U.S. Army
History
The U.S. Army traces its roots to the Continental Army, which was formed on 14 June 1775, before the establishment of the United States, to meet the demands of the Revolutionary War. The Congress of the Confederation officially created the United States Army on 3 June 1784 after the end of the Revolutionary War to replace the disbanded Continental Army.
Structure
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 or Unit Training Assemblies (UTAs), and conduct two to three weeks of annual training each year.
Personnel
As of 2021, the U.S. Army has a reported strength of over one million active, Reserve, and National Guard soldiers. These personnel fill a broad range of roles, from infantry and artillery soldiers, to medical and legal specialists, to pilots and engineers.
Training
Training in the U.S. Army is generally divided into two categories: Basic Combat Training (BCT), and Advanced Individual Training (AIT). BCT is a ten-week program that provides soldiers with the basic skills necessary to perform effectively in the field. AIT, which can last anywhere from four to 52 weeks, provides soldiers with the specific skills needed to perform their particular Army jobs.
Equipment
The U.S. Army utilizes a wide array of equipment, from small arms and vehicles to large-scale weapon systems. This includes the M16 and M4 service rifles, the M1 Abrams main battle tank, the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, and the Patriot missile system.
Operations
The U.S. Army has been involved in numerous operations both domestically and internationally. These range from disaster relief efforts within the United States, to peacekeeping missions abroad, to full-scale wars such as those in World War II, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan.