Military Branch Birthdays

These are the guardians of our country - on land and sea and in sky and space.

Birthdays are all about celebrating the birth of those we love and respect. That is why we take the time out to invite friends over, plan parties, bake birthday cakes, and sing loudly to the guest of honor.

It is certainly no different with a military birthday. We celebrate each branch and its birthday because we are proud of our military members and what they represent. Below is a quick guide (in chronological order) to each of our military branches birthday and a brief history of its birth.

National Guard: December 13, 1636

The National Guard of the United States is a joint activity of the United States Department of Defense composed of reserve components of the United States Army and the United States Air Force: the Army National Guard of the United States for the Army and the Air National Guard of the United States for the Air Force. It is the oldest component of the Armed Forces of the United States.

Army: June 14, 1775

The U.S. Army was founded on 14 June 1775, when the Continental Congress authorized enlistment of riflemen to serve the United Colonies," for one year.

Navy: October 13, 1775

The United States Navy traces its origins to the Continental Navy, which the Continental Congress established on 13 October 1775. Since 1972 each CNO has encouraged a Navy-wide celebration of this occasion "to enhance a greater appreciation of our Navy heritage, and to provide a positive influence toward pride and professionalism in the naval service."

Marine Corps: November 10, 1775

The Marine Corps was founded to serve as an infantry unit aboard naval vessels and was responsible for the security of the ship and its crew by conducting offensive and defensive combat during boarding actions and defending the ship's officers from mutiny.

Coast Guard: August 4, 1790

The Coast Guard's official history began on 4 August 1790 when President George Washington signed the Tariff Act that authorized the construction of ten vessels, referred to as "cutters," to enforce federal tariff and trade laws and to prevent smuggling.

Air Force: September 18, 1947

Until 2019 known as the most recent branch of the U.S. military to be formed, the Air Force is also the largest and most technologically advanced air force in the world. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on 18 September 1947 under the National Security Act of 1947.

Space Force: December 20, 2019

President Donald J. Trump signed into law legislation creating the first new armed service since 1947, the U.S. Space Force. The direct antecedent of the Space Force, Air Force Space Command, was formed on 1 September 1982 with responsibility for space warfare operations.

Editor's Note: In honor of each of these birth dates, the Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 3513, are providing a birthday cake at the Post. Stop by and join us in a salute ( a slice of cake) to our military branches.