They had no unified chain of command , and although Artemas , Ward of Massachusetts , exercised authority by informal agreement , officers from other colonies were not obligated to obey his orders . The American volunteers were led , equipped , armed , paid for , and supported by the colonies from which they were raised ,” explains John R . Maass , a historian for the US Army Center of Military History . At this time , everyone was in sheer panic and they knew that there had to be an official army established in order to prevail .
The spring of 1775 was when congress in Massachusetts and Philadelphia decided to take action . By then , the militia they had assembled was about to come face to face with the British troops in Massachusetts . “ Recognizing the need to enlist the support of all of the American seaboard colonies , the Massachusetts Provincial Congress appealed to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia to assume authority for the New England army . Reportedly , at John Adams ’ request , Congress voted to “ adopt ” the Boston troops on June 14 th , although there is no written record of this decision ,” says Maass .
Along with nearly a dozen expert rifle and gun companies , congress and the official Continental Army , which consisted of the New England militia and the petitioned volunteers , the U . S . Army was birthed . Since this time in history , the U . S . Army has been flourishing with new members who are willing to dedicate and sacrifice their lives for America .
Even through Vietnam , the world wars , and numerous tragic occurrences , the U . S . Army has grown stronger and stronger in its convictions and its foundational knowledge on how to keep civilians safe and comfortable . We so often take for granted our ability to walk down the street as an American citizen . Though there is much conflict in the world , and almost certainly too much for any one assembly to handle , we are blessed to have protectors and comrades in our midst . Next time you see a veteran , or any service member , including the families of those who have served , stop and say , " thank you ." If you are around on June 14 th , celebrate the birth of an invaluable branch of our United States Military with friends and family , centering around the theme of freedom and peace . The good had to be seen through the bad in order to hold weight as a moralrich experience . We have to take a step back in order to see the entire picture , or we ’ ll miss the lesson as a whole .
It is no surprise that today ’ s U . S . Army is comprised of more than 700,000 soldiers , including those that are on active duty , as well as those who are in the Army Reserve .
From sergeants and corporals to doctors and engineers , the U . S . Army ’ s network is both immense and diverse in quality and quantity . Every year , there are thousands of young men and women who are signing up to be on the front lines , in the offices , on the phones , behind the wheels , and on the ground .
38 | Spring 2017 | Adventure Outdoors