-date=24 April 2008|access-date=8 August 2008<!--based on page oldid=230430444-->|url=http://www.defencetalk.com/news/publish/army/Army_Reserve_Marks_First_100_Years110015618.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080424165606/http://www.defencetalk.com/news/publish/army/Army_Reserve_Marks_First_100_Years110015618.php}}</ref>
 
In 1941, the "[[Army of the United States]]" was founded to fight World War II.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/139620/americas_entry_into_world_war_ii_remembered_73_years_later|title=America's entry into World War II remembered 73 years later|last=Vergun|first=David|date=December 9, 2014|website=United States Army|access-date=July 12, 2024|archive-date=12 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712174337/https://www.army.mil/article/139620/americas_entry_into_world_war_ii_remembered_73_years_later|url-status=live}}</ref> The Regular Army, Army of the United States, the National Guard, and Officer/Enlisted Reserve Corps (ORC and ERC) existed simultaneously. After World War II, the ORC and ERC were combined into the [[United States Army Reserve]]. The Army of the United States was re-established for the [[Korean War]] and [[Vietnam War]] and was demobilized upon the suspension of the [[Conscription in the United States|draft]].<ref name="autogenerated1"/>
162nd Infantry Regiment
 
Currently, the Army is divided into the [[Regular Army (United States)|Regular Army]], the Army Reserve, and the [[Army National Guard]].<ref name="autogenerated3"/> Some states further maintain [[state defense force]]s, as a type of reserve to the National Guard, while all states maintain regulations for [[Militia (United States)|state militias]].<ref>Department of Defense, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Military compensation background papers, Seventh edition, page 229. Department of Defense, 2005.</ref>
[[US 37th Armor Regiment]] - Commanded by LTC [[Creighton Abrams]] during WWII.
 
The U.S. Army is also divided into [[List of United States Army careers|several branches and functional areas]]. Branches include officers, warrant officers, and enlisted Soldiers while functional areas consist of officers who are reclassified from their former branch into a functional area. However, officers continue to wear the [[United States Army branch insignia|branch insignia]] of their former branch in most cases, as functional areas do not generally have discrete insignia. Some branches, such as [[United States Army Special Forces|Special Forces]], operate similarly to functional areas in that individuals may not join their ranks until having served in another Army branch. Careers in the Army can extend into cross-functional areas for officers,<ref name=AACSL>{{Cite web|url=https://asc.army.mil/web/news-military-career-corner-dacm-july-2018/|title=Military (Officer) Corner: Army Acquisition Centralized Selection List|first=Aris|last=Morris|date=August 2018|access-date=8 August 2018|archive-date=5 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405162253/https://asc.army.mil/web/news-military-career-corner-dacm-july-2018/|url-status=live}}</ref> warrant officers, enlisted, and civilian personnel.
==Rank Structure==
Comparison of ranking structure available at [[Ranks and Insignia of NATO]].
 
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
|+ U.S. Army branches and functional areas
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO/Army/Blank}}
!Branch
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO/Army/United States}}
!Insignia and colors
!style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
!Branch
!Insignia and colors
!style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
!colspan="2"|Functional Area (FA)
|-
|[[Acquisition Corps]] (AC)
|colspan=4|
|style="background:black;"|[[File:Acquisition-Corps-Branch-In.png|x50px]]
* <sup>1</sup> Honorary/War time rank.
!style="background:#25185d;"|
|}
|[[United States Army Air Defense Artillery|Air Defense Artillery]] (AD)
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
|style="background:#ff2400;|[[File:USAADA-BRANCH.svg|x50px]]
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Armies/WO/Blank}}
|style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Armies/WO/United States}}
|colspan="2"|Information Network Engineering (FA 26)
|}
|-
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
|[[United States Army Adjutant General's Corps|Adjutant General's Corps]] (AG) <br />''Includes [[United States military bands|Army Bands]] (AB)''
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Armies/OR/Blank}}
|style="background:navy; border:5px groove #ff2400;"|[[File:AdjGenBC.svg|x45px]] [[File:ArmyBand Collar Brass.PNG|x45px]]
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Armies/OR/United States}}
!style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|[[Armor Branch|Armor]] (AR) <br />''Includes [[United States Cavalry|Cavalry]] (CV)''
|style="background:yellow; color:black;"|[[File:Armor-Branch-Insignia.png|x40px]] [[File:US-Cavalry-Branch-Insignia.png|x33px]]
|style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|colspan="2"|[[Information Operations (United States)|Information Operations]] (FA 30)
|-
|[[United States Army Aviation Branch|Aviation]] (AV)
|style="background:#4166f5; border:5px groove #FF7F00;"|[[File:US Army Aviation Branch Insignia.svg|x48px]]
!style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|[[Civil affairs#United States Army|Civil Affairs Corps]] (CA)
|style="background:purple; border:5px groove #FFFFFF;"|[[File:USA - Civil Affairs.png|40px]]
|style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|colspan="2"|Strategic Intelligence (FA 34)
|-
|[[United States Army Chaplain Corps|Chaplain Corps]] (CH)
|style=background:black;"|[[File:ChristChaplainBC.gif|x40px]] [[File:JewishChaplainBC.gif|x42px]] [[File:US Army Hindu Faith Branch Insignia.png|x45px]] <br />[[File:BuddhistChaplainBC.gif|x42px]] [[File:MuslimChaplainBC.gif|x40px]] [[File:ChaplainAsstBC.gif|x45px]]
!style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|[[United States Army Chemical Corps|Chemical Corps]] (CM)
|style="background:#0047AB; border:5px groove #FFDF00;"|[[File:Chemical Branch Insignia.svg|x28px]]
|style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|colspan="2"|Space Operations (FA 40)
|-
|[[Cyber Branch (United States Army)|Cyber Corps]] (CY)
|style="background:gray; border:5px groove black;"|[[File:US Army Cyber Branch Insignia.png|x45px]]
!style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|[[United States Army Dental Command|Dental Corps]] (DC)
|style="background:#800000; border:5px groove #FFFFFF;"|[[File:USA - Army Medical Dental.png|x50px]]
|style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|colspan="2"|[[Public affairs (military)|Public Affairs Officer]] (FA 46)
|-
|[[United States Army Corps of Engineers|Corps of Engineers]] (EN)
|style="background:#FF2400; border:5px groove #FFFFFF;"|[[File:USA - Engineer Branch Insignia.png|x35px]]
!style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|[[United States Army Field Artillery Corps|Field Artillery]] (FA)
|style="background:#FF2400;"|[[File:USA - Army Field Artillery Insignia.png|x40px]]
|style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|colspan="2"|Academy Professor (FA 47)
|-
|[[United States Army Finance Corps|Finance Corps]] (FI)
|style="background:#D3D3D3; border:5px groove #FFDF00;"|[[File:USA - Army Finance Corps.png|x40px]]
!style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|[[Infantry Branch (United States)|Infantry]] (IN)
|style="background:#A2e3e8;"|[[File:USA - Army Infantry Insignia.png|x38px]]
|style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|colspan="2"|[[Foreign Area Officer]] (FA 48)
|-
|[[Office of the Inspector General of the United States Army|Inspector General]] (IG)
|style="background:navy; border:5px groove lightblue;"|[[File:USA - Inspector General Branch Insignia.png|x38px]]
|style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|[[United States Army Logistics Branch|Logistics]] (LG)
|style="background: #BF1238; border:5px groove #CD7F32;"|[[File:USA - Logistics Branch Insignia.png|x50px]]
|style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|colspan="2"|Operations Research/Systems Analysis (FA 49)
|-
|[[United States Army Judge Advocate General's Corps|Judge Advocate General's Corps]] (JA)
|style="background:navy; border:5px groove #FFFFFF;"|[[File:JAGC Staff Corps Insignia Army.gif|x35px]]
!style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|[[United States Army Military Intelligence|Military Intelligence Corps]] (MI)
|style="background:#1E90FF; border:5px groove #D3D3D3;"|[[File:MI Corps Insignia.svg|x55px]]
|style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|colspan="2"|Force Management (FA 50)
|-
|[[United States Army Medical Corps|Medical Corps]] (MC)
|style="background:#800000; border:5px groove #FFFFFF;"|[[File:USA - Army Medical Corps.png|x50px]]
!style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|[[Army Medical Department (United States)#Medical Service Corps (MS)|Medical Service Corps]] (MS)
|style="background:#800000; border:5px groove #FFFFFF;"|[[File:USA - Army Medical Specialist Corps.png|x49px]]
|style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|colspan="2"|Acquisition ([[List of United States Army careers#Army Acquisition Corps (FA and CMF 51)|FA 51]])<ref name=AACSL/>
|-
|[[United States Army Military Police Corps|Military Police Corps]] (MP)
|style="background:green; border:5px groove yellow;"|[[File:USAMPC-Branch-Insignia.png|x38px]]
!style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|[[United States Army Nurse Corps|Army Nurse Corps]] (AN)
|style="background:#800000; border:5px groove #FFFFFF;"|[[File:USA - Army Medical Nurse.png|x50px]]
|style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|colspan="2"|Nuclear and Counter [[Weapon of mass destruction|WMD]] Officer (FA 52B)
|-
|[[Psychological Operations (United States)|Psychological Operations]] (PO)
|style="background:#4F7942; border:5px groove #D3D3D3;"|[[File:USA - Psych Ops Branch Insignia.png|50px]]
|style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|[[Army Medical Department (United States)#Medical Specialist Corps (SP)|Medical Specialist Corps]] (SP)
|style="background:#800000; border:5px groove #FFFFFF;"|[[File:USA - Army Medical Specialist.png|x50px]]
!style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|colspan="2"|Simulation Operations (FA 57)
|-
|[[United States Army Quartermaster Corps|Quartermaster Corps]] (QM)
|style="background:#F0DC82;"|[[File:USA - Quartermaster Corps Branch Insignia.png|x42px]]
|style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|[[Staff Specialist Corps]] (SS) <br />(USAR and ARNG only)
|style="background:green;"|[[File:StaffSpecUSAR ARNGBC.gif|x45px]]
!style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|colspan="2"|Army Marketing (FA 58)<ref>[https://www.army.mil/article/231034/new_marketing_job_lets_officers_steward_army_brand New marketing job lets officers steward Army brand] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016000736/https://www.army.mil/article/231034/new_marketing_job_lets_officers_steward_army_brand |date=16 October 2022 }}, Army.mil, by Thomas Brading (Army News Service), dated 16 December 2019, last accessed 1 January 2020</ref>
|-
|[[United States Army Special Forces|Special Forces]] (SF)
|style="background:#004B49;"|[[File:USA - Special Forces Branch Insignia.png|x35px]]
|style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|[[United States Army Ordnance Corps|Ordnance Corps]] (OD)
|style="background:crimson; border:5px groove yellow;"|[[File:Ordnance Branch Insignia.svg|x50px]]
!style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|colspan="2"|Health Services (FA 70)
|-
|[[United States Army Veterinary Corps|Veterinary Corps]] (VC)
|style="background:maroon; border:5px groove #FFFFFF;"|[[File:USA - Army Medical Veterinary.png|x50px]]
|style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|[[Public affairs (military)|Public Affairs]] (PA)
|style="background:#008080; border:5px groove yellow;"|[[File:PublicAffairsBC.svg|45px]]
!style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|colspan="2"|Laboratory Sciences (FA 71)
|-
|[[United States Army Transportation Corps|Transportation Corps]] (TC)
|style="background:#B22222; border:5px groove #FFDF00;"|[[File:USA - Transportation Corps Branch Insignia.png|x50px]]
!style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|[[United States Army Signal Corps|Signal Corps]] (SC)
|style="background:#FF7F00; border:5px groove #FFFFFF;"|[[File:Insignia signal.svg|x40px]]
!style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|colspan="2"|Preventive Medicine Sciences (FA 72)
|-
|
|
!style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|
|
!style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|colspan="2"|Behavioral Sciences (FA 73)
|-
!colspan="8"|Special branch insignias ''(for some unique duty assignments)''
|-
|[[National Guard Bureau]] (NGB)
|style="background:darkblue;"|[[File:NatlGuardBureauBC.gif|50px]]
!style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|General Staff
|style="background:#000000; border:5px groove #FFD700;"|[[File:USA - Army General Staff Branch Insignia.png|50px]]
!style="background:#25185d; color:#FFFFFF;"|
|[[United States Military Academy|U.S. Military Academy Staff]]
|style="background:white;"|[[File:US Military Academy Staff Insignia.png|x50px]]
|-
|[[Armed Forces Chaplaincy Center|Chaplain Candidate]]
|style=background:black;"|[[File:Chaplain Candidate Branch Insignia.png|x50px]]
!style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|[[Officer Candidate School (United States Army)|Officer Candidate]]
|style="background:white;"|[[File:US Army Officer Candidate Insignia.png|75px]]
!style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|[[Warrant Officer Candidate School (United States Army)|Warrant Officer Candidate]]
|style="background:white;"|[[File:US Army Warrant Officer Candidate Insignia.png|75px]]
|-
|colspan="5"|[[Aide-de-camp]] <br />[[File:Lapel insignia of an aide-de-camp to a U.S. Army Brigadier General.jpg|45px]] [[File:MajGenAide.jpg|45px]] [[File:LtGenAide.jpg|45px]] [[File:GenAide.jpg|45px]] [[File:GA-Aide.GIF|45px]] [[File:Branch insignia, Aide to Vice Chief, National Guard Bureau.jpg|45px]] [[File:Branch insignia, Aide to Chief, National Guard Bureau.jpg|45px]] [[File:Aide VCoS-Army BC.png|45px]] [[File:AideCoSArmyBC.gif|45px]] [[File:Aide UnderSec-Army BC.png|45px]] [[File:AideSecyArmyBC.gif|45px]] [[File:Aide VJCoS BC.png|45px]] [[File:AideJCoSBC.gif|45px]] [[File:AideSecyDefenseBC.gif|45px]] [[File:Aide-de-camp insignia for VP aide.gif|45px]] [[File:AidePOTUSBC.gif|45px]]
!style="background:#25185d; color:white;"|
|colspan="2"|[[Senior Enlisted Advisor]] (SEA) <br />[[File:USA - Army Immaterial Command Insignia.png|x44px]] [[File:Sma-bos.jpg|x45px]] [[File:SEAC-collar1.jpg|x45px]]
|}
 
Before 1933, the Army National Guard members were considered state militia until they were mobilized into the U.S. Army, typically at the onset of war. Since the 1933 amendment to the [[National Defense Act of 1916]], all Army National Guard soldiers have held dual status. They serve as National Guardsmen under the authority of the governor of their state or territory and as reserve members of the U.S. Army under the authority of the president, in the Army National Guard of the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalguard.com/guard-history|title=History of the Army National Guard|website=Army National Guard|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=13 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513000641/https://www.nationalguard.com/guard-history|url-status=live}}</ref>
The Officer Corps provides leadership and managerial functions, and is composed of
*Company Grade officers
**[[Second Lieutenant]] (2LT; pay grade O-1) - gold bar,
**[[First Lieutenant]] (1LT; pay grade O-2) - silver bar,
**[[Captain]] (CPT; pay grade O-3) - two silver bars,
*Field Grade officers
**[[Major]] (MAJ; pay grade O-4) - gold oak leaf,
**[[Lieutenant Colonel]] (LTC; pay grade O-5) - silver oak leaf,
**[[Colonel (USA)|Colonel]] (COL; pay grade O-6) - silver eagle,
*and General officers
**[[Brigadier General]] (BG; pay grade O-7) - one star,
**[[Major General]] (MG; pay grade O-8) - two stars,
**[[Lieutenant General]] (LTG; pay grade O-9) - three stars,
**[[General (United States)|General]] (GEN; pay grade O-10) - four stars
**[[General of the Army (USA)|General of the Army]] - In the 19th century, a title held by the Commander of the Army. From December 1944 on, a rank comprised of five stars in a pentagon shape;
** [[General of the Armies]] - No established insignia. Held only by [[George Washington]] and [[John J. Pershing]]
 
Since the adoption of the total force policy, in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, reserve component soldiers have taken a more active role in U.S. military operations. For example, Reserve and Guard units took part in the [[Gulf War]], peacekeeping in [[Kosovo]], Afghanistan, and the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]].
The ranks of General of the Army and General of the Armies do not currently exist in the U.S. Army, as the legislation creating those ranks did not authorize them on a permanent basis. The last General of the Army, [[Omar Nelson Bradley]], died in 1981. There was some discussion in 1991, following the [[Gulf War]], about promoting Generals [[Colin Powell]] and [[Norman Schwarzkopf]] to the rank of General of the Army, however the necessary legislation never passed the Congress.
 
