Regular Army (United States)

Regular Army (United States)
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Unit name	Regular Army
Caption	Flag of the United States Army
Dates	3 June 1784 – present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Type	Professional standing force
Role	Primary land warfare service
Size	~480,000 soldiers (2023)
Command structure	United States Department of the Army
Garrison	The Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia
Nickname	"RA"
Motto	"This We'll Defend"
Colors	Black, gold, and white
Battles	American Revolutionary War, War of 1812, American Civil War, Spanish–American War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Gulf War, War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), Iraq War
Current commander	GEN Randy A. George
Commander1 label	Chief of Staff
Notable commanders	George Washington, Ulysses S. Grant, John J. Pershing, George C. Marshall, Omar Bradley, Creighton Abrams

Regular Army (United States). The Regular Army is the permanent, professional standing force of the United States Army, maintained in a constant state of readiness. It forms the core of the nation's land power, providing the foundational structure, institutional knowledge, and immediate response capability for national defense. Its soldiers serve full-time and are distinct from the part-time soldiers of the Army National Guard and the United States Army Reserve.

History

The lineage of the Regular Army traces to the Continental Army authorized by the Second Continental Congress in 1775 and commanded by General George Washington. Following the Treaty of Paris (1783), this force was disbanded, leading to the establishment of a minimal standing force, the First American Regiment, in 1784. The early Army was tested in conflicts like the Northwest Indian War and the War of 1812. Its size and professionalism expanded dramatically during the American Civil War under leaders like Ulysses S. Grant and William Tecumseh Sherman. The 20th century saw its transformation into a modern global force through the Spanish–American War, the Mexican Expedition, and the colossal mobilizations for World War I and World War II under Chiefs of Staff such as John J. Pershing and George C. Marshall. The Cold War era, including the Korean War and the Vietnam War, solidified its forward-deployed posture, a structure that evolved through the Gulf War and the post-September 11 attacks conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Organization

The Regular Army is organized under the United States Department of the Army, a component of the United States Department of Defense. Its primary combat formations are organized into Army commands, Army service component commands, and Direct reporting units. The major operational commands include United States Army Forces Command (FORSCOM), United States Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), and United States Army Materiel Command (AMC). The principal warfighting units are Corps, Divisions (such as the 1st Infantry Division and 82nd Airborne Division), Brigade combat teams, and specialized Battalions. It also includes institutional organizations like the United States Military Academy at West Point and the United States Army War College.

Personnel and training

Personnel in the Regular Army are volunteers who enlist for active duty service or are commissioned as officers through sources like West Point, the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), and Officer Candidate School. All soldiers undergo Basic Combat Training followed by Advanced Individual Training in a specific Military Occupational Specialty. The Non-commissioned officer corps, led by the Sergeant Major of the Army, provides critical leadership. Professional military education continues at institutions like the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. The Chief of Staff of the United States Army is the highest-ranking officer.

Roles and missions

The primary role of the Regular Army is to "fight and win the Nation's wars" by providing prompt and sustained land dominance across the full spectrum of conflict. Its core missions, as defined in Title 10 of the United States Code, include deterring aggression, defeating adversaries, and supporting civil authorities under the Insurrection Act or for disaster response. It maintains a global presence through forward-stationed forces in locations like South Korea, Germany, and Japan, and provides the bulk of forces for combatant commands like United States Central Command and United States Indo-Pacific Command. It also conducts operations other than war, including security cooperation and humanitarian assistance.

Equipment and technology

The Regular Army fields a vast array of modern equipment. Its armored forces are centered on the M1 Abrams tank and the M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle. Aviation assets include the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter and the UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopter. Infantry units are equipped with the M4 carbine and the M249 light machine gun. It is undergoing a significant modernization effort through the United States Army Futures Command, developing next-generation systems like the XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle, the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft, and integrated networks for Multi-Domain Operations. Critical enabling technologies include intelligence from the MQ-1C Gray Eagle and advanced Electronic warfare suites.

Relationship with reserve components

The Regular Army operates under the Total Force Policy, fully integrating with the Army National Guard and the United States Army Reserve to form the total United States Army. While the Regular Army provides the always-available force, the reserve components provide critical depth, specialized capabilities, and civil support. Mobilization of reserve components, authorized by the President of the United States or Congress, is routine for major operations, as seen during the Global War on Terrorism. Training and doctrine are standardized across components, and senior leadership positions, including the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, are filled by officers from all components.

Category:United States Army Category:Military of the United States