The American Army was created on June 14, 1775, when the Continental Congress first authorized the muster of troops to serve under its own authority. Those soldiers came from the provincial forces of the colonies, which were at that time laying siege to Boston. From its birth, the American Army has relied on the citizen soldier, exemplified by the militia and the Minutemen who fought the British at Lexington and Concord. Commanded by General George Washington and supported by our French allies, the Continental Army defeated the British at Yorktown and secured the freedoms so eloquently stated in the Declaration of Independence. Thus, the birth of the Army preceded and guaranteed the birth of the nation.

The Army's fundamental purpose is to fight and win the Nation's wars by establishing conditions for lasting peace through land force dominance. This dominance is established through integration of the complementary capabilities of all the services. With this fundamental purpose in mind, the framers of the Constitution intended that armies were to be raised to "provide for the common defence" and, together with the Navy, to "repel invasion." Throughout the formative years of the Nation, the Army responded-on the frontiers, in the War of 1812, in the War with Mexico-in fulfillment of this role. During the Civil War, the Army was called upon to support another clause of the Constitution, to "suppress insurrection." As the Nation became a colonial power following the Spanish-American War, the Army was called upon to secure and administer new territories.

When the United States became a world power in the 20th century, the Army was called upon to defend our national interests and rights on a wider scale that drew us into alliances in regions far removed from our shores. In the combat operations of the World Wars, in Korea, Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf, the Army responded to the call to duty and performed that duty well. To soldiers on the ground, Operations Urgent Fury in Grenada, and Just Cause in Panama were indistinguishable from the combat operations of their forefathers. Operations Provide Comfort in Iraq and Restore Hope in Somalia, although peace operations, also proved to be dangerous. However, like those who went before them, American Soldiers responded readily in fulfilling the unlimited liability aspect of their contract. Knowing that simply joining the Army demands a willingness to place one's self at risk, many have still joined and made the ultimate sacrifice. (FM 100-1).

Oath of Enlistment

I, ____________, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.  So help me God.
 
 

Oath of Office,
Officer

I, ____________, having been appointed an officer in the Army of the United States, In the grade of ___________, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter.  So help me God.

 Soldier's Creed

I am proud of my own organization.  I will do all I can to make it the finest unit in the Army.  I will be loyal to those under whom I serve.  I will do my full part to carry out orders and instructions given to me or my unit.

As a soldier, I realize that I am a member of a time-honored profession--that I am doing my share to keep alive the principles of freedom for which my country stands.   No matter what the situation I am in, I will never do anything, for pleasure, profit, or personal safety, which will disgrace my uniform, my unit, or my country.   I will use every means I have, even beyond the line of duty, to restrain my Army comrades from actions disgraceful to themselves and to the uniform.

I am proud of my country and its flag.  I will try to make the people of this nation proud of the service I represent, for I am an American Soldier.