===Army commands and army service component commands===
There are several sources of [[commissioned officer|commissioned officers]]:
[[File:US Army Star Logo SSI.png|25px]] [[United States Department of the Army|Headquarters, United States Department of the Army]] (HQDA):
* The [[United States Military Academy]] at [[West Point, New York]];
{|class="wikitable"
* Graduates of other military academies of the United States may elect to be commissioned in the Army;
|-
* Enlisted Soldiers or college graduates who successfully pass [[Officer Candidate School]] (OCS);
!Army Commands
* College graduates who underwent Army [[Reserve Officer Training Corps]] courses at a four-year university;
!Current commander
* Lawyers, doctors, nurses, veterinarians, and chaplains may be directly commissioned into their respective corps;
!Location of headquarters{{efn|name=renaming}}
* Enlisted soldiers may also receive a [[Battlefield commission|battlefield commission]] for valor and leadership during actual combat. [[Audie Murphy]] received his commission in this manner.
|-
|[[File:United States Army Forces Command SSI.svg|20px]] [[United States Army Forces Command]] (FORSCOM)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forscom.army.mil/About/|title=About US – United States Army Forces Command|website=forscom.army.mil|access-date=February 17, 2024}}</ref>|| GEN [[Andrew P. Poppas]] || [[Fort Bragg]], [[North Carolina]]
|-
|[[File:Army Futures Command SSI.svg|20px]] [[United States Army Futures Command]] (AFC)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/futures|title=Army Futures Command – About AFC|website=United States Army|access-date=February 17, 2024|archive-date=8 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708144726/https://www.army.mil/futures|url-status=live}}</ref>|| GEN [[James Rainey|James E. Rainey]] || [[Austin, Texas]]
|-
|[[File:AMC shoulder insignia.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Army Materiel Command|United States Army Materiel Command]] (AMC)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amc.army.mil/Organization/History/|title=AMC History – Army Material Command|website=AMC.Army.mil|access-date=February 17, 2024}}</ref>|| LTG [[Christopher O. Mohan]] (acting) || [[Redstone Arsenal]], [[Alabama]]
|-
|[[File:TRADOC patch.svg|20px]] [[United States Army Training and Doctrine Command]] (TRADOC)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tradoc.army.mil/about/|title=About TRADOC – United States Army Training and Doctrine|website=tradoc.army.mil|access-date=February 17, 2024|archive-date=27 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227174530/https://www.tradoc.army.mil/about/|url-status=live}}</ref>|| GEN [[Gary Brito|Gary M. Brito]] || [[Fort Eustis]], [[Virginia]]
|-
!Army Service Component Commands
!Current commander
!Location of headquarters
|-
|[[File:US3ASSI.svg|20px]] [[United States Army Central]] (ARCENT)/[[United States Army Central|Third Army]]<ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=https://www.usarcent.army.mil/About/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171119013935/http://www.usarcent.army.mil/About/|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 November 2017|title=About U.S. Army Central|website=usarcent.army.mil|access-date=February 17, 2024}}</ref>||LTG [[Patrick Frank|Patrick D. Frank]] || [[Shaw Air Force Base]], [[South Carolina]]
|-
|[[File:USAREUR Insignia.svg|20px]] [[United States Army Europe and Africa]]/[[United States Army Europe and Africa|Seventh Army]]|| GEN [[Chris Donahue (general)|Christopher T. Donahue]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Army Europe and Africa Leadership |url=https://www.europeafrica.army.mil/Leadership/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250331034839/https://www.europeafrica.army.mil/Leadership/ |archive-date=31 March 2025 |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=www.europeafrica.army.mil |language=en-US |url-status=live }}</ref>||[[Lucius D. Clay Kaserne|Clay Kaserne]], [[Wiesbaden]], [[Germany]]
|-
|[[File:United States Army North CSIB.svg|20px]] [[United States Army North]] (ARNORTH)/[[United States Army North|Fifth Army]]<ref name=":3">{{cite web|url=https://www.arnorth.army.mil/About/History/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007122904/http://www.arnorth.army.mil/about/history|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 October 2014|title=History of U.S. Army North|website=arnorth.army.mil|access-date=February 17, 2024}}</ref>|| LTG [[Allan Pepin|Allan M. Pepin]] || [[Joint Base San Antonio]], [[Texas]]
|-
|[[File:USARPAC insignia.svg|20px]] [[United States Army Pacific]] (USARPAC)<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=https://www.usarpac.army.mil/Our-Story/Our-History/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515202949/https://www.usarpac.army.mil/Our-Story/Our-History/|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 May 2023|title=United States Army Pacific Overview|website=usarpac.army.mil|access-date=February 17, 2024}}</ref>|| GEN [[Ronald P. Clark]]|| [[Fort Shafter]], [[Hawaii]]
|-
|[[File:UNITED STATES ARMY SOUTH SSI.svg|20px]] [[United States Army South]] (ARSOUTH)/[[Sixth Army (United States)|Sixth Army]]<ref name=":4">{{cite web|url=https://www.arsouth.army.mil/About-Us/|title=United States Army South Complete Overview|website=arsouth.army.mil|access-date=February 17, 2024|archive-date=18 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240218020642/https://www.arsouth.army.mil/About-Us/|url-status=live}}</ref>|| MG Phillip J. Ryan || Joint Base San Antonio, Texas
|-
|[[File:Surface Deployment and Distribution Command SSI.svg|20px]] [[Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command]] (SDDC)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/go0634.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126164010/https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/go0634.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 January 2019|title=Army General Order 2006–34|date=16 October 2006}}</ref> || MG Lance G. Curtis || [[Scott AFB]], [[Illinois]]
|-
|[[File:US Army Cyber Command SSI.png|20px]] [[U.S. Army Cyber Command|United States Army Cyber Command]] (ARCYBER)<ref name="army.mil">{{cite web|url=https://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/go1402.pdf |title=General Orders No. 2014–02|publisher= Department of the Army |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203010434/http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/go1402.pdf |archive-date=3 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher= Department of the Army|url= https://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/go1026.pdf |title=General Orders No. 2010-26: Establishment of the United States Army Cyber Command|url-status= live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514102412/http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/go1026.pdf |archive-date=14 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/46012/|title=Army establishes Army Cyber Command |author= U.S. Army|date=1 October 2010|work=army.mil|access-date=28 June 2016}}</ref> || LTG [[Maria B. Barrett]] || [[Fort Gordon]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
|-
|[[File:United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command Logo.svg|20px]] [[United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command]]/United States Army Forces Strategic Command (USASMDC/ARSTRAT)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smdc.army.mil/ABOUT/|title=About the Command – United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command|website=smdc.army.mil|access-date=February 17, 2024|archive-date=18 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240218021119/https://www.smdc.army.mil/ABOUT/|url-status=live}}</ref>|| LTG [[Sean Gainey]] || Redstone Arsenal, Alabama
|-
|[[File:US Army Special Operations Command SSI.svg|20px]] [[United States Army Special Operations Command]] (USASOC)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/usasoc#org-about|title=USASOC Overview|website=United States Army|access-date=February 17, 2024|archive-date=18 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240218021334/https://www.army.mil/usasoc#org-about|url-status=live}}</ref>|| LTG [[Jonathan P. Braga]] || Fort Bragg, North Carolina
|-
!Operational Force Headquarters
!Current commander
!Location of headquarters
|-
|[[File:Eighth United States Army CSIB.svg|20px]] [[Eighth Army (United States)|Eighth Army]] (EUSA)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/go1202.pdf|title=General Orders No. 2012-02: Redesignation and Assignment of Eighth Army as a Subordinate Command of The United States Army Pacific|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304193652/http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/go1202.pdf|archive-date=4 March 2016 |publisher= Department of the Army}}</ref> || BG [[D. Sean Crockett]] (acting)||[[Camp Humphreys]], [[South Korea]]
|-
!Direct reporting units
!Current commander
!Location of headquarters
|-
|[[File:Arlington National Cemetery Seal.png|20px]] [[Arlington National Cemetery]] and [[United States Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery|Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/go1475.pdf|title=Designation of Arlington National Cemetery and Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery as a Direct Reporting Unit|access-date=7 February 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203015921/http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/go1475.pdf|archive-date=3 February 2015}}</ref> || Katharine Kelley<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allgov.com/news/top-stories/superintendent-of-arlington-national-cemetery-who-is-kate-kelley-170507?news=860171|title=Who is Kate Kelley?|publisher=allgov.com|access-date=13 December 2018|archive-date=16 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216032207/http://www.allgov.com/news/top-stories/superintendent-of-arlington-national-cemetery-who-is-kate-kelley-170507?news=860171|url-status=live}}</ref> {{small|''(civilian)''}} || [[Arlington County, Virginia]]
|-
|Civilian Protection Center of Excellence<ref>{{cite web |url=https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN38095-AGO_2023-06-000-WEB-1.pdf |title=Establishment of the Civilian Protection Center of Excellence as a Direct Reporting Unit |date=5 April 2023 |website=Army Publishing Directorate |access-date=26 April 2023 |archive-date=26 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426002219/https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN38095-AGO_2023-06-000-WEB-1.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> ||Michael McNerney ||Arlington County, Virginia
|-
|United States Army Joint Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20240306110142/https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN40137-AGO_2024-02-000-WEB-1.pdf REDESIGNATION AND REASSIGNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY JOINT COUNTER-SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS OFFICE] army.mil</ref> || ||Arlington County, Virginia
|-
|[[File:Military Postal Service Agency.jpg|20px]] Military Postal Service Agency<ref>{{cite web|url=https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN33157-AGO_2021-08-000-WEB-1.pdf|title=Designation of Military Postal Serive Agency and its Subordiante Elements as Direct Reporting Unit|website=armypubs.army.mil|access-date=6 July 2022|archive-date=6 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706214358/https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN33157-AGO_2021-08-000-WEB-1.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> || || Arlington County, Virginia
|-
|[[File:US Army ASAALT Insignia.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center|United States Army Acquisition Support Center]] (USAASC)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/go0633.pdf|title=Designation of the United States Army Acquisition Support Center as a Direct Reporting Unit|access-date=2 February 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304115651/http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/go0633.pdf|archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref> || Craig A. Spisak<ref>{{cite web|url=https://asc.army.mil/web/leaders/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810232151/http://asc.army.mil/web/leaders/|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 August 2016|title=Craig Spisak|publisher=asc.army.mil|access-date=13 December 2018}}</ref> {{small|''(civilian)''}} ||[[Fort Belvoir|Fort Belvoir, Virginia]]
|-
|[[File:US Army Civilian Human Resources Agency seal.png|20px]] United States Army Civilian Human Resources Agency (CHRA)<ref>[https://armypubs.army.mil/?docID=0902c851800697fc DAGO 2017-03, DESIGNATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY CIVILIAN HUMAN RESOURCES AGENCY AND ITS SUBORDINATE ELEMENTS AS DIRECT REPORTING UNIT] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250417024028/https://armypubs.army.mil/?docID=0902c851800697fc |date=17 April 2025 }}, apd.army.mil, dated 4 January 2017, last accessed 13 January 2017</ref> || Carol Burton<ref>{{cite web |url=https://portal.chra.army.mil/hr_public/ |title=About Us |publisher=CHRA |access-date=4 December 2020 |archive-date=25 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525070803/https://portal.chra.army.mil/hr_public/ |url-status=live }}</ref> {{small|''(civilian)''}} || [[Aberdeen Proving Ground]], Maryland
|-
|[[File:USACE.gif|20px]] [[United States Army Corps of Engineers]] (USACE)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usace.army.mil/about/|title=United States Army Corps of Engineers Official website|website=usace.army.mil|access-date=July 11, 2024}}</ref>|| LTG [[William H. Graham Jr.]] || [[Washington, D.C.]]
|-
|[[File:Army-corrections-shoulder.jpg|20px]] [[United States Army Corrections Command]] (ACC)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN37915-AGO_2023-02-000-WEB-1.pdf |title=army.mil |access-date=5 April 2023 |archive-date=5 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405035820/https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN37915-AGO_2023-02-000-WEB-1.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> || BG Sarah K. Albrycht || Arlington County, Virginia
|-
|[[File:Cid patch color.jpg|20px]] [[United States Army Criminal Investigation Command|United States Army Criminal Investigation Division]] (USACID)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cid.army.mil|title=Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division Homepage|website=cid.army.mil|access-date=July 10, 2024}}</ref>|| Gregory D. Ford || [[Quantico, Virginia]]
|-
|[[File:HRCPatch.png|20px]] [[United States Army Human Resources Command]] (HRC)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://armypubs.army.mil/?docID=0902c851800697fd |title=DAGO 2017-04, Designation of United States Army Human Resources Command and Its Subordinate Elements as Direct Reporting Unit |website=Army Publishing Directorate | date=4 January 2017 |access-date=13 January 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116181259/http://www.apd.army.mil/Search/ePubsSearch/ePubsSearchDetailsForm.aspx?docID=0902c851800697fd |archive-date= 2017-01-16}}</ref> || MG [[Hope C. Rampy]] || [[Fort Knox, Kentucky]]
|-
|[[File:INSCOM.svg|20px]] [[United States Army Intelligence and Security Command]] (INSCOM)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usainscom.army.mil|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005193057/https://www.usainscom.army.mil/|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 October 2023|title=The Official website of the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command|website=usainscom.army.mil|access-date=July 10, 2024}}</ref>|| MG Timothy D. Brown || Fort Belvoir, Virginia
|-
|[[File:MEDCOM.png|20px]] [[United States Army Medical Command]] (MEDCOM)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/armymedicine/|title=Army Medicine Overview|website=army.mil|access-date=July 10, 2024|archive-date=25 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425222259/https://www.army.mil/armymedicine|url-status=live}}</ref>|| LTG [[Mary V. Krueger|Mary K. Izaguirre]] || Joint Base San Antonio, Texas
|-
|[[File:US Army Recruiting Command SSI.png|20px]] [[United States Army Recruiting Command]] (USAREC) || LTG [[Johnny K. Davis]] || Fort Knox, Kentucky
|-
|[[File:United States Army Military District of Washington CSIB.svg|20px]] [[United States Army Military District of Washington]] (MDW)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://jtfncr.mdw.army.mil|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250406211421/https://jtfncr.mdw.army.mil/|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 April 2025|title=Joint Task Force-National Capital Region and The U.S. Army Military District of Washington Homepage|website=jtfncr.mdw.army.mil|access-date=July 10, 2024}}</ref>|| BG Antoinette R. Gant || [[Fort Lesley J. McNair]], [[Washington, D.C.]]
|-
|[[File:US Army War College SSI.png|20px]] [[United States Army War College]] (AWC)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/go1390.pdf |title=Designation of the United States Army War College as a Direct Reporting Unit |access-date=2 February 2015|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203021638/http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/go1390.pdf|archive-date=3 February 2015}}</ref> || MG David C. Hill || [[Carlisle, Pennsylvania]]
|-
|[[File:USMA SSI.png|20px]] [[United States Military Academy]] (USMA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.westpoint.edu/admissions|title=The official website of the United States Military Academy|website=westpoint.edu|access-date=July 10, 2024}}</ref>|| LTG [[Steven W. Gilland]] || [[West Point, New York]]
|-
| colspan="3" style="text-align: center;" | '''Source:''' U.S. Army organization<ref name=":0" />
|}
 
===Structure===
Officers receive their [[commission]]s from the [[President of the United States|President]]. The appointments of commissioned officers may be made in either the Regular Army, the Army Reserve or the Army National Guard of the United States. Those officers who receive their commission in the Army Reserve, but serve on active duty, upon attaining the rank of Major, can be appointed into the Regular Army by the President with the advice and consent of the [[United States Senate]] [http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/10/531.html]. Commissioned officers are assigned to a branch of service until they reach the rank of Brigadier General, where it is assumed that they are competent to command soldiers of all branches, thus the term "general officer".
{{main|Structure of the United States Army}}
{{see also|Transformation of the United States Army|Reorganization plan of the United States Army}}
[[File:1-175 INF Trains at Fort Dix.jpg|thumb|U.S. Army soldiers of the 1st Battalion, [[175th Infantry Regiment (United States)|175th Infantry Regiment]], Maryland Army National Guard conducting an urban cordon and search exercise as part of the army readiness and training evaluation program in the mock city of Balad at [[Fort Dix]], [[New Jersey]]]]
[[File:Ramadi august 2006 patrol.jpg|thumb|U.S. soldiers from the [[6th Infantry Regiment (United States)|6th Infantry Regiment]] taking up positions on a street corner during a foot patrol in [[Ramadi]], [[Iraq]]]]
[[File:1 CAV DIV charge.jpg|thumb|right|The [[1st Cavalry Division (United States)|1st Cavalry Division's]] combat aviation brigade performing a mock charge with the horse detachment]]
[[File:Army mil-54118-2009-10-27-091030big.jpg|thumb|[[Special Forces (United States Army)|U.S. Army Special Forces]] soldiers from the [[3rd Special Forces Group (United States)|3rd Special Forces Group]] patrolling a field in the Gulistan district of [[Farah Province|Farah]], Afghanistan]]
 
See [[Structure of the United States Army]] for a detailed treatment of the [[Structure of the United States Army#History|history]], [[Structure of the United States Army#Active and reserve components|components]], [[Structure of the United States Army#Administrative|administrative and operational structure]] and the [[Structure of the United States Army#Branches and functional areas|branches and functional areas]] of the Army.
Once commissioned, an officer attends several levels of professional education, starting with branch qualification in their respective branch and concluding in [[Command and General Staff College]] at [[Fort Leavenworth|Fort Leavenworth]], [[Kansas]]. Professional education is required for promotion at certain grades.
 
The U.S. Army is made up of three components: the active component, the Regular Army; and two reserve components, the Army National Guard and the Army Reserve. Both reserve components are primarily composed of part-time soldiers who train once a month – known as [[Battle Assembly|battle assemblies]] or unit training assemblies (UTAs) – and conduct two to three weeks of annual training each year. Both the Regular Army and the Army Reserve are organized under [[Title 10 of the United States Code]], while the National Guard is organized under [[Title 32 of the United States Code|Title 32]]. While the Army National Guard is organized, trained, and equipped as a component of the U.S. Army, when it is not in federal service it is under the command of individual state and territorial governors. However, the [[District of Columbia National Guard]] reports to the U.S. president, not the [[Mayor of the District of Columbia|district's mayor]], even when not federalized. Any or all of the [[National Guard of the United States|National Guard]] can be federalized by presidential order and against the governor's wishes.<ref>''Perpich v. Department of Defense'', 496 U.S. 334 (1990)</ref>
The [[warrant officer]] is a single track specialty officer. Initially appointed an officer by the Secretary of the Army via a [[warrant (legal)|warrant]], he/she is commissioned by the [[President of the United States|President]] upon promotion to the rank of [[Chief Warrant Officer Two]] (CW2). The warrant officer is managed as a company grade officer, but receives limited field grade privilege upon promotion to [[Chief Warrant Officer Four]] (CW4).
 
