Army Birthdays
The U.S. Army was founded on 14 June 1775, when the Continental Congress authorized the enlistment of expert riflemen to serve the United Colonies for one year. For more on the history of the U.S. Army birthday, click here: the Army birthday.
Branch Birthdays
Since 1775, Congress has also authorized the establishment of certain branches within the Army. Today, these are represented by the Army's basic and special branches. Below is information about the legal authority for the Army's branches and additional information about each branch's birthday.
Army Birthdays
The U.S. Army was founded on 14 June 1775, when the Continental Congress authorized the enlistment of expert riflemen to serve the United Colonies for one year. For more on the history of the U.S. Army birthday, click here: the Army birthday.
Since 1775, Congress has also prescribed the organization and structure of the Army, which includes various branches into which Soldiers can be assigned. Many of these branch distinctions are reflected in the Army's system for designating units and in the U.S. Army Regimental System. The Army Organization Act of 1950, enacted on 28 June 1950, set forth the legal basis for the various basic and special branches in the current Army (see Title 10, United States Code, Sections 3063 and 3064). It also permits the creation of other branches as the Secretary of the Army considers necessary. See the note below for more information on The Army Organization Act of 1950.
In recognition of the fact that many of today's branches have existed since 1775 and in order to enhance esprit de corps, the Army recognizes official branch birthdays (see Department of the Army General Orders, No. 19, dated 31 October 1978, and subsequent announcements). Listed below are the Army's basic and special branches currently in existence, their birthdays, and the relevant authorities. Links are also provided for additional information about each branch's unique heraldic items, which are maintained by The Institute of Heraldry (TIOH).
NOTE: The Army Organization Act of 1950 was enacted on 28 June 1950. A full copy of the Act was published in Department of the Army Bulletin No. 9, dated 6 July 1950. The changes the Act had on the Army's branches and the titles of the various branch chiefs were announced in Department of the Army General Orders No. 23, dated 20 July 1950 (as amended). Finally, an article from the August 1950 edition of Army Information Digest discusses the Act's major changes. All three of these documents are available below for the convenience of our users.