The U.S. Army is led by a civilian [[United States Secretary of the Army|secretary of the Army]], who has the statutory authority to conduct all the affairs of the army under the authority, direction, and control of the [[United States Secretary of Defense|secretary of defense]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2008-title10/pdf/USCODE-2008-title10-subtitleB-partI-chap303-sec3013.pdf|title=10 U.S.C. 3013|access-date=2 May 2016|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924135637/http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2008-title10/pdf/USCODE-2008-title10-subtitleB-partI-chap303-sec3013.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army|chief of staff of the Army]], who is the highest-ranked military officer in the army, serves as the principal military adviser and executive agent for the secretary of the Army, i.e., its service chief; and as a member of the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]], a body composed of the service chiefs from each of the four military services belonging to the Department of Defense who advise the [[president of the United States]], the secretary of defense and the [[United States National Security Council|National Security Council]] on operational military matters, under the guidance of the [[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff|chairman]] and [[Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff|vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2008-title10/pdf/USCODE-2008-title10-subtitleB-partI-chap305-sec3033.pdf|title=10 U.S.C. 3033|access-date=2 May 2016|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924135637/http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2008-title10/pdf/USCODE-2008-title10-subtitleB-partI-chap305-sec3033.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2008-title10/pdf/USCODE-2008-title10-subtitleA-partI-chap5-sec151.pdf|title=10 U.S.C. 151|access-date=2 May 2016|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924135635/http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2008-title10/pdf/USCODE-2008-title10-subtitleA-partI-chap5-sec151.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1986, the [[Goldwater–Nichols Act]] mandated that operational control of the services follows a chain of command from the president to the secretary of defense directly to the [[Unified Combatant Command|unified combatant commanders]], who have control of all units in their geographic or functional area of responsibility, thus the secretaries of the military departments (and their respective service chiefs underneath them) only have the responsibility to organize, train and equip their service components. The army provides trained forces to the combatant commanders for use as directed by the secretary of defense.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2008-title10/pdf/USCODE-2008-title10-subtitleA-partI-chap6-sec162.pdf|title=10 U.S.C. 162|access-date=2 May 2016|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924135636/http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2008-title10/pdf/USCODE-2008-title10-subtitleA-partI-chap6-sec162.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
The primary source for Army warrant officers is the [[U.S. Army Warrant Officer Candidate School]] at [[Fort Rucker]], [[Alabama]].
 
In 2013, the army shifted to six geographical commands that align with the six geographical unified combatant commands (CCMD):
The [[non-commissioned officer|Noncommissioned Officer]] Corps (or NCO Corps) is the first line of leadership for the [[Soldier|enlisted]] Soldiers of the Army, and includes the ranks of
* [[Third United States Army|United States Army Central]] headquartered at [[Shaw Air Force Base]], South Carolina<ref name=":2" />
*[[Corporal]] (CPL; pay grade E-4) (two stripes pointing up, called ''chevrons'') ),
* [[Fifth United States Army|United States Army North]] headquartered at [[Fort Sam Houston]], Texas<ref name=":3" />
*[[Sergeant]] (SGT; pay grade E-5) (three chevrons),
* [[United States Army South]] headquartered at Fort Sam Houston, Texas<ref name=":4" />
*[[Staff Sergeant]] (SSG; pay grade E-6) (three chevrons and one ''rocker'', a curved stripe at the bottom),
* [[United States Army Europe]] and Africa headquartered at [[Clay Kaserne]], Wiesbaden, Germany<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.europeafrica.army.mil/Mission-History/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106080104/https://www.europeafrica.army.mil/Mission-History/|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 January 2021|title=U.S. Army Europe & Africa Mission & History|website=europeafrica.army.mil|access-date=July 10, 2024}}</ref>
*[[Sergeant First Class]] (SFC; pay grade E-7) (three chevrons and two rockers),
* [[United States Army Pacific Command|United States Army Pacific]] headquartered at [[Fort Shafter]], Hawaii<ref name=":1" />
*[[Master Sergeant]] (MSG; pay grade E-8) (three chevrons and three rockers),
*[[First Sergeant ]] (1SG; pay grade E-8) (which holds the same enlisted pay grade as Master Sergeant, but which carries extra administrative duties - three chevrons and three rockers with a lozenge in the center),
*[[Sergeant Major]] (SGM; pay grade E-9) (three chevrons and three rockers with a star in the center),
*[[Command Sergeant Major]] (CSM; pay grade E-9) (three chevrons and three rockers with a wreathed star in the center)
*and [[Sergeant Major of the Army]] (of whom there is only one, and who advises the Chief of Staff of the Army on matters relating to enlisted personnel - three chevrons and three rockers with a centered eagle accompanied with two stars).
 
The army also transformed its base unit from [[Division (military)|divisions]] to [[Brigade (United States Army)|brigade]]s.<!-- The active army has now increased its combat brigades from 33 to 48, with similar increases in the National Guard and Reserve forces.--> Division lineage will be retained, but the divisional headquarters will be able to command any brigade, not just brigades that carry their divisional lineage. The central part of this plan is that each brigade will be modular, i.e., all brigades of the same type will be exactly the same and thus any brigade can be commanded by any division. As specified before the 2013 end-strength re-definitions, the three major types of brigade combat teams are:
[[Image:Unclesamwantyou.jpg|200px|left|thumb|U.S. Army recruitment poster]]
* [[Brigade Combat Team#Heavy brigade combat team|Armored]] brigades, with a strength of 4,743 troops as of 2014.
* [[Stryker Brigade Combat Team|Stryker]] brigades, with a strength of 4,500 troops as of 2014.
* [[Brigade Combat Team#Infantry Brigade Combat Team|Infantry]] brigades, with a strength of 4,413 troops as of 2014.
 
In addition, there are combat support and service support modular brigades. Combat support brigades include [[Combat Aviation Brigade|aviation]] (CAB) brigades, which will come in heavy and light varieties, [[Fires Brigade|fires]] (artillery) brigades (now transforms to division artillery) and [[Battlefield Surveillance Brigade|expeditionary military intelligence brigades]]. [[Combat service support]] brigades include [[Sustainment Brigade|sustainment]] brigades and come in several varieties and serve the standard support role in an army.
NCO training takes place at various Army training centers around the world. Until relatively recent history, most countries depended upon their officer corps to micromanage strategy, tactics and virtually every other aspect of military operations. Current military theory in the U.S. and UK has begun to emphasize the "strategic corporal," recognizing that combat decision-making by NCOs is potentially of vast importance.
 
===Combat maneuver organizations===
The lowest enlisted ranks are:
:''To track the effects of the 2018 budget cuts, see [[Transformation of the United States Army#Divisions and brigades]]''
*[[Private (rank)|Private]] (PV1; pay grade E-1) (no rank insignia),
*Private Enlisted Grade 2 (PV2; pay grade E-2) (one chevron),
*[[Private First Class]] (PFC; pay grade E-3) (one chevron and one rocker),
*and [[Specialist (rank)|Specialist]] (SPC; pay grade E-4) (which is the same Enlisted Grade as Corporal, but which requires technical leadership skills, as opposed to the combat leadership skills required of corporal -a dark green patch with an eagle centered). A Specialist ranks below a corporal in terms of chain of command.
 
The U.S. Army's conventional combat capability currently consists of 11 active divisions and 1 non-deployable division headquarters (7th Infantry Division) as well as several independent maneuver units.
 
From 2013 through 2017, the Army sustained organizational and end-strength reductions after several years of [[Grow the Army|growth]]. In June 2013, the Army announced plans to downsize to 32 active brigade combat teams by 2015 to match a reduction in active-duty strength to 490,000 soldiers. Army Chief of Staff Raymond Odierno projected that the Army was to shrink to "450,000 in the active component, 335,000 in the National Guard, and 195,000 in U.S. Army Reserve" by 2018.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.army.mil/article/140768/CSA__SMA_hold_virtual_town_hall/|title=CSA Odierno and SMA Chandler virtual town hall, Jan 6, 2015|website=army.mil|publisher=Army.mil|access-date=2 May 2016|archive-date=29 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429185445/http://www.army.mil/article/140768/CSA__SMA_hold_virtual_town_hall/|url-status=live}}</ref> However, this plan was scrapped by the incoming Trump administration, with subsequent plans to expand the Army by 16,000 soldiers to a total of 476,000 by October 2017. The National Guard and the Army Reserve will see a smaller expansion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxbusiness.com/features/2017/06/06/army-offers-up-to-90k-bonuses-to-lure-troops-back.html|title=Army offers up to $90K bonuses to lure troops back|date=6 June 2017|website=Foxbusiness.com|access-date=7 June 2017|archive-date=7 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170607071612/http://www.foxbusiness.com/features/2017/06/06/army-offers-up-to-90k-bonuses-to-lure-troops-back.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.daily-chronicle.com/2017/06/07/needing-troops-u-s-army-offers-up-to-90k-bonuses-to-re-enlist/ae1ebzz/|title=Needing troops, U.S. Army offers up to $90K bonuses to re-enlist|website=Daily-chronicle.com|access-date=2 November 2017|archive-date=11 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011170803/http://www.daily-chronicle.com/2017/06/07/needing-troops-u-s-army-offers-up-to-90k-bonuses-to-re-enlist/ae1ebzz/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===History===
====Officers Rank Insignia====
The size of the Army does not permit Army officers in charge of a large group to know all in their command by their name, nor is it possible to know all the duties of the various individuals of an organization if placed in a command, but by means of insignia of grade anyone trained in military organizations and tactics may quickly have a title by which he or she may address an individual and based on the responsibilities commensurate with each grade, they may issue orders intelligently.
General Washington was chosen by the Continental Congress and was informed on [[June 16]], [[1775]] that he was to be general and commander-in-chief to take supreme command of the forces raised in defense of American liberty. Just thirty days later, on [[July 14]], [[1775]], a General Order was issued which read: "To prevent mistakes, the General Officers and their aides-de-camp will be distinguished in the following manner: The Commander-in-Chief by a light blue ribband, worn across his breast, between his coat and waistcoat; the major and brigadier generals by a pink ribband worn in a like manner; the Aides-de-Camp by a green ribband."
 
The Army's maneuver organization was most recently altered by the reorganization of [[United States Army Alaska]] into the [[11th Airborne Division (United States)|11th Airborne Division]], transferring the 1st and 4th Brigade Combat Teams of the [[25th Infantry Division (United States)|25th Infantry Division]] under a separate operational headquarters to reflect the brigades' distinct, Arctic-oriented mission. As part of the reorganization, the 1–11 (formerly 1–25) Stryker Brigade Combat Team will reorganize as an Infantry Brigade Combat Team.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Army Resurrects WWII-Era Airborne Division in Alaska |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/army-resurrects-wwii-era-airborne-division-in-alaska-/6606224.html |access-date=7 June 2022 |website=VOA |date=6 June 2022 |language=en}}</ref> Following this transition, the active component BCTs will number 11 Armored brigades, 6 Stryker brigades, and 14 Infantry brigades.
On [[July 23]], [[1775]], General Washington states "As the Continental Army has unfortunately no uniforms, and consequently many inconveniences must arise from not being able to distinguish the commissioned officers from the privates, it is desired that some badge of distinction be immediately provided; for instance, that the field officers may have red or pink colored cockades in their hats, the captains yellow or buff, and the subalterns green."
 
Within the Army National Guard and United States Army Reserve, there are a further eight divisions, 27 brigade combat teams, additional combat support and combat service support brigades, and independent cavalry, infantry, artillery, aviation, engineer, and support battalions. The Army Reserve in particular provides virtually all psychological operations and civil affairs units.
Our present system of officers’ grade insignia began on [[June 18]], [[1780]] when it was prescribed that Major Generals would wear two stars and Brigadier Generals one star on each epaulette. In 1832, the Colonel’s eagle was initiated and in 1836, leaves were adopted for Lieutenant Colonels and Majors, while Captains received two bars and one bar was prescribed for First Lieutenant. Second Lieutenants did not receive the gold bar until December, 1917.
 
[[File:United States Army Forces Command SSI.svg|25px]] [[United States Army Forces Command]] (FORSCOM)
Warrant Officers were provided with an insignia of identification on [[May 12]], [[1921]], which also served as their insignia of grade. In 1942, Warrant Officers were graded and there were created a Chief Warrant Officer and a Warrant Officer (Junior Grade), and separate insignia of grade (gold and brown enamel bars) were approved [[June 14]], [[1942]]. A grade of Flight Officer came into being in 1942, and the insignia was prescribed to be identical to Warrant Officer (Junior Grade) except the enamel was blue instead of brown.
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Direct reporting units
!Current commander
!Location of headquarters{{efn|name=renaming|1= On 5 January 2023 William A. LaPlante, US under-secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment ([[Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment|USD (A&S)]]) directed the full implementation of the recommendations of [[the Naming Commission]], DoD-wide.<ref name= namingBegins>{{Cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3260496/pentagon-press-secretary-air-force-brig-gen-pat-ryder-holds-an-on-camera-press/https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3260496/pentagon-press-secretary-air-force-brig-gen-pat-ryder-holds-an-on-camera-press/|title=Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder Holds an On-Camera Press Briefing|website=U.S. Department of Defense}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>}}
|-
|[[File:U.S. I Corps CSIB.svg|20px]] [[I Corps (United States)|I Corps]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/icorps|title=Americas First Corps|website=army.mil|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=4 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004172150/https://www.army.mil/icorps/|url-status=live}}</ref>|| LTG [[Xavier Brunson]] || [[Joint Base Lewis-McChord]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
|-
|[[File:3 Corps Shoulder Sleeve Insignia.svg|20px]] [[III Armored Corps]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://home.army.mil/cavazos/units-tenants/iii-corps/iii-armored-corps-history|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230611191417/https://home.army.mil/cavazos/units-tenants/iii-corps/iii-armored-corps-history|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 June 2023|title=III Armed Corps History|website=home.army.mil|access-date=July 11, 2024}}</ref>|| LTG [[Kevin Admiral]] || [[Fort Cavazos]], [[Texas]]
|-
|[[File:V Corps.svg|20px]] [[V Corps (United States)|V Corps]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vcorps.army.mil/About-Us/Mission-History/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715051904/https://www.vcorps.army.mil/About-Us/Mission-History/|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 July 2022|title=V Corps Mission & History|website=vcorps.army.mil|access-date=July 11, 2024}}</ref>|| LTG [[Charles Costanza]] || [[Fort Knox]], [[Kentucky]]
|-
|[[File:XVIII Airborne Corps CSIB.svg|20px]] [[XVIII Airborne Corps]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://home.army.mil/liberty/units-tenants/xviii-airborne-co|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205055233/https://home.army.mil/liberty/units-tenants/xviii-airborne-co|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 December 2023|title=XVII Airborne Corps Homepage|website=home.army.mil|access-date=July 11, 2024}}</ref>|| LTG [[Christopher T. Donahue]] || [[Fort Bragg]], [[North Carolina]]
|-
|[[File:1st Army.svg|20px]] [[First United States Army|First Army]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.first.army.mil/content.aspx?ContentID=199|title=First Army – Mission|work=army.mil|access-date=1 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150307234001/http://www.first.army.mil/content.aspx?ContentID=199|archive-date=7 March 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>|| LTG [[Mark H. Landes]] || [[Rock Island Arsenal]], [[Rock Island, Illinois|Illinois]]
|-
|[[File:US Army Reserve Command SSI.svg|20px]] [[United States Army Reserve Command|U.S. Army Reserve Command]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/go1102.pdf |title=Redesignation and Assignment of the United States Army Reserve Command as a Subordinate Command of the United States Army Forces Command |access-date=2 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923172654/http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/go1102.pdf |archive-date=23 September 2015}}</ref> || LTG [[Robert Harter]] || Fort Bragg, North Carolina
|-
|[[File:US Army Security Force Assistance Brigade SSI.png|20px]] [[Security Force Assistance Command]] || BG [[Kevin J. Lambert]] || Fort Bragg, North Carolina
|-
|[[File:20th CBRNE Logo.jpg|20px]] [[20th CBRNE Command]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.20cbrne.army.mil|title=20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explodes Command Homepage|website=20cbrne.army.mil|access-date=July 11, 2024}}</ref>|| BG [[W M Bochat]] || [[Aberdeen Proving Ground]], [[Maryland]]
|-
|[[File:32aamdc.svg|20px]] [[32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command]] || MG [[Richard A. Harrison (general)|Richard A. Harrison]] || [[Fort Bliss]], Texas
|-
|[[File:US Army Air Traffic Services Command SSI.png|20px]] U.S. Army Air Traffic Services Command || COL Bryan C. Jones || [[Fort Novosel]], [[Alabama]]
|}
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan="4"|Active combat maneuver units
|-
!scope="col" style="width:150px"|Name !! Headquarters !! Subunits !! Subordinate to
|-
|width=200|[[File:United States Army 1st Armored Division CSIB.svg|25px|left]] [[1st Armored Division (United States)|1st Armored Division]]
|[[Fort Bliss]], [[Texas]]
|3 armored brigade combat teams,<ref name="ready1st2019">{{Cite web |url=http://fortblissbugle.com/2019/06/12/ready-first-gets-an-a-1st-sbct-to-become-1st-abct-june-20-infantry-battalions-to-reflag/ |title='Ready First' gets an A: 1st SBCT to become 1st ABCT June 20, infantry battalions to reflag – Fort Bliss Bugle |access-date=18 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617134024/http://fortblissbugle.com/2019/06/12/ready-first-gets-an-a-1st-sbct-to-become-1st-abct-june-20-infantry-battalions-to-reflag/ |archive-date=17 June 2019 |url-status=usurped}}</ref> [[1st Armored Division Artillery (United States)]], 1 [[Combat Aviation Brigade]], and 1 [[sustainment brigade]]
|III Corps
|-
|[[File:1 Cav Shoulder Insignia.svg|20px|left]] [[1st Cavalry Division (United States)|1st Cavalry Division]]
|[[Fort Cavazos]], Texas
|3 armored BCTs, [[1st Cavalry Division Artillery (United States)]], 1 CAB, and 1 sustainment brigade
|III Corps
|-
|[[File:1st US Infantry Division.svg|20px]] [[1st Infantry Division (United States)|1st Infantry Division]]
|[[Fort Riley]], [[Kansas]]
|2 armored BCTs, 1 [[1st Infantry Division Artillery (United States)]], 1 CAB, and 1 sustainment brigade
|III Corps
|-
|[[File:2nd Infantry Division SSI (full color).svg|20px|left]] [[2nd Infantry Division (United States)|2nd Infantry Division]]
|[[Camp Humphreys]], [[South Korea]] <br />[[Joint Base Lewis–McChord]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
|2 Stryker BCTs, 1 mechanized brigade from the [[8th Infantry Division (South Korea)|ROK Army]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/2015/01/14/south-korean-troops-form-combined-division-with-us-army-2nd-infantry-korea-combined-division/21748841/|title=South Korean troops form combined division with U.S. Army|date=14 January 2015|work=Army Times|access-date=13 November 2015}}</ref> 1 [[2nd Infantry Division Artillery (United States)]] (under administrative control of 7th ID), 1 sustainment brigade, and a stateside Stryker BCT from another active division that is rotated in on a regular basis.
|I Corps (CONUS) <br />Eighth Army (OCONUS)
|-
|[[File:United States Army 3rd Infantry Division SSI (1918-2015).svg|20px|left]] [[3rd Infantry Division (United States)|3rd Infantry Division]]
|[[Fort Stewart]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
| 2 armored BCT, Divisional Artillery, Aviation Brigade, and 1 sustainment brigade
| XVIII Airborne Corps
|-
|[[File:4th Infantry Division SSI.svg|20px|left]] [[4th Infantry Division (United States)|4th Infantry Division]]
|[[Fort Carson]], [[Colorado]]
|2 Stryker BCT, 1 armored BCT, [[2nd Infantry Division Artillery (United States)|Divisional Artillery]], 1 CAB, and 1 sustainment brigade
|III Corps
|-
|width=280|[[File:US 2nd Cavalry Regiment SSI.jpg|20px|left]] [[2nd Cavalry Regiment (United States)|2nd Cavalry Regiment]]
|[[U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria#Rose Barracks - Vilseck|Rose Barracks]], [[Vilseck, Germany]]
|4 Stryker squadrons, 1 engineer squadron, 1 fires squadron, and 1 support squadron
|[[United States Army Europe|U.S. Army Europe and Africa]]
|-
|[[File:3dACRSSI.PNG|20px|left]] [[3rd Cavalry Regiment (United States)|3rd Cavalry Regiment]]
|Fort Cavazos, Texas
|4 Stryker squadrons, 1 fires squadron, 1 engineer squadron, and 1 support squadron (overseen by the 1st Cavalry Division)<ref>[https://www.armytimes.com/story/military/careers/army/2016/03/02/army-announces-afghanistan-deployment-1000-soldiers/81207454/ Army announces Afghanistan deployment for 1,000 soldiers], ArmyTimes, by Michelle Tan, dated 2 March 2016, last accessed 3 October 2016</ref>
|III Corps
|-
|[[File:7th Infantry Division SSI (1973-2015).svg|20px]] [[7th Infantry Division (United States)|7th Infantry Division]]
|[[Joint Base Lewis–McChord]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
|1 CAB and 2 Stryker BCTs
|I Corps
|-
|[[File:10th Mountain Division SSI.svg|20px|left]] [[10th Mountain Division (United States)|10th Mountain Division]]
|[[Fort Drum]], [[New York (state)|New York]]
|3 infantry BCTs, 1 [[10th Mountain Division Artillery (United States)]], 1 CAB, and 1 sustainment brigade
|XVIII Airborne Corps
|-
|[[File:11th Airborne Division Insignia 2022.png|20px|left]] [[11th Airborne Division]]
|[[Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson]], [[Alaska]]
|1 airborne infantry BCT, 1 infantry BCT, 1 aviation command, and 1 sustainment battalion
|I Corps
|-
|[[File:25th Infantry Division CSIB.svg|20px|left]] [[25th Infantry Division (United States)|25th Infantry Division]]
|[[Schofield Barracks]], [[Hawaii]]
|2 infantry BCTs, 1 DIVARTY, 1 CAB, and 1 sustainment brigade
|I Corps
|-
|[[File:82 ABD SSI.svg|20px|left]] [[82nd Airborne Division]]
|[[Fort Bragg]], [[North Carolina]]
|3 airborne infantry BCTs, 1 airborne [[82nd Airborne Division Artillery|DIVARTY]], 1 airborne CAB, and 1 airborne sustainment brigade
|XVIII Airborne Corps
|-
|[[File:US 101st Airborne Division patch.svg|20px|left]] [[101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)]]
|[[Fort Campbell]], [[Kentucky]]
|3 infantry BCTs, 1 DIVARTY, 1 CAB, and 1 sustainment brigade
|XVIII Airborne Corps
|-
|[[File:173Airborne Brigade Shoulder Patch.png|22px|left]] [[173rd Airborne Brigade]]
|[[Caserma Ederle|Camp Ederle]], [[Vicenza]], [[Italy]]
|2 airborne infantry battalions, 1 airborne field artillery battalion, 1 airborne cavalry squadron, 1 airborne engineer battalion,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eur.army.mil/SkySoldiers/STB/index.html|title=173rd Airborne Brigade Site Redirect|access-date=13 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011170801/http://www.eur.army.mil/SkySoldiers/STB/index.html|archive-date=11 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> and 1 airborne support battalion
|[[Southern European Task Force, Africa]]
|}
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan="3"|[[File:Seal of the Army National Guard.png|25px]] Combat maneuver units under the Army National Guard until federalized
|-
!scope="col" style="width:150px"|Name !! Locations !! Subunits
|-
|width=200|[[File:28th Infantry Division SSI.svg|20px|left]] [[28th Infantry Division (United States)|28th Infantry Division]]
|[[Pennsylvania]], [[Ohio]] and [[Maryland]]
|[[2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (28th Division)|2nd Infantry BCT]], [[56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team|56th Stryker BCT]], [[28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade|28th CAB]], [[File:US Army 55th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade.png|20px]] [[55th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade]] (MEB),<ref>[https://www.pa.ng.mil/Army-National-Guard/28th-Infantry-Division/ 28th Infantry Division], Pennsylvania National Guard official website, last accessed 4 December 2020</ref> and the [[371st Sustainment Brigade (United States)|28th Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade (SB)]]
|-
|[[File:29th Infantry Division SSI.svg|20px|left]] [[29th Infantry Division (United States)|29th Infantry Division]]
|[[Virginia]], Maryland, [[North Carolina]] and [[Florida]]
|[[File:30th Infantry Division SSI.svg|15px]] [[30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team|30th Armored BCT]], [[File:53rd Infantry Brigade SSI.svg|15px]] [[53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States)|53rd Infantry BCT]], [[116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States)|116th Infantry BCT]], 29th CAB, [[File:142FABdeSSI.svg|20px]] [[142nd Field Artillery Regiment]], [[113th Sustainment Brigade (United States)|29th Infantry Division SB]], and the [[File:226MnvrEnhance.jpg|15px]] 226th MEB<ref>[https://va.ng.mil/Army-Guard/29th-ID/ 29th Infantry Division] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114110954/https://va.ng.mil/Army-Guard/29th-ID/ |date=14 January 2021 }}, Virginia National Guard official homepage, last accessed 4 December 2020</ref>
|-
|[[File:34th 'Red Bull' Infantry Division SSI.svg|22px|left]] [[34th Infantry Division (United States)|34th Infantry Division]]
|[[Minnesota]], [[Wisconsin]], [[Iowa]] and [[Idaho]]
|[[1st Armored Brigade Combat Team (34th Division)|1st Armored BCT]], [[2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (34th Division)|2nd Infantry BCT]], [[File:32nd infantry division shoulder patch.svg|11px]] [[32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States)|32nd Infantry BCT]], [[File:116th Cavalry Brigade CSIB.svg|20px]] [[116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team|116th Cavalry BCT]], [[File:115FABdeSSI.png|20px]] [[115th Field Artillery Brigade]], [[34th Aviation Brigade (United States)|34th CAB]], [[108th Sustainment Brigade (United States)|34th Infantry Division SB]], and the [[File:57th Field Artillery Brigade SSI.svg|15px]] [[157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade|157th MEB]]
|-
|[[File:35th Infantry Division SSI.svg|20px|left]] [[35th Infantry Division (United States)|35th Infantry Division]]
|[[Kansas]], [[Missouri]], [[Illinois]], [[Oklahoma]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], [[Arkansas]], and [[Nebraska]]
|[[File:33rd Infantry Division SSI.svg|20px]] [[33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States)|33rd Infantry BCT]], [[File:USArmy 39th Inf Brig Patch.svg|15px]] [[39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States)|39th Infantry BCT]], [[File:45thIBCTSSI.png|20px]] [[45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States)|45th Infantry BCT]], [[File:130FABdeSSI.svg|15px]] [[130th Field Artillery Brigade]], [[35th Combat Aviation Brigade (United States)|35th CAB]], and the [[File:67th Infantry Brigade SSI.svg|15px]] [[67th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade|67th MEB]]
|-
|[[File:36th Infantry Division SSI.png|20px|left]] [[36th Infantry Division (United States)|36th Infantry Division]]
|[[Texas]], [[Louisiana]] and [[Mississippi]]
|[[56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States)|56th Infantry BCT]], [[72nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States)|72nd Infantry BCT]], [[File:256 INF BRGDE SSI.svg|15px]] [[256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States)|256th Infantry BCT]], [[File:155th Armored Brigade Combat Team CSIB.svg|15px]] [[155th Brigade Combat Team (United States)|155th Armored BCT]], [[File:US278ACRSSI.svg|20px]] [[278th Armored Cavalry Regiment]], [[Task Force Mustang|36th CAB]], 36th Infantry Division SB, and the [[File:136th MEB.png|15px]] 136th MEB
|-
|[[File:38th Infantry Division SSI.svg|20px|left]] [[38th Infantry Division (United States)|38th Infantry Division]]
|[[Indiana]], [[Michigan]], Ohio and [[Tennessee]]
|[[File:37th Infantry Brigade SSI.svg|20px]] [[37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States)|37th Infantry BCT]], [[File:76th IBCT shoulder sleeve insignia.jpg|17px]] [[76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States)|76th Infantry BCT]], [[File:138FABdeSSI.svg|15px]] [[138th Field Artillery Brigade]], 38th CAB, [[38th Sustainment Brigade|38th Infantry Division SB]], and the [[File:149th Armored Brigade CSIB.svg|15px]] [[149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade|149th MEB]]
|-
|[[File:40th Infantry Division CSIB.svg|20px|left]] [[40th Infantry Division (United States)|40th Infantry Division]]
|[[Arizona]], [[California]], [[Hawaii]], [[Oregon]], and [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
|[[File:29th Infantry Brigade SSI.svg|15px]] [[29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States)|29th Infantry BCT]], [[File:41st Infantry Division SSI.svg|20px]] [[41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States)|41st Infantry BCT]], [[File:79 Infantry Brigade Combat Team insignia.svg|15px]] [[79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States)|79th Infantry BCT]], [[File:81st ABCT Unit Insignia.svg|20px]] [[81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team|81st Stryker BCT]], 40th CAB, and the [[224th Sustainment Brigade (United States)|40th Infantry Division SB]]
|-
|[[File:42nd Infantry Division SSI.svg|20px|left]] [[42nd Infantry Division (United States)|42nd Infantry Division]]
|[[Connecticut]], [[Maine]], [[Maryland]], [[Massachusetts]], [[New Hampshire]], [[New Jersey]], [[New York (state)|New York]], [[Rhode Island]], and [[Vermont]]
|[[File:27th Infantry Division SSI.svg|20px]] [[27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States)|27th Infantry BCT]], [[File:US Army 44th Infantry Division SSI.png|20px]] [[44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team|44th Infantry BCT]], [[File:86th BCT (MTN).jpg|18px]] [[86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team|86th Infantry BCT (Mountain)]], [[File:197th FA Brigade patch.png|15px]] [[197th Field Artillery Brigade]], [[42nd Combat Aviation Brigade|42nd CAB]], [[369th Sustainment Brigade (United States)|42nd Infantry Division SB]], and the [[File:Yankee Division.svg|18px]] [[26th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade|26th MEB]]
|}
''For a description of U.S. Army tactical organizational structure, see: a [[Structure of the United States Army#Operational|U.S. context]]{{Broken anchor|date=2024-07-21|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=Structure of the United States Army#Operational|reason= The anchor (Operational) [[Special:Diff/851167488|has been deleted]].}} and also a [[Military organization#Modern hierarchy|global context]].''
 
==Special operations forces==
Other than the dates of authorization, nothing has been located as to why the leaf and bar was selected for officer’s insignia. Military routinely incorporate the design representing their country in their insignia and the eagle with shield, arrows and olive leaves was taken from the Coat of Arms of the United States.
{{main|Army Special Operations Command}}
 
[[File:US Army Special Operations Command SSI.svg|25px]] [[United States Army Special Operations Command]] (Airborne) (USASOC):<ref name="RSOF Fact Book 2018">[http://www.soc.mil/USASOCHQ/USASOCHQFactSheet.html Army Special Operations Forces Fact Book 2018] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019193907/http://www.soc.mil/USASOCHQ/USASOCHQFactSheet.html |date=19 October 2016}}, USASOC official website, dated 2018, last accessed 28 July 2019</ref>
====Use of Silver and Gold====
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Name !! Headquarters{{efn|name=renaming}} !! Structure and purpose
|-
|width=225|[[File:US Army Special Forces SSI.png|25px|left]] [[1st Special Forces Command (Airborne)|1st Special Forces Command]]
|[[Fort Bragg]], North Carolina
|Manages seven special forces groups designed to deploy and execute nine doctrinal missions: [[unconventional warfare]], [[foreign internal defense]], [[direct action (military)|direct action]], [[counter-insurgency]], [[special reconnaissance]], [[counter-terrorism]], [[information operations]], [[counterproliferation]] of [[weapon of mass destruction|weapons of mass destruction]], and [[Security Force Assistance Brigade#Overview|security force assistance]]. The command also manages two [[Psychological operations (United States)|psychological operations]] groups—tasked to work with foreign nations to induce or reinforce behavior favorable to U.S. objectives—a [[95th Civil Affairs Brigade|civil affairs brigade]]—that enables military commanders and [[Ambassadors of the United States|U.S. ambassadors]] to improve relationships with various stakeholders via five battalions—and a [[528th Sustainment Brigade (United States)|sustainment brigade]]—that provides combat service support and combat health support units via three distinct battalions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.soc.mil/USASFC/HQ.html|title=USASFC Home Page|website=soc.mil|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=9 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809124809/https://www.soc.mil/USASFC/HQ.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|[[File:U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command SSI (2013-2015).png|25px|left]] [[U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command (USASOAC)|Army Special Operations Aviation Command]]
|[[Fort Bragg]], [[North Carolina]]
|Commands, organizes, mans, trains, resources, and equips Army special operations aviation units to provide responsive, special operations aviation support to special operations forces consisting of five units, including the [[160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (United States)|160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne)]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.soc.mil/USASOAC/USASOAChomepage.html|title=U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command Homepage|website=soc.mil|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=24 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240624014835/https://www.soc.mil/USASOAC/USASOAChomepage.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|[[File:75 Ranger Regiment Shoulder Sleeve Insignia.svg|30px|left]] [[75th Ranger Regiment (United States)|75th Ranger Regiment]]
|[[Fort Benning]], Georgia
|In addition to a regimental headquarters, a special troops battalion, and a military intelligence battalion, the 75th Ranger Regiment has three maneuver battalions of elite airborne infantry specializing in large-scale, joint forcible entry operations and precision targeting raids. Additional capabilities include [[special reconnaissance]], [[air assault]], and direct action raids seizing key terrain such as airfields, destroying or securing strategic facilities, and capturing or killing enemies of the Nation. The Regiment also helps develop the equipment, technologies, training, and readiness that bridge the gap between special operations and traditional combat maneuver organizations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.soc.mil/rangers/75thrr.html|title=U.S. Army 75th Ranger Reinment website|website=soc.mil|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=4 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240704181903/https://www.soc.mil/rangers/75thrr.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|[[File:JFKSWCS SSI.gif|25px|left]] [[John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School]]
|[[Fort Bragg]], [[North Carolina]]
|Selects and trains special forces, civil affairs, and psychological operations soldiers, consisting of two groups and other various training units and offices.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.swcs.mil/|title=The official website of the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School|website=swcs.mil|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=4 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240704171206/https://www.swcs.mil/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|[[File:US Army Special Operations Command SSI.svg|25px|left]] [[Delta Force|1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta]]
|[[Fort Bragg]], [[North Carolina]]
|Commonly referred to as Delta Force, Combat Applications Group (CAG), "The Unit", Army Compartmented Element (ACE), or Task Force Green, SFOD–D is the U.S. Army's Tier 1 [[Special Mission Unit]] tasked with performing the most complex, classified, and dangerous missions directed by the [[National Command Authority (United States)|National Command Authority]]. Under the control of [[Joint Special Operations Command]], SFOD–D specializes in [[hostage|hostage rescue]], [[counter-terrorism]], [[direct action (military)|direct action]], and [[special reconnaissance]] against [[high-value target]]s via eight squadrons: four assault, one aviation, one clandestine, one combat support, and one nuclear disposal.<ref>{{Cite web|author1=Warisboring |url=https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/us-armys-delta-force-how-secret-group-deadly-soldiers-came-be-55057|title=The U.S. Army's Delta Force: How This Secret Group of Deadly Soldiers Came to Be|date=30 April 2019|website=The National Interest}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=Sean |last=Naylor |title=Relentless Strike: The Secret History of Joint Special Operations Command |publisher=St. Martin's Press |year=2015 |isbn= 9781466876224|pages=73, 122, 201, 222, 476|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oWiWBgAAQBAJ&pg=PT454}}</ref>
|}
 
==Medical Department==
The precedence of silver over gold in officer insignia of grade was not the result of deliberate intent, but arose from the desire to avoid unnecessary changes. Although the background discussed below is for Army insignia, the Navy and Marine Corps metal insignia of grade for officers have paralleled those of the Army. When the Air Force was established in 1947, it adopted the officers’ insignia of grade already in used by the Army.
{{main|Army Medical Department (United States)}}
The [[Army Medical Department (United States)|United States Army Medical Department]] (AMEDD), formerly the Army Medical Service (AMS), is the primary healthcare organization of the United States Army and is led by the [[Surgeon General of the United States Army]] (TSG), a three-star [[Lieutenant general (United States)|lieutenant general]], who (by policy) also serves as the Commanding General, [[United States Army Medical Command]] (MEDCOM). TSG is assisted by a Deputy Surgeon General and a full staff, the Office of the Surgeon General (OTSG). The incumbent Surgeon General is Lieutenant General [[Mary Krueger|Mary K. Izaguirre]] (since 25 January 2024).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jbsa.mil/News/News/Article/3658055/us-army-medical-command-welcomes-46th-army-surgeon-general/|title=U.S. Army Medical Command welcomes 46th Army Surgeon General|last=Kumzak|first=Joseph|date=January 26, 2024|website=Joint Base San Antonio|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=11 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711155934/https://www.jbsa.mil/News/News/Article/3658055/us-army-medical-command-welcomes-46th-army-surgeon-general/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Since 1780, when insignia was embroidered on the epaulettes, the grade of general officers has been denoted by a number of silver stars. This was the beginning of the present system of officers’ grade insignia.
Epaulettes were specified for all officers in 1832; for the infantry they were silver and all others had gold epaulettes. In order that the rank insignia would be clearly discernible, they were of the opposite color; that is, the infantry colonels had an eagle of gold because it was placed on a silver epaulette and all other colonels had silver eagles on gold epaulettes. At that time the only grade insignia were the stars for general officers and eagles for colonels. Epaulettes for lieutenant colonels, majors, captains, and lieutenants had no insignia -- the difference of grade were indicated by the length and size of the fringe, and on which shoulder(s) the epaulette(s) were worn.
Shoulder straps were adopted to replace the epaulette for field duty in 1836. The straps followed the same color combination as the epaulettes; that is, the border was gold with silver insignia for all officers except those of infantry which had silver border with gold insignia. At that time majors were authorized leaves; captains were authorized two bars and first lieutenants were authorized one bars on the shoulder straps. An exception to the rule was made for lieutenent colonels, who had leaves in the ''same'' color as the border.
In 1851, the colonel’s eagle was prescribed in silver only. Apparently when it was decided to use only one color, the silver eagle was selected based on the fact that there were more colonels with the silver eagle that those with gold. For the other officer ranks, the rank insignia of the infantry became standard for the whole army, i.e. lieutenant colonels wore an embroidered silver leaf; majors wore a gold embroidered leaf; and captains and first lieutenants wore two and one gold bars respectively, on the shoulder straps. The second lieutenant had no grade insignia, but the epaulette or shoulder strap identified him as a commissioned officer.
In 1872, epaulettes were abolished for officers and replaced by shoulder knots. As the shoulder knots had no fringe, it was necessary that some change in the insignia on the dress uniform be made in order to distinguish the major from the second lieutenant. It was natural to use the gold leaf which the major had worn on the shoulder strap for the previous twenty-one years. In the same year, the bars on the shoulder straps of the captains and first lieutenants were changed from gold to silver to correspond with the silver devices of the senior officers.
The service uniform of olive drab gradually came to be used more frequently and by the time of World War I, the blue uniform was worn only in the evenings and on dress occasions. As a result, metal insignia was authorized for wear on the service uniform on the shoulder loop and on the collar of the shirt when worn without a jacket. Shortly after the United States entered World War I, only the service olive drab uniform was being worn. The need for an insignia for the second lieutenant became urgent. Among the proposals was one to authorized for that grade one bar, the first lieutenant two bars, and the captain three bars. However, the policy of making as little change as possible prevailed, and a gold bar was adopted in 1917, following the precedent previously established by the adoption of the major’s insignia.
Although silver outranks gold insofar as the Armed Forces metal insignia of grade, gold can be considered as outranking silver in medals and decorations and their appurtenances. The order of precedence in establishing medals when using the same design is gold, silver and bronze.
 
AMEDD encompasses the Army's six non-combat, medical-focused specialty branches (or "Corps"), these branches are: the [[United States Army Medical Corps|Medical Corps]], [[United States Army Nurse Corps|Nurse Corps]], [[Army Medical Department (United States)|Dental Corps]], [[United States Army Veterinary Corps|Veterinary Corps]], [[Army Medical Department (United States)|Medical Specialist Corps]]. Each of these branches is headed by a Corps Chief that reports directly to the Surgeon General.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://medcoe.army.mil/amedd-medical-corps|title=About the Medical Corps|website=U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence|access-date=July 8, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://medcoe.army.mil/amedd-army-nurse-corps|title=U.S. Army Nurse Corps|website=U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence|access-date=July 8, 2024|archive-date=4 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240804142249/https://medcoe.army.mil/amedd-army-nurse-corps/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://medcoe.army.mil/amedd-army-dental-corps|title=Army Dentistry|website=U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence|access-date=July 8, 2024|archive-date=2 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230702010520/https://medcoe.army.mil/amedd-army-dental-corps/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://medcoe.army.mil/amedd-veterinary-corps|title=U.S. Army Veterinary Corps |website=U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence|access-date=July 10, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://medcoe.army.mil/amedd-specialist-corps/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515112717/https://medcoe.army.mil/amedd-specialist-corps/|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 May 2021|title=Army Medical Specialist Corps (SP Corps) |website=U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence|access-date=July 10, 2024}}</ref>
===Enlisted Personnel Insignia of Rank ===
====Background====
 
==Personnel==
"Chevron" is an architectural term denoting the rafters of a roof meeting an angle at the upper apex. The chevron in heraldry was employed as a badge of honor to mark the main supporters of the head of the clan or "top of the house" and it came to be used in various forms as an emblem of rank for knights and men-at-arms in feudal days. One legend is that the chevron was awarded to a knight to show he had taken part in capturing a castle, town, or other building, of which the chevron resembled the roofs. It is believed from this resulted its use as an insignia of grade by the military.
{{see also|List of ranks used by the United States Army}}
The Army's Talent Management Task Force (TMTF) has deployed IPPS-A,<ref name= ipps-a>{{Cite web|url=https://ipps-a.army.mil/|title=The Integrated Personnel and Pay System - Army|website=ipps-a.army.mil|access-date=3 May 2021|archive-date=3 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503141529/https://ipps-a.army.mil/|url-status=live}}</ref> the [[Integrated Personnel and Pay System - Army]], an app which serves the National Guard, and on 17 January 2023 the Army Reserve and Active Army.<ref name= golive>IPPS-A [https://ipps-a.army.mil/ (17 January 2023) Release 3 is Live for all component users!!] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503141529/https://ipps-a.army.mil/ |date=3 May 2021 }}</ref> Soldiers were reminded to update their information using the legacy systems to keep their payroll and personnel information current by December 2021. IPPS-A is the Human Resources system for the Army, is available for download for Android, or the Apple store.<ref name= ipps-aApple>[https://www.army.mil/article/247107/new_army_pay_personnel_mobile_app Army Public Affairs(2 Jun 2021) New Army pay, personnel mobile app] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602195937/https://www.army.mil/article/247107/new_army_pay_personnel_mobile_app |date=2 June 2021 }} and [https://ipps-a.army.mil/wp-content/uploads/IPPS-ALive_29Mar_FINAL.pdf unifies unit and ___location information for all Soldiers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609062525/https://ipps-a.army.mil/wp-content/uploads/IPPS-ALive_29Mar_FINAL.pdf |date=9 June 2021 }} using Army Organization Server data interface (AOSDI), unified with IPPS-A on the back-end. This allows aggregation of data on ACOM/ASCC, Corps, Division, Brigade, Battalion, Company, Platoon, and Squad levels</ref> It will be used for future promotions and other personnel decisions. Among the changes are:
* BCAP, the Battalion Commander Assessment Program. In January 2020, over 800 majors and lieutenant colonels from all over the Army converged on Fort Knox to take part in a five-day program to select the next battalion commanders for the Army (beginning in FY2021). This process replaces the former selection process which was based solely on rank and individual reviews of past performance. From now on, more consideration will be given to an individual officer's personal preference, as part of 25 other selection criteria.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://federalnewsnetwork.com/army/2019/10/army-debuts-new-system-to-pick-commanders-amid-new-focus-on-talent-management/ |title= Jared Serbu (16 October 2019) Army debuts new system to pick commanders amid focus on talent management |date= 16 October 2019 |access-date= 4 May 2021 |archive-date= 4 May 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210504055949/https://federalnewsnetwork.com/army/2019/10/army-debuts-new-system-to-pick-commanders-amid-new-focus-on-talent-management/ |url-status= live }}</ref> "Promotion boards will now be able to see almost all substantiated adverse information".<ref name= adverseInfo /> The promotion boards will be able to see anything in an officer's human resource record. Officers are encouraged to become familiar with their human resource record, and to file rebuttals to adverse information.<ref name= adverseInfo>{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/246156/promotion_boards_to_receive_adverse_information_earlier_when_considering_officers|title=Promotion boards to receive adverse information earlier when considering officers|website=army.mil|date=8 June 2021|access-date=10 June 2021|archive-date=10 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610191535/https://www.army.mil/article/246156/promotion_boards_to_receive_adverse_information_earlier_when_considering_officers|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Depending on the success of this initiative, other assessment programs could be instituted as well, for promotion to sergeants major,<ref name= smap>{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/241110/prototype_sergeants_major_assessment_program_at_fort_knox_on_the_right_path|title=Prototype Sergeants Major Assessment Program at Fort Knox on the right path|website=army.mil|date=23 November 2020|access-date=4 May 2021|archive-date=18 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418150149/https://www.army.mil/article/241110/prototype_sergeants_major_assessment_program_at_fort_knox_on_the_right_path|url-status=live}}</ref> and for assessment of colonels for command.<ref name= ccap>{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/238143/army_vice_chief_walks_through_brigade_command_program_to_witness_armys_newest_assessment_tool|title=Army vice chief walks through brigade command program to witness Army's newest assessment tool|website=army.mil|date=13 August 2020|access-date=4 May 2021|archive-date=4 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504115307/https://www.army.mil/article/238143/army_vice_chief_walks_through_brigade_command_program_to_witness_armys_newest_assessment_tool|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
Below are the U.S. Army ranks authorized for use today and their equivalent NATO designations. Although no living officer currently holds the rank of [[General of the Army (United States)|General of the Army]], it is still authorized by Congress for use in wartime.
The lozenge or diamond used to indicate first sergeant is a mark of distinction and was used in heraldry to indicate achievement.
 
====Method of Wearing=Officers===
{{main|United States Army officer rank insignia}}
 
There are several paths to becoming a [[commissioned officer]]<ref name="futuresoldiers">From the [http://www.futuresoldiers.com/ Future Soldiers] Web Site.</ref> including the [[United States Military Academy]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.westpoint.edu/about|title=About West Point|publisher=[[United States Military Academy]]|access-date=July 10, 2024|archive-date=15 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715123302/https://www.westpoint.edu/about|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Reserve Officers' Training Corps]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/find-your-path/army-officers/rotc|title=Army ROTC Overview|website=goarmy.com|access-date=July 10, 2024}}</ref> [[Officer Candidate School]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/find-your-path/army-officers/ocs|title=Officer Candidate School Overview – U.S. Army|website=goarmy.com|access-date=July 10, 2024|archive-date=10 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710160701/https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/find-your-path/army-officers/ocs|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Direct commission officer|direct commission]]ing. Regardless of which road an officer takes, the insignia are the same. Certain professions including physicians, pharmacists, nurses, lawyers and chaplains are commissioned directly into the Army.
Chevrons were sewn on the sleeves of uniforms with the point down from approximately 1820 to 1903. They were worn with the points both up and down between 1903 and 1905 after the first reversal from "down" to "up" was authorized on [[May 1]], [[1903]] in '''Army Regulation No. 622'''. This confusion period, from 1903 to 1905, was the result of the color change in the chevrons provided for in the regulation which also directed a standard color for each branch, corps, or organization and replaced the gold-colored chevrons. Because of the number of gold insignia available, troops were permitted to wear the old-type chevron until the supply became exhausted.
 
Most army commissioned officers (those who are generalists)<ref name=reformers>Freedberg Jr., Sydney (25 October 2017) [https://breakingdefense.com/2017/10/can-the-pentagon-protect-young-innovators/ "Can The Pentagon Protect Young Innovators?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222170833/https://breakingdefense.com/2017/10/can-the-pentagon-protect-young-innovators/ |date=22 February 2020 }}</ref> are promoted based on an "up or out" system. A more flexible talent management process is underway.<ref name=reformers /> The [[Defense Officer Personnel Management Act]] of 1980 establishes rules for the timing of promotions and limits the number of officers that can serve at any given time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/1423778/services-detail-efforts-to-modernize-personnel-system/|title=Services Detail Efforts to Modernize Personnel System|last=Garamone|first=Jim|date=January 25, 2018|website=[[United States Department of Defense]]|access-date=July 12, 2024}}</ref>
To assure uniformity in both color and position of the new colored chevrons, '''War Department Circular 61''', dated [[November 30]], [[1905]], stated that the points of the chevrons would be worn points upward. It also provided for the following colors as had been directed in '''Army Regulation No. 622''', dated [[May 1]] [[1903]]. The colors were:
# Artillery-scarlet;
# Cavalry-yellow;
# Engineers-scarlet piped with orange;
# Hospital Corps-maroon piped with white;
# Infantry-light blue;
# Ordnance-black piped with scarlet;
# Post QM Sergeant-buff;
# Signal Corps-orange piped with white;
# West Point Band-light blue;
# West Point Detachment-buff.
 
Army regulations call for addressing all personnel with the rank of general as "General (last name)" regardless of the number of stars. Likewise, both colonels and lieutenant colonels are addressed as "Colonel (last name)" and first and second lieutenants as "Lieutenant (last name)".<ref name=ar600>{{cite web|url=http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r600_20.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040115031701/http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r600_20.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 January 2004|title=Army Regulation 600–20|access-date=2 May 2016}}</ref>
As early as 1820, chevrons were worn with the point down, although there was not an official direction of this to appear in regulations until 1821 when chevrons were authorized for both officers and enlisted men. '''Circular No. 65''', 1821, stated that" "Chevrons will designate rank (both of officers through the rank of captain and enlisted men) as follows: Captains, one on each arm, above the elbow, and subalterns, on each arm below the elbow. They will be of gold or silver lace, half an inch wide, conforming in colour to the button of their regiment or corps. The angles of the chevron to point upwards.
 
{{US Army Officer|short=yes}}
Adjutants will be designated by an arc of gold or silver fringe, (according to the colour of their trimmings), connecting the extreme points formed by the ends of the chevron. Sergeant Majors and Quartermaster Sergeants will wear one chevron of worsted braid on each arm, above the elbow. Sergeants and senior musicians, one on each arm, below the elbow, and corporals, one on the right arm, above the elbow. They will conform in colour to the button of their regiment or corps." Before this time, an officer’s rank was indicated by epaulettes worn on the shoulder. This regulation also indicated the first use of the arc as part of the chevron.
 
===Warrant officers===
Chevrons continued to be worn points downward during the 1800’s. AGO Order No. 10, dated 9 February 1833, stated "Chevrons will be worn with the point toward the cuff of the sleeves." '''Article 1577 of the revised United States Regulations of 1861''' stated "The rank of non-commissioned Officers will be marked by chevrons upon both sleeves of the uniform coat and overcoat, above the elbow, of silk worsted binding on-half inch wide, to be the same color as the edgings of the coat, point down."
{{main|Warrant officer (United States)}}
 
[[Warrant officer (United States)|Warrant officers]]<ref name="futuresoldiers"/> are single track, specialty officers with subject matter expertise in a particular area. They are initially appointed as warrant officers (in the rank of WO1) by the [[United States Secretary of the Army|secretary of the Army]], but receive their [[Officer (armed forces)#Warrant officers|commission]] upon promotion to chief warrant officer two (CW2).
==Training==
 
By regulation, warrant officers are addressed as "Mr. (last name)" or "Ms. (last name)" by senior officers and as "sir" or "ma'am" by all enlisted personnel.<ref name=ar600/> However, many personnel address warrant officers as "Chief (last name)" within their units regardless of rank.
Training in the United States Army is generally divided into two catagories - individual and collective.
 
{{US Army Warrant Officer}}
Individual training for enlisted soldiers usually consists of [[Basic Combat Training]], and Advanced Individual Training in their primary [[List of United States Army MOS|Military Occupational Specialty]] (MOS) at any of the numerous MOS training facilities around the world. Depending on the needs of the Army BCT is conducted at a number of locations, but two of the longest running are the Armor School at [[Fort Knox]], Kentucky and the Infantry School at [[Fort Benning]], Georgia.
 
===Enlisted personnel===
Collective training takes place both at the unit's assigned station, but the most intensive collective training takes place at the Combat Training Centers (CTC); two of the most famous are the [[National Training Center]] (NTC) at [[Fort Irwin]], California and the [[Joint Readiness Training Center]] (JRTC) at [[Fort Polk]], Louisiana.
{{main|United States Army enlisted rank insignia}}
{{see also|Enlisted rank}}
 
Sergeants and corporals are referred to as NCOs, short for [[Staff Noncommissioned Officer|non-commissioned officers]].<ref name="futuresoldiers"/><ref name="symbolsandinsig">From the [https://www.army.mil/ranks/ Enlisted Soldiers Descriptions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180525125744/https://www.army.mil/symbols/Enlisteddescriptions.html |date=25 May 2018 }} Web Site.</ref> This distinguishes corporals from the more numerous specialists who have the same pay grade but do not exercise leadership responsibilities. Beginning in 2021, all corporals will be required to conduct [[structured self-development]] for the NCO ranks, completing the [[basic leader course]] (BLC), or else be laterally assigned as specialists. Specialists who have completed BLC and who have been recommended for promotion will be permitted to wear corporal rank before their recommended promotion as NCOs.<ref name= lacdan>{{cite web| url= https://www.army.mil/article/247183/soldiers_to_pin_on_corporal_after_blc| title= Joseph Lacdan, Army News Service (4 June 2021) Soldiers to pin on corporal after BLC| date= 4 June 2021| access-date= 10 June 2021| archive-date= 10 June 2021| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210610235152/https://www.army.mil/article/247183/soldiers_to_pin_on_corporal_after_blc| url-status= live}}</ref>
==Oath of Office==
 
Privates and privates first class (E3) are addressed as "Private (last name)", specialists as "Specialist (last name)", corporals as "Corporal (last name)" and sergeants, staff sergeants, sergeants first class and master sergeants all as "Sergeant (last name)". First sergeants are addressed as "First Sergeant (last name)" and sergeants major and command sergeants major are addressed as "Sergeant Major (last name)".<ref name=ar600/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/ranks/|title=U.S. Army Ranks|website=army.mil|access-date=July 10, 2023|archive-date=25 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180525125744/https://www.army.mil/symbols/Enlisteddescriptions.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
Upon joining the Army, all Soldiers (officers and enlisted) must swear (or affirm) an oath to "protect the Constitution of the United States from all enemies, both foreign and domestic." This emphasis on the defense of the [[United States Constitution]] illustrates the concern of the framers that the military be subordinate to legitimate civilian authority.
<br>
 
{{US Army Enlisted}}
==Uniforms==
Since [[World War II]], the Army has maintained three distinct types of uniforms: Full Dress, Service/Garrison Dress, and Combat Dress.
 
===Training===
'''The Full Dress''' uniform, known today as Army Blue, is worn for most ceremonial duties in most Stateside posts, especially those attached to the [[3d Infantry Regiment|3rd Infantry Regiment]] in Washington, D.C. This uniform, adopted in present form in 1955, consists of a dark blue open-fronted coat with white shirt and black necktie, and light blue trousers, all trimmed in gold (the [[U.S. Marine Corps]] dress blues has a "choker collar" coat and scarlet trim). It is worn with a dark blue saucer cap, with officers rank insignia being worn on rectangluar epaulettes in the color of their branch of service. General officers wear a similar uniform, but with dark blue trousers in place of light blue ones, along with their distinctive General officer's insignia. A [[bowtie]], worn in place of the necktie, is used when the uniform is worn when attending events similar to that of a "black-tie" function.
{{Main|United States Army Basic Training}}
[[File:Rangers from the 75th Ranger Regiment fast-rope from an MH-47 Chinook during a capabilities exercise.jpg|thumb|right|U.S. Army Rangers practicing [[Fast-roping|fast roping]] techniques from an [[Boeing CH-47 Chinook|MH-47]] during an exercise at [[Fort Bragg]]]]
 
Training in the U.S. Army is generally divided into two categories – individual and collective. Because of COVID-19 precautions, the first two weeks of [[basic training]] — not including processing and out-processing – incorporate social distancing and indoor desk-oriented training. Once the recruits have tested negative for COVID-19 for two weeks, the remaining 8&nbsp;weeks follow the traditional activities for most recruits,<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.army.mil/article/235841/brigades_move_to_new_model_for_basic_training| title= Mitch Meador (21 May 2020) Brigades move to new model for basic training| date= 21 May 2020}}</ref> followed by Advanced Individualized Training (AIT) where they receive training for their [[List of United States Army careers|military occupational specialties (MOS)]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/job-training/advanced-individual-training|title=Advanced Individual Training Overview|website=goarmy.com|access-date=July 10, 2024}}</ref> Some individual's MOSs range anywhere from 14 to 20 weeks of One Station Unit Training (OSUT), which combines Basic Training and AIT. The length of AIT school varies by the MOS. The length of time spent in AIT depends on the soldier's MOS. Certain highly technical MOS training requires many months (e.g., foreign language translators). Depending on the army's needs, [[United States Army Basic Training#Basic Combat Training|Basic Combat Training]] for combat arms soldiers is conducted at several locations. Still, two of the longest-running are the Armor School and the [[United States Army Infantry School|Infantry School]], both at [[Fort Moore]], Georgia. Sergeant Major of the Army Dailey notes that an infantrymen's pilot program for [[One Station Unit Training]] (OSUT) extends 8 weeks beyond Basic Training and AIT, to 22 weeks. The pilot, designed to boost infantry readiness ended in December 2018. The new Infantry OSUT covered the [[M240]] machine gun as well as the [[M249 light machine gun|M249 squad automatic weapon]].<ref name=m240,249>{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/211809/soldiers_train_on_m240_machine_gun_during_22_week_infantry_osut_transformation|title=Soldiers train on M240 machine gun during 22-week Infantry OSUT transformation|website=Army.mil|date=28 September 2018|access-date=1 November 2018|archive-date=18 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118205723/https://www.army.mil/article/211809/soldiers_train_on_m240_machine_gun_during_22_week_infantry_osut_transformation|url-status=live}}</ref> The redesigned Infantry OSUT started in 2019.<ref name=daileyOSUT>{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/207819/sgt_maj_of_the_army_extending_training_would_bolster_readiness_lethality|title=Sgt. Maj. of the Army: Extending training would bolster readiness, lethality|website=Army.mil|date=28 June 2018|access-date=16 October 2018|archive-date=16 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181016081357/https://www.army.mil/article/207819/sgt_maj_of_the_army_extending_training_would_bolster_readiness_lethality|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=extendedOSUT>{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/210695/extended_osut_allows_repetition_to_hone_combat_skills_major_general_says|title=Extended OSUT allows repetition to hone combat skills, major general says|website= Army.mil|date=6 September 2018}}</ref> Depending on the result of the 2018 pilot, OSUTs could also extend training in other combat arms beyond the infantry.<ref name=daileyOSUT /> One Station Unit Training will be extended to 22 weeks for Armor by Fiscal Year 2021.<ref name=Strategy2018 /> Additional OSUTs are expanding to Cavalry, Engineer, and Military Police (MP) in the succeeding Fiscal Years.<ref name= addedOsuts>{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/211324/preparing_for_current_and_future_army_drill_sergeant_mission_requirements_through_adaptive_measures|title=Preparing for current and future Army drill sergeant mission requirements through adaptive measures|website=Army.mil|date=25 September 2018|access-date=27 April 2019|archive-date=27 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427221753/https://www.army.mil/article/211324/preparing_for_current_and_future_army_drill_sergeant_mission_requirements_through_adaptive_measures|url-status=live}}</ref>
'''The Service/Garrison''' uniform, introduced in the mid-1950's and replacing the [[Olive Drab]] uniforms worn since 1902, consists of an "Army Green" coat and trousers similar in design to the Army Blue uniform. Between the introduction of the uniform and the mid-1980's, the uniform was worn with a tan shirt and black necktie, but has since been replaced with a light green shirt. Enlisted members wear rank on both sleeves, while officers have their insginia on the epaulets. In addition, officers uniforms have black mohair bands on the coat cuffs and mohair stripes on the trousers. Since 2001, the uniform has been worn with the U.S. Army's general service black beret, which was worn only by Ranger regiments, prior to its service-wide introduction. Although regular units wear black shoes, with boots, ascot scarves, and pistol belts being worn only for parade dress functions, Airborne, Ranger, and Special Forces (green beret) units wear "Corcoran" jump boots with the trousers bloused into them. Berets identical to the black general service beret, are worn by these units, with the Airborne wearing maroon ([[82nd Airborne Division]] and [[173d Airborne Brigade]] only, as the [[101st Airborne Division]] is an [[air assault]] unit), Rangers wearing tan, and Special Forces wearing green--the most identifiable insignia in the entire world.
 
A new training assignment for junior officers was instituted, that they serve as platoon leaders for Basic Combat Training (BCT) platoons.<ref name=LTsAsBCT/> These lieutenants will assume many of the administrative, logistical, and day-to-day tasks formerly performed by the drill sergeants of those platoons and are expected to "lead, train, and assist with maintaining and enhancing the morale, welfare and readiness" of the drill sergeants and their BCT platoons.<ref name= LTsAsBCT>{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/220289/lieutenants_to_become_bct_leaders|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422212141/https://www.army.mil/article/220289/lieutenants_to_become_bct_leaders|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 April 2019|title=Lieutenants to become BCT leaders|website= Army.mil|date=15 April 2019}}</ref> These lieutenants are also expected to stem any inappropriate behaviors they witness in their platoons, to free up the drill sergeants for training.<ref name=LTsAsBCT/>
'''The Battle Dress''' uniform, known throughout recent history as "fatigues," or "[[battle dress uniform|BDUs]]," has undergone the most changes since World War II. Introduced as a one-piece coverall, it was later changed to a two-piece shirt/trousers design by the end of World War II, and was the most-seen uniform during the [[Cold War]]. A two-piece "jungle fatigue" uniform, introduced during the [[Vietnam War]], was modified in the 1980's with a woodland and "six-color" desert pattern, and replaced the old-style fatigues by [[Gulf War|Operation Desert Shield/Storm]]. The desert pattern changed after [[Operation Desert Storm]] to a 3-color pattern, used by [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]], but the introduction of the new [[MARPAT]] digital pattern uniform for U.S. Marines and Navy Combat Corpsmen prompted the Army to introduce its new "[[Army Combat Uniform]]," or ACU in 2005. Similar to the Marine's uniform, in terms of pocket layout, the ACU differs with the cammoflague pattern--the elimination of black squares allow the uniform to be worn in all non-polar terrains throughout the world, thus the same uniform can be worn in the Black Forest in Germany, to the deserts of the Southwest U.S. or Southwest Asia. The pattern is simliar to MARPAT but with different color distribution and concentration. The ACU also features, for the first time since WW2, rough-hide (suede) brown leather boots, which allows easier care, than their black leather counterparts (which required polishing) worn since 1955. The new boots replaces the black "speed-lace" all-leather boots and the leather/canvas "jungle" boots worn since Vietnam. The combat uniform is worn with the beret for garrison (base) duties, with a visor cap for non-combat patrols and [[Kevlar]] helmet and [[body armor]] for combat duties.
 
[[File:101st-Airborne-Soldiers-build-elite-Iraqi-force-with-Ranger-Training-7-480x319.jpg|thumb|left|A trainer with Company A, 1st Battalion 502nd Infantry Regiment, Task Force Strike, [[101st Airborne Division]] assisting Iraqi army ranger students during a room clearing drill at Camp Taji, Iraq on 18 July 2016]]
==Leadership==
The [[United States Army Combat Fitness Test]] (ACFT) was introduced in 2018 to 60 battalions spread throughout the Army.<ref name=6acftEvents /> The test and scoring system is the same for all soldiers, regardless of gender. It takes an hour to complete, including rest periods.<ref name=speed>{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/212069/post_gets_look_at_new_fitness_test|title=Post gets look at new fitness test|website=Army.mil|date=4 October 2018|access-date=15 October 2018|archive-date=15 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015192504/https://www.army.mil/article/212069/post_gets_look_at_new_fitness_test|url-status=live}}</ref> The ACFT supersedes the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT),<ref name= apftInterimCovid>[https://www.army.mil/article/235907/sma_expects_acft_to_continue_as_planned_in_covid_19_environment Joe Lacdan, Army News Service (22 May 2020) SMA expects ACFT to continue as planned in COVID-19 environment] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603031905/https://www.army.mil/article/235907/sma_expects_acft_to_continue_as_planned_in_covid_19_environment |date=3 June 2020 }} "Soldiers can use their last APFT score to remain promotion eligible."</ref><ref name=apftUseForRetention>{{Cite web|url=https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/ARN13963_AD2018_22_Final.pdf|title=Army Directive 2018–22 (8 Nov 2018) Retention Policy for Non-Deployable Soldiers|website=Armypubs.army.mil|access-date=22 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/213757/non_deployable_directive_to_help_army_work_toward_more_lethal_force|title=Non-deployable directive to help Army work toward more 'lethal' force|website=Army.mil|date=16 November 2018|access-date=18 November 2018|archive-date=16 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116183949/https://www.army.mil/article/213757/non_deployable_directive_to_help_army_work_toward_more_lethal_force|url-status=live}}</ref> as being more relevant to survival in combat.<ref name=6acftEvents>{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/211748/acft_ensures_soldiers_are_lethal_physically_conditioned|title=ACFT ensures Soldiers are lethal, physically conditioned|website=Army.mil|date=28 September 2018|access-date=15 October 2018|archive-date=15 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015192447/https://www.army.mil/article/211748/acft_ensures_soldiers_are_lethal_physically_conditioned|url-status=live}}</ref> Six events were determined to better predict which muscle groups of the body were adequately conditioned for combat actions:<ref name=speed /> three deadlifts,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jv96WKme3Mo| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226201737/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jv96WKme3Mo&gl=US&hl=en| archive-date=26 December 2018 | url-status=dead|title=Army Combat Fitness Test: 3 Repetition Maximum Deadlift (MDL) (Event 1)|date=24 October 2018|via=YouTube}}</ref> a standing power throw of a ten-pound medicine ball,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1DXoQ_Vjl8| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412132741/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1DXoQ_Vjl8| archive-date=12 April 2019 | url-status=dead|title=Army Combat Fitness Test: Standing Power Throw (SPT) (Event 2)|date=24 October 2018|via=YouTube}}</ref> hand-release pushups<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jMmXpHktn0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/1jMmXpHktn0| archive-date=11 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=5 Hand Release Pushup event execution|date=17 May 2019|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> (which replace the traditional pushup), a sprint/drag/carry 250 yard event,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lD-9nPvTNo0| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417025926/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lD-9nPvTNo0| archive-date=17 April 2019 | url-status=dead|title=Army Combat Fitness Test: Sprint-Drag-Carry (SDC) (Event 4)|date=29 October 2018|via=YouTube}}</ref> three pull-ups with leg tucks (or a plank test in lieu of the leg tuck),<ref>{{cite web| url= https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/army-revamps-fitness-exam-kicks-leg-tuck-test-76612138| title= Lolita C Baldor (22 Mar 2021) Army revamps fitness exam, kicks out leg tuck requirement| website= [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]| access-date= 23 March 2021| archive-date= 23 March 2021| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210323084653/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/army-revamps-fitness-exam-kicks-leg-tuck-test-76612138| url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zn3LdsQ-wHg| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414034444/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zn3LdsQ-wHg| archive-date=14 April 2019 | url-status=dead|title=Army Combat Fitness Test: Leg Tuck (LTK) (Event 5)|date=24 October 2018|via=YouTube}}</ref> a mandatory rest period, and a two-mile run.<ref name=videoACFT>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnVTW1Lh7zk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/RnVTW1Lh7zk| archive-date=11 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT)|date=25 July 2018|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> As of 1 October 2020 all soldiers from all three components (Regular Army, Reserve, and National Guard)<ref>[https://www.army.mil/article/221703/secfor_soldiers_crawl_through_acft_familiarization SGT Zach Mott (May 10, 2019) SECFOR Soldiers 'Crawl' Through ACFT Familiarization] SECFOR Soldiers serve as the security force (force protection during a deployment)</ref> are subject to this test.<ref name=allSoldiersOct2020>{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/210899/army_secretary_new_fitness_test_measures_combat_readiness|title=Army secretary: New fitness test measures combat readiness|website=Army.mil|date=7 September 2018|access-date=15 October 2018|archive-date=15 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015231549/https://www.army.mil/article/210899/army_secretary_new_fitness_test_measures_combat_readiness|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name= COs,CSMsOnACFT>{{cite news| url= https://www.army.mil/article/224941/pre_command_course_conducts_diagnostic_army_combat_fitness_test| title= Harry Sarles (July 24, 2019) Pre-Command Course conducts diagnostic Army Combat Fitness Test| newspaper= www.army.mil| date= 24 July 2019| archive-date= 28 July 2019| access-date= 29 July 2019| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190728222033/https://www.army.mil/article/224941/pre_command_course_conducts_diagnostic_army_combat_fitness_test| url-status= live}}</ref> The ACFT now tests all soldiers in basic training as of October 2020. The ACFT became the official test of record on 1 October 2020; before that day, every Army unit was required to complete a diagnostic ACFT<ref name= acftKyGuard1st>[https://www.army.mil/article/231357/kentucky_guard_first_to_receive_acft_equipment Maj. Stephen Martin (December 27, 2019) Kentucky Guard first to receive ACFT equipment] "36,608 ACFT sets for the total army by May 15". "The Army is focused on the tactical athlete".
The Army's top civilian executive is the [[Secretary of the Army]], who heads the [[United States Department of the Army|Department of the Army]]. Along with the Secretaries of the [[United States Navy|Navy]] and the [[United States Air Force|Air Force]], the Secretary of the Army reports to the [[Secretary of Defense]]. Prior to the enactment of the National Security Act on July 26, 1947 (and the creation of the [[Department of Defense]]), the Army's top civilian executive was the [[Secretary of War]] who headed the [[United States Department of War|War Department]] (also known as the [[War Office]]) beginning with its creation in 1789.
* [https://www.army.mil/article/231568/ny_national_guard_finds_creative_ways_to_train_for_new_fitness_test Staff Sgt. Warren Wright (10 January 2020) NY National Guard finds creative ways to train for new fitness test] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423054150/https://www.army.mil/article/231568/ny_national_guard_finds_creative_ways_to_train_for_new_fitness_test |date=23 April 2020 }} "finding creative ways to exercise at home and on their own time"</ref> (All Soldiers with valid APFT scores can use them until March 2022. The Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) System is one way that soldiers can prepare.).<ref name= grinston2020acft>{{cite web | url= https://www.army.mil/article/236558/sma_takes_to_social_media_addresses_acft_2_0_concerns | title= Thomas Brading, Army News Service (18 June 2020) SMA takes to social media, addresses ACFT 2.0 concerns | date= 18 June 2020 | access-date= 20 June 2020 | archive-date= 21 June 2020 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200621115707/https://www.army.mil/article/236558/sma_takes_to_social_media_addresses_acft_2_0_concerns | url-status= live }}</ref><ref name= prepForAcft>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSmvJs9lSGA US Army (2020) US Army soldier prepares for ACFT] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214072848/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSmvJs9lSGA |date=14 December 2020 }} Learning how to retrain an injured body; using resistance bands (good for leg tucks); know your limits; use out-training (see video for sample); practice technique (good for deadlift, and power throw)</ref><ref name="h2fColocatesSharp">Haley Britzky [https://taskandpurpose.com/news/army-holistic-health-fitness-82nd-airborne/ (27 Oct 2021) This is the Army's plan to stop physically breaking so many of its soldiers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030162915/https://taskandpurpose.com/news/army-holistic-health-fitness-82nd-airborne/ |date=30 October 2021 }} [[Sexual Harassment/Assault Response & Prevention]] (SHARP) office is located in Falcon Holistic Health and Fitness Center (H2F) at Fort Bragg</ref> The ACFT movements directly translate to movements on the battlefield.<ref name=extendedOSUT />
Following their basic and advanced training at the individual level, soldiers may choose to continue their training and apply for an "additional skill identifier" (ASI). The ASI allows the army to take a wide-ranging MOS and focus it on a more specific MOS. For example, a combat medic, whose duties are to provide pre-hospital emergency treatment, may receive ASI training to become a cardiovascular specialist, a dialysis specialist, or even a licensed practical nurse. For commissioned officers, training includes pre-commissioning training, known as Basic Officer Leader Course A, either at [[West Point|USMA]] or via [[ROTC]], or by completing [[Officer Candidate School (U.S. Army)|OCS]]. After commissioning, officers undergo branch-specific training at the Basic Officer Leaders Course B, (formerly called Officer Basic Course), which varies in time and ___location according to their future assignments. Officers will continue to attend standardized training at different stages of their careers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/223569/pilot_program_provides_a_new_option_for_army_officers_professional_military_education|title=Pilot program provides a new option for Army officers' professional military education|website=Army.mil|date=25 June 2019|access-date=26 June 2019|archive-date=26 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626100338/https://www.army.mil/article/223569/pilot_program_provides_a_new_option_for_army_officers_professional_military_education|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
[[File:Yudh Abhyas 2015 Soldiers familiarize with INSAS 1B1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|U.S. Army soldiers familiarizing with the latest INSAS 1B1 during exercise Yudh Abhyas 2015]]
The senior uniformed officer of the United States Army is the [[Army Chief of Staff|Chief of Staff of the Army]] (CSA). This position is filled by a four star [[General|general]] who sits on the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]]. As with the other uniformed chiefs of the armed services, the Army Chief of Staff does not hold command over combatant forces. The CSA's function is primarily administrative and policy-making in nature. The current Army Chief of Staff is General [[Peter Schoomaker|Peter J. Schoomaker]].
Collective training at the unit level takes place at the unit's assigned station, but the most intensive training at higher echelons is conducted at the three combat training centers (CTC); the [[National Training Center]] (NTC) at [[Fort Irwin]], California, the [[Fort Johnson#JRTC moves to Polk|Joint Readiness Training Center]] (JRTC) at [[Fort Johnson]], Louisiana and the [[Grafenwoehr Training Area|Joint Multinational Training Center]] (JMRC) at the Hohenfels Training Area in [[Hohenfels, Bavaria|Hohenfels and Grafenwöhr]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/213003/workshop_guides_future_growth_in_grafenwoehr|title=Workshop guides future growth in Grafenwoehr|website= Army.mil|date=26 October 2018}}</ref> Germany. [[ARFORGEN|ReARMM]] is the Army Force Generation process approved in 2020 to meet the need to continuously replenish forces for deployment at the unit level and for other echelons as required by the mission. Individual-level replenishment still requires training at a unit level, which is conducted at the continental U.S. (CONUS) replacement center (CRC) at [[Fort Bliss]], in New Mexico and Texas before their individual deployment.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20171214183306/http://fortblissbugle.com/2017/12/13/conus-replacement-center-receives-new-command/ (13 December 2017) CONUS Replacement Center receives new command]}} CRC 5 transition to CRC 6</ref>
 
Chief of Staff Milley notes that the Army is suboptimized for training in cold-weather regions, jungles, mountains, or urban areas. In contrast, the Army does well when training for deserts or rolling terrain.<ref name=fy2019ArmyTestimony>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIhC4zswW8I |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/AIhC4zswW8I| archive-date=11 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=Army Officials Testify on FY 2019 Budget Request|date=16 May 2018|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>{{rp|minute 1:26:00}} Post 9/11, Army unit-level training was for counter-insurgency (COIN); by 2014–2017, training had shifted to decisive action training.<ref name=Ausa2018>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ausa.org/news/army-updates-mobilization-model|title=Army Updates Mobilization Model|date=8 October 2018|website=Association of the United States Army|access-date=11 March 2019|archive-date=24 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124111310/https://www.ausa.org/news/army-updates-mobilization-model|url-status=live}}</ref>
The most senior Army generals who are directly in the chain of command are those who command a [[Unified Combatant Command]], known as the Combatant Commanders (COCOM's). An example is General [[John Abizaid]], the commander of [[U.S. Central Command]]. Three-star positions in the Army include some deputy commanders of the Combatant Commands, the heads of the army components of the Combatant Commands and general officers commanding an army corps.
 
==== Future Soldier Prep Course ====
==Major Commands of the United States Army==
The United States Army has faced recruiting challenges since the COVID-19 pandemic. The Army has implemented the Future Soldier Prep Course (FSPC) to address these issues. This program is designed to assist potential recruits who may initially need to meet the Army's physical fitness or academic standards.<ref name="n424">{{cite web | last=Baldor | first=Lolita C. | title=The Army's answer to a lack of recruits is a prep course to boost low scores. It's working | website=AP News | date=2024-11-10 | url=https://apnews.com/article/army-recruits-prep-course-soldiers-e161c892b92138999b01ae5ea6650b92 | access-date=2024-11-11 | archive-date=11 November 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241111224759/https://apnews.com/article/army-recruits-prep-course-soldiers-e161c892b92138999b01ae5ea6650b92 | url-status=live }}</ref>
 
In the fiscal year ending 30 September 2023, approximately 13,000 of the 55,000 recruits, or 24%, participated in the FSPC. This indicates a significant reliance on the program to fill recruitment quotas.<ref name="n424" />
{| border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:95%; margin:0 auto;"
|-
!bgcolor="#CCCCCC" |Major Command and Commanders
!bgcolor="#CCCCCC" |Location of Headquarters
|-
|[http://www.inscom.army.mil/ Intelligence & Security Command] (INSCOM) - MG John F. Kimmons || [[Fort Belvoir]], [[Virginia]]
|-
|[http://www.usace.army.mil/ Corps of Engineers] (USACE) - LTG [[Carl A. Strock]] || [[Washington, D.C.]]
|-
|[[United States Army Medical Command|Medical Command]] (MEDCOM) - LTG [[Kevin C. Kiley]] || [[Fort Sam Houston]], [[Texas]]
|-
|[http://www.amc.army.mil/ Army Materiel Command] (AMC) - GEN [[Benjamin S. Griffin]] || [[Fort Belvoir]], [[Virginia]]
|-
| [[TRADOC|Training and Doctrine Command]] (TRADOC) - GEN [[William S. Wallace]] || [[Fort Monroe]], [[Virginia]]
|-
|[http://www.forscom.army.mil/ Forces Command] (FORSCOM) - GEN [http://www.forscom.army.mil/cmd_staff/CG_McNeill/CG_McNeill.htm Dan K. McNeill] || [[Fort McPherson]], [[Georgia (US state)|Georgia]]
|-
|[http://www.usarso.army.mil/ US Army South] (USARSO) - MG Jack D. Gardner || [[Fort Sam Houston]], [[Texas]]
|-
|[http://www.soc.mil/hqs/hqs_home.htm Special Operations Command] (USASOC) - LTG Philip R. Kensinger || [[Fort Bragg, North Carolina]]
|-
|[http://www.sddc.army.mil/ Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command] (SDDC) - [http://www.sddc.army.mil/Public/Home/About%20SDDC/Commanding%20General?summary=fullcontent MG Charles W. (Charlie) Fletcher, Jr.] || [[Fort Eustis]], [[Virginia]]
|-
|[http://www.smdc.army.mil/ Space & Missile Defense Command] (SMDC) - LTG Joseph M. Cosumano, Jr. || [[Arlington, Virginia]]
|-
|[[8th US Army]] (EUSA) - LTG Charles C. Campbell || [[Yongsan Army Garrison]], [[Seoul]]
|-
|[http://www.usarpac.army.mil/ Army Pacific Command] (USARPAC) - [http://www.usarpac.army.mil/bios/comgen.asp LTG John M. Brown III] || [[Fort Shafter]], [[Hawaii]]
|-
|[http://www.hqusareur.army.mil/ US Army Europe & 7th Army] (USAREUR) - GEN [[David D. McKiernan]] || [[Campbell Barracks]], [[Heidelberg]], [[Germany]]
|-
|[http://www.setaf.army.mil/ Southern European Task Force] (SETAF) - MG [[Jason Kamiya]] || [[Vicenza]], [[Italy]]
|-
|[http://www.arcent.army.mil/index.html Army Central Command] (ARCENT) - [http://www.arcent.army.mil/welcome/cg.asp LTG R. Steven Whitcomb] || [[Fort McPherson]], [[Georgia (US state)|Georgia]]
|-
|[http://www.belvoir.army.mil/cidc/ Criminal Investigation Command] (CID) - MG Donald J. Ryder || [[Fort Belvoir]], [[Virginia]]
|-
|United States Army [[Military District of Washington]] (MDW) - [[Guy C. Swan III|MG Guy C. Swan III]]
|[[Fort McNair]], [[Washington D.C.]]
|-
|[[U.S. First Army|1st U.S. Army]] (FUSA) - LTG [[Russel L. Honoré]] || [[Fort Gillem]], [[Georgia (US state)|Georgia]]
|-
|[http://www.army.mil/usar/ Army Reserve Command] (ARC) - LTG [[James R. Helmly]] || [[Fort McPherson]], Georgia
|-
|[http://www.arng.army.mil/ Army National Guard] (ARNG) - LTG Roger G. Schultz
| [[Washington, D.C.]]
|}
 
The FSPC offers both physical fitness and academic training. However, most participants enroll in the academic component, which focuses on subjects like basic math, English, and other essential skills.<ref name="n424" />
==[[Formations of the United States Army]]==
 
==Equipment==
===[[U.S. Army Combat Arms Regimental System]]===
{{main|List of equipment of the United States Army}}
 
The [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army|chief of staff of the Army]] has identified six modernization priorities, these being (in order): artillery, ground vehicles, aircraft, network, air/missile defense, and soldier lethality.<ref name=asawsh2018>[[ASA(ALT)]] [https://api.army.mil/e2/c/downloads/533115.pdf Weapon Systems Handbook 2018] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019121934/https://www.army.mil/e2/c/downloads/533115.pdf |date=19 October 2018 }} Page 32 lists how this handbook is organized. 440 pages.</ref>
===[[U.S. First Army|First Army "First In Deed" (Reserve)]]===
{{main|U.S. First Army}}
 
===Weapons===
===[[U.S. Third Army|Third Army]]: Army Central Command (ARCENT)===
[[File:The first of two Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors is launched during a successful intercept test - US Army.jpg|thumb|right|A [[Lockheed Martin]] [[Terminal High Altitude Area Defense|Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)]] system used for ballistic missile protection]]
:C/JTF-Kuwait
:ARCENT Kuwait
:ARCENT Saudi
:ARCENT Qatar
:Army Prepositioned Stock (APS-3)
:Army Prepositioned Stock (APS-5)
 
====Individual weapons====
===[[U.S. Fifth Army|Fifth Army (Reserve)]]===
The United States Army employs various weapons to provide light firepower at short ranges. The most common weapon type used by the army is the [[M4 carbine]], a compact variant of the [[M16 rifle]],<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070614041512/http://www.army.mil/factfiles/equipment/individual/m4.html M4]. U.S. Army Fact Files</ref> which is being replaced gradually by the [[XM7 rifle|M7 rifle]] among close combat units.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keller |first=Jared |date=2024-03-29 |title=The Army Has Finally Fielded Its Next Generation Squad Weapons |url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/03/29/army-has-finally-fielded-its-next-generation-squad-weapons.html |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=Military.com |language=en |archive-date=3 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203014605/https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/03/29/army-has-finally-fielded-its-next-generation-squad-weapons.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The primary sidearm in the U.S. Army is the [[SIG Sauer M17|M17]] pistol<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Cox |first1=Matthew |last2=Seck |first2=Hope Hodge |date=20 January 2017 |title=Army Picks Sig Sauer's P320 Handgun to Replace M9 Service Pistol |url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2017/01/19/army-picks-sig-sauer-replace-m9-service-pistol.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170120065328/https://www.military.com/daily-news/2017/01/19/army-picks-sig-sauer-replace-m9-service-pistol.html |archive-date=20 January 2017 |access-date=22 July 2022 |website=[[Military.com]] |language=en}}</ref> through the [[Modular Handgun System]] program.<ref>[http://www.peosoldier.army.mil/portfolio/#231 Individual Weapons Future Innovations] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140724043400/http://www.peosoldier.army.mil/portfolio/#231 |date=24 July 2014}}, Project Manager Soldier Weapons.</ref> Soldiers are also equipped with various [[hand grenade]]s, such as the [[M67 grenade|M67 fragmentation grenade]] and [[Smoke grenade|M18 smoke grenade]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/131770/three_million_m18_grenades_produced_without_a_failure|title=Three million M18 grenades produced without a failure|last=Selby|first=Rachael|date=August 18, 2014|website=Army.mil|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=11 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711160658/https://www.army.mil/article/131770/three_million_m18_grenades_produced_without_a_failure|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a22935/us-army-et-mp-grenade/|title=The U.S. Army Is Designing Its First New Grenade in 40 Years|last=Mizokami|first=Kyle|date=September 20, 2016|website=popular mechanics|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=23 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923033504/https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a22935/us-army-et-mp-grenade/|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{main|U.S. Fifth Army}}
 
Many units are supplemented with a variety of specialized weapons, including the [[M249 light machine gun|M249 SAW]] (Squad Automatic Weapon), to provide suppressive fire at the squad level.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070614041424/http://www.army.mil/factfiles/equipment/individual/m249.html M249], U.S. Army Fact Files</ref> Indirect fire is provided by the [[M320 Grenade Launcher Module|M320 grenade launcher]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/48382/m320_grenade_launcher_wins_excellent_soldier_feedback|title=M320 Grenade Launcher wins excellent Soldier feedback|last=Robillard|first=Tracy|date=November 19, 2010|website=army.mil|access-date=July 11, 2024}}</ref> The [[Benelli M4 Super 90|M1014 Joint Service Combat Shotgun]] or the [[Mossberg 500#Model 500 vs. Model 590 vs. Model 590A1|Mossberg 590 Shotgun]] are used for [[door breaching]] and close-quarters combat. The [[Mk 14 Enhanced Battle Rifle|M14EBR]] is used by designated marksmen. Snipers use the [[M82 Barrett rifle|M107 Long Range Sniper Rifle]], the [[M2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle]] and the [[M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System|M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper Rifle]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/11/09/us-army-marksman-rifle/|title=US Army Tests New M110-A1 Marksman Rifle|last=Sablla|first=Joe|date=November 9, 2021|website=The Defense Post|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=11 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711162549/https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/11/09/us-army-marksman-rifle/|url-status=live}}</ref>
===[[U.S. Seventh Army|Seventh Army]]: United States Army Europe===
:[[U.S. V Corps|V Corps]] &mdash; [[Heidelberg, Germany]]
::[[U.S. 1st Infantry Division|1st Infantry Division]] ("The Big Red One") &mdash; [[Würzburg]], [[Germany]]
::[[U.S. 1st Armored Division|1st Armored Divsion]] &mdash; [[Wiesbaden]], [[Germany]]
:[[http://www.setaf.army.mil/ SETAF]] (Southern European Task Force) &mdash; [[Vicenza]], [[Italy]]
::[[173d Airborne Brigade|173rd Airborne Brigade]] ("Sky Soldiers") &mdash; [[Vicenza]], [[Italy]]
 
====Crew-served weapons====
===[[U.S. Eighth Army|Eighth Army]]: [[South Korea]]===
The army employs various crew-served weapons to provide heavy firepower at ranges exceeding that of individual weapons.
{{main|U.S. Eighth Army}}
 
The [[M240 machine gun|M240]] is the U.S. Army's standard Medium Machine Gun.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070614041546/http://www.army.mil/factfiles/equipment/individual/m240b.html M240], U.S. Army Fact Files</ref> The [[M2 Browning machine gun|M2 heavy machine gun]] is generally used as a vehicle-mounted machine gun. In the same way, the 40&nbsp;mm [[Mk 19 grenade launcher|MK 19 grenade machine gun]] is mainly used by motorized units.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070614041345/http://www.army.mil/factfiles/equipment/individual/mk193.html MK 19], U.S. Army Fact Files</ref>
==Equipment==
===Infantry equipment===
{{main|List of individual weapons of the U.S. Armed Forces}}
{{main|List of crew-served weapons of the U.S. Armed Forces}}
 
The U.S. Army uses three types of [[Mortar (weapon)|mortar]] for indirect fire support when heavier artillery may not be appropriate or available. The smallest of these is the 60&nbsp;mm [[M224 mortar|M224]], normally assigned at the infantry company level.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070614040546/http://www.army.mil/factfiles/equipment/indirect/m224.html M224], U.S. Army Fact Files</ref> At the next higher echelon, infantry battalions are typically supported by a section of 81&nbsp;mm [[M252 mortar]]s.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070614040512/http://www.army.mil/factfiles/equipment/indirect/m252.html M252], U.S. Army Fact Files</ref> The largest mortar in the army's inventory is the 120&nbsp;mm [[M120 mortar|M120/M121]], which is usually employed by mechanized units.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120731160918/http://www.army.mil/factfiles/equipment/indirect/m120.html M120], U.S. Army Fact Files</ref>
According to internal [[doctrine]], the US Army considers its basic element to be the best-equipped and trained individual soldier possible, and aims to multiply this basic element's effectiveness with the most advanced tactics possible. This has indeed made the US Army the most advanced land force in the world, but the strategy has repercussions. This doctrine has made warfare very expensive, which makes alternative strategies relatively more attractive. However, the basic strategy for the employment of infantry remains the concept of "overwhelming force". This is best expressed in [[George S. Patton]]'s famous dictum: "No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country; he won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his." This dictum has been proven to the point where his record as a combat commander is reknown for having inflicted the highest casualties among his opponents, with the lowest casualties among the Allied Expeditionary Forces.
 
Fire support for light infantry units is provided by towed howitzers, including the 105&nbsp;mm [[M119 howitzer|M119A1]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070614040623/http://www.army.mil/factfiles/equipment/indirect/m119.html M119], U.S. Army Fact Files</ref> and the 155&nbsp;mm [[M777 howitzer|M777]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.defensenews.com/land/2024/01/04/bae-systems-to-build-new-m777-howitzer-structures-for-us-army/|title=BAE Systems to build new M777 howitzer structures for U.S. Army|last=Judson|first=Jen|date=January 4, 2024|website=[[Defense News]]|access-date=July 11, 2024}}</ref>
 
The U.S. Army utilizes a variety of direct-fire rockets and missiles to provide infantry with an Anti-Armor Capability. The [[AT4]] is an unguided projectile that can destroy armor and bunkers at ranges up to 500 meters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/40385/army_tests_training_rounds_for_shoulder_launched_weapon|title=Army tests training rounds for shoulder-launched weapon|last=Little|first=Vance|date=June 4, 2010|website=army.mil|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=11 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711162144/https://www.army.mil/article/40385/army_tests_training_rounds_for_shoulder_launched_weapon|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[FIM-92 Stinger]] is a shoulder-launched, heat seeking anti-aircraft missile.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.defensenews.com/industry/techwatch/2023/10/09/us-army-pursues-faster-more-survivable-stinger-missile-replacement/|title=US Army pursues faster, more survivable Stinger missile replacement|last=Judson|first=Jen|date=October 9, 2023|website=[[Defense News]]|access-date=July 11, 2024}}</ref> The [[FGM-148 Javelin]] and [[BGM-71 TOW]] are anti-tank guided missiles.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/269600/u_s_army_yuma_proving_ground_hosts_javelin_missile_operational_test|title=U.S. Army Yuma Providing Ground hosts Javelin missile operational test|last=Schauer|first=Mark|date=August 31, 2023|website=army.mil|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=11 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711165012/https://www.army.mil/article/269600/u_s_army_yuma_proving_ground_hosts_javelin_missile_operational_test|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/defence/us-army-awards-usd3225-million-anti-tank-missile-contract|title=US Army awards USD322.5 million anti-tank missile contract|date=August 17, 2023|website=janes.com|access-date=July 11, 2024}}</ref>
 
===Vehicles===
[[File:Patrol in Iraq, March 2008.jpg|thumb|A U.S. soldier on patrol in Iraq with the support of a [[Humvee]] vehicle]]
 
U.S. Army doctrine puts a premium on mechanized warfare. It fields the highest vehicle-to-soldier ratio in the world as of 2009.<ref>{{cite book|title=Us Future Combat & Weapon Systems Handbook|date=30 March 2009|publisher=Int'l Business Publications|isbn=978-1-4387-5447-5|page=15|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lPmVrgeVoI0C&q=M1014%20shotgun%20army&pg=PA15|access-date=12 May 2017}}{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> The army's most common vehicle is the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), commonly called the [[Humvee]], which is capable of serving as a cargo/troop carrier, weapons platform and ambulance, among many other roles.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070614040914/http://www.army.mil/factfiles/equipment/wheeled/hmmwv.html HMMWV], U.S. Army Fact Files</ref> While they operate a wide variety of combat support vehicles, one of the most common types centers on the family of [[HEMTT]] vehicles. The [[M1 Abrams|M1A2 Abrams]] is the army's [[main battle tank]],<ref>[http://www.army.mil/factfiles/equipment/tracked/abrams.html Abrams] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115181622/http://www.army.mil/factfiles/equipment/tracked/abrams.html |date=15 November 2013}}, U.S. Army Fact Files</ref> while the [[M2 Bradley|M2A3 Bradley]] is the standard [[infantry fighting vehicle]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070614041108/http://www.army.mil/factfiles/equipment/tracked/bradley.html Bradley], United States Army Fact Files</ref> Other vehicles include the [[Stryker]],<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070614040847/http://www.army.mil/factfiles/equipment/wheeled/stryker.html Stryker], U.S. Army Fact Files</ref> the [[M113 armored personnel carrier]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070614041054/http://www.army.mil/factfiles/equipment/tracked/m113.html M113], U.S. Army Fact Files</ref> and multiple types of [[MRAP|Mine Resistant Ambush Protected]] (MRAP) vehicles.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2013/06/20/the-u-s-military-is-scrapping-up-to-2000-of-its-mine-resistant-vehicles-which-cost-1-million-each/|title=The U.S. military is scrapping up to 2,000 of its mine-resistant vehicles, which cost $1 million each|last=Fisher|first=Mark|date=June 20, 2013|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=July 11, 2024}}</ref>
The US Army was the first in the world to achieve 100% automotive mobility, and spends a sizable chunk of its military budget to maintain a diverse inventory of vehicles. The US Army maintains the highest vehicle-to-soldier ratio in the world.
[[File:3rd ID M1A1 Abrams TC and Gunner 2008.jpg|thumb|left|[[3rd Infantry Division (United States)|3rd Infantry Division]] soldiers manning an [[M1 Abrams|M1A1 Abrams]] in Iraq]]
 
The U.S. Army's principal [[artillery]] weapons are the [[M109 Paladin|M109A7 Paladin]] self-propelled howitzer<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070614040650/http://www.army.mil/factfiles/equipment/indirect/paladin.html Paladin], Army.mil</ref> and the [[M270 multiple launch rocket system]] (MLRS),<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070614040456/http://www.army.mil/factfiles/equipment/indirect/mlrs.html MLRS], U.S. Army Fact Files</ref> both mounted on tracked platforms and assigned to heavy mechanized units.
[[Image:M190 houwitser.png|thumb|right|250 px|M109 self-propelled howitzer.]]
 
====Armored vehicles=Aviation===
While the [[United States Army Aviation Branch]] operates a few [[fixed-wing aircraft]], it mainly operates several types of rotary-wing aircraft. These include the [[AH-64 Apache]] [[attack helicopter]],<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070614040706/http://www.army.mil/factfiles/equipment/aircraft/apache.html Apache], U.S. Army Fact Files</ref> the [[UH-60 Black Hawk]] utility tactical transport helicopter<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070614040759/http://www.army.mil/factfiles/equipment/aircraft/blackhawk.html Blackhawk], U.S. Army Fact Files</ref> and the [[CH-47 Chinook]] heavy-lift transport helicopter.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070614040720/http://www.army.mil/factfiles/equipment/aircraft/chinook.html Chinook], U.S. Army Fact Files</ref> Restructuring plans call for reduction of 750 aircraft and from seven to four types.<ref>{{citation|last=Stevenson|first=Beth|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/us-army-continues-to-face-financial-challenge-of-rotary-fleet-408160/|title= US Army continues to face financial challenge of rotary fleet maintenance|work=[[Flightglobal]]|publisher=Reed Business Information|date=22 January 2015|access-date=23 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123011643/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/us-army-continues-to-face-financial-challenge-of-rotary-fleet-408160/|archive-date=23 January 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> The Army is evaluating two fixed-wing aircraft demonstrators; ARES, and Artemis are under evaluation to replace the Guardrail ISR (Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) aircraft.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2021/08/27/us-armys-recon-electronic-warfare-capable-aircraft-flies-for-the-first-time/ |title= Jrn Judson (27 Aug 2021) US Army's recon, electronic warfare-capable aircraft flies for the first time |date= 27 August 2021}}</ref> Under the [[Johnson-McConnell agreement of 1966]], the Army agreed to limit its fixed-wing aviation role to administrative mission support (light unarmed aircraft which cannot operate from forward positions). For [[UAV]]s, the Army is deploying at least one company of drone [[MQ-1C Gray Eagle]]s to each Active Army division.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2015/01/08/army-to-build-dedicated-drone-runway-at-fort-bliss/|title=Army to build dedicated drone runway at Fort Bliss|first=Kyle|last=Jahner|date=7 August 2017|website=Army Times}}</ref>
{{main|List of armoured fighting vehicles by country#United States}}
 
===Uniforms===
[[Image:Pi111804a1.jpg|thumb|right|250 px|M-2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle]]
{{main|Uniforms of the United States Army}}
====Artillery====
The [[Army Combat Uniform]] (ACU) currently features a camouflage pattern known as [[Operational Camouflage Pattern]] (OCP); OCP replaced a pixel-based pattern known as [[Universal Camouflage Pattern]] (UCP) in 2019.
{{main|List of crew-served weapons of the U.S. Armed Forces#Artillery}}
 
On 11 November 2018, the Army announced a new version of 'Army Greens' based on uniforms worn during World War II that will become the standard garrison service uniform.<ref name=ArmyGreens>{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/213650/us_army_to_roll_out_new_army_greens_uniform|title=U.S. Army to roll out new Army Greens uniform|website=Army.mil|date=11 November 2018|access-date=22 July 2019|archive-date=22 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722123703/https://www.army.mil/article/213650/us_army_to_roll_out_new_army_greens_uniform|url-status=live}}</ref> The blue [[Army Service Uniform]] will remain as the dress uniform. The Army Greens are projected to be first fielded in the summer of 2020.<ref name=ArmyGreens />{{update inline|date=May 2022}}
[[Image:AH-64 Apache.jpg|thumb|right|250 px|AH-64 Apache helicopter]]
====Anti-air====
{{main|List of "M" series military vehicles}}
 
<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
====Transport & Supply Vehicles====
File:2020 Army Greens Uniform.png|The 2020 Army Greens uniform
{{main|List of "M" series military vehicles}}
File:2010 Moscow Victory Day Parade-6.jpeg|An element of the [[18th Infantry Regiment (United States)|18th Infantry Regiment]], wearing ASUs, representing the United States at the [[2010 Moscow Victory Day Parade]]
</gallery>
 
====AircraftBerets====
[[File:Wayne Downing funeral honor guard.jpg|thumb|The Ranger Honor Platoon marching in their tan berets and former service uniform]]
{{main|List of military aircraft of the United States}}
 
The [[United States military beret flash|beret flash]] of enlisted personnel displays their [[distinctive unit insignia]] (shown above). The U.S. Army's black beret is no longer worn with the ACU for garrison duty, having been permanently replaced with the patrol cap. After years of complaints that it was not suited well for most work conditions, Army Chief of Staff General [[Martin Dempsey]] eliminated it for wear with the ACU in June 2011. Soldiers who are currently in a unit in jump status still wear berets, whether the wearer is parachute-qualified or not (maroon beret), while members of [[Security Force Assistance Brigade]]s (SFABs) wear brown berets. Members of the 75th Ranger Regiment and the Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade (tan beret) and Special Forces (rifle green beret) may wear it with the Army Service Uniform for non-ceremonial functions. Unit commanders may still direct the wear of patrol caps in these units in training environments or motor pools.
 
===Tents===
The Army has relied heavily on [[tent]]s to provide the various facilities needed while on deployment (Force Provider Expeditionary (FPE)).<ref name=asawsh2018 />{{rp|p.146}} The most common tent uses for the military are as temporary [[barracks]] (sleeping quarters), [[Mess#U.S. Army|DFAC]] buildings (dining facilities),<ref>[https://www.army.mil/article/209838/automated_meal_entitlement_system_food_trucks_to_improve_soldier_dining_experience Joe Lacdan (August 13, 2018) Automated meal entitlement system, food trucks to improve Soldier dining experience] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815024258/https://www.army.mil/article/209838/automated_meal_entitlement_system_food_trucks_to_improve_soldier_dining_experience |date=15 August 2018 }} Accomplishes paperwork reduction based on reading each soldier's Common Access Card at each use at DFAC.</ref> forward operating bases (FOBs), after-action review (AAR), tactical operations center (TOC), morale, welfare and recreation (MWR) facilities, as well as security checkpoints. Furthermore, most of these tents are set up and operated through the support of [[U.S. Army Soldier Systems Center|Natick Soldier Systems Center]]. Each FPE contains billeting, latrines, showers, laundry and kitchen facilities for 50–150 Soldiers,<ref name=asawsh2018 />{{rp|p.146}} and is stored in [[Reorganization plan of United States Army#Prepositioned stocks|Army Prepositioned Stocks 1, 2, 4 and 5]]. This provisioning allows combatant commanders to position soldiers as required in their [[Area of Responsibility]], within 24 to 48 hours.
 
The U.S. Army is beginning to use a more modern tent called the [[deployable rapid assembly shelter]] (DRASH). In 2008, DRASH became part of the Army's Standard Integrated Command Post System.<ref name="SICPS">[http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2008/06/18/NG-DHS-Technologies-to-support-SICPSTMSS/UPI-57811213812923/ NG, DHS Technologies to support SICPS/TMSS] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429005030/http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2008/06/18/NG-DHS-Technologies-to-support-SICPSTMSS/UPI-57811213812923/ |date=29 April 2011 }} United Press International</ref>
{{clear}}
 
==See also==
{{div col}}
{{Commons|Category:United_States_Army|United States Army}}
* ''[[America's Army]]'' (video games for recruitment)
* [[Alabama State Defense Force]]
* [[US Army and US Navy stamp issues of 1936-1937|Army and Navy stamp issues of 1936–1937]]
* [[Service bands#Army Band|Army Band]]
* [[ArmyHistory Medicalof Departmentthe (United States)| Army Medical Department]]
* [[AwardsList andof decorationsmilitary weapons of the United States military]]
* [[Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps]]
* [[Badges of the United States Army]]
* [[Branch insigniaList of theactive United States Armymilitary aircraft]]
* [[ComparativeList of comparative military ranks]]
* [[List of U.S.former United States Army installationsmedical units]]
* [[MilitaryList of wars involving the United States|United States armed forces]]
* [[Reorganization plan of United States Army]]
* [[Military unit]]
* [[SpecialSoldier's Operations ForcesCreed]]
* [[Timeline of United States military operations]]
* [[State Defense Forces]]
* [[U.S. Army Combat Arms Regimental System]]
* [[U.S. Army Regimental System]]
* [[United States Army Basic Training]]
* [[United States Constabulary]] (United States Gendarmerie)
* [[Social history of soldiers and veterans in the United States]]
{{div col end}}
 
==External LinksNotes==
{{Notelist}}
*[http://www.army.mil Official website]
*[http://www2.powercom.net/~rokats/brnchcol.html Primary Branch Colors]
*[http://www.gruntsmilitary.com/rackbuilder/armyribs.php Army Ribbon Rack Creator]
*[http://www.military.com Military.com]
*[http://www.SearchMilitary.com Military Search]
*[http://www2.powercom.net/~rokats/armyhome.html Ranks and military uniforms of the United States]
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/index.html Army Formations]
*[http://www.western-allies-berlin.com/units/us-army/us-army US Army units in West Berlin] (cold war period)
*[http://www.goarmy.com Go Army]
{{United States armed forces}}
 
==References==
[[Category:United States Army|*]]
{{Reflist}}
* {{cite web |url=https://history.army.mil/html/faq/birth.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100608033946/http://www.history.army.mil/html/faq/birth.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 June 2010|title=June 14th: The Birthday of the U.S. Army|website=U.S. Army Center of Military History|access-date=February 17, 2024}} Excerpt from Robert Wright, ''The Continental Army.''
 
==Further reading==
{{Main list|Bibliography of United States military history}}{{Library resources box}}
* Bailey, Beth. ''America's Army: Making the All-Volunteer Force'' (2009) {{ISBN|0674035364}}
* {{cite book |last=Bluhm |first=Raymond K. Jr. |title=U.S. Army: A Complete History|year=2004|publisher=The Army Historical Foundation|___location=Arlington County, Virginia|isbn=978-0-88363-640-4|page=744|edition=Beaux Arts|author2=Andrade, Dale|author3=Jacobs, Bruce|author4=Langellier, John|author5=Newell, Clayton R.|author6= Seelinger, Matthew}}
* Chambers, John Whiteclay, ed. ''The Oxford Guide to American Military History'' (1999), online at many libraries
* Clark, J. P. ''Preparing for War: The Emergence of the Modern U.S. Army, 1815–1917'' (Harvard UP, 2017), 336 pp.
* Coffman, Edward M. ''The War to End All Wars: The American Military Experience in World War I'' (1998), a standard history
* Kretchik, Walter E. ''U.S. Army Doctrine: From the American Revolution to the War on Terror'' (University Press of Kansas; 2011) 392 pages; studies military doctrine in four distinct eras: 1779–1904, 1905–1944, 1944–1962, and 1962 to the present.
* {{cite book |last=Quimby |first=Robert S. |title=The US Army in the War of 1812: an operational and command study |date=2012 |publisher=Michigan State University Press |___location=East Lansing |via=[[Project MUSE]] |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/book/23514 |url-access=subscription |isbn=978-0-87-013947-5}}
* Woodward, David R. ''The American Army and the First World War'' (Cambridge University Press, 2014). 484 pp. [http://www.h-net.org/reviews/showpdf.php?id=42718 online review]
* {{cite web |title=Desert Storm/Shield Valorous Unit Award (VUA) Citations|url=http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/vua_citations.html|publisher=US Army Center of Military History|access-date=26 December 2014|archive-date=13 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213220502/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/vua_citations.html|url-status=dead}}
 
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikisource|Portal:United States Army|United States Army}}
{{Wikiversity|US Army Branches|United States Army}}
* {{Official website|https://www.army.mil}}
* [https://www.army.mil/photos Army.mil/photos] – United States Army featured photos
* [http://collections.mohistory.org/search/custom_search?text=Army U.S. Army Collection] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130702073047/http://collections.mohistory.org/search/custom_search?text=Army |date=2 July 2013}}) – Missouri History Museum
* [https://archive.today/20121212040241/http://www.history.army.mil/reference/Finding%20Aids/research.htm Finding Aids for researching the U.S. Army]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101109163940/http://www.history.army.mil/reference/Finding%20Aids/research.htm |date=9 November 2010}} (compiled by the [[United States Army Center of Military History]]).
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121126003035/http://www.us-militaria.com/en US-militaria.com] – The U.S. Army during the Second World War (archived 26 December 2012)
 
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