Target: Rick Boucher, Congressman, US House of RepresentativesSponsor: Christine Schaffner

Origin of US Military: A Tradition of Honor, Loyalty and Courage
by: Johnny Blade

During the Colonial Period, when whites battled between Indians, the Pequot, a warlike tribe that settled in the center along the Thames River in southeastern Connecticut, against New England settlers, and because of the struggle Governor John Endicott of Massachusetts Bay Colony organized the first military force. The military forces’ duty was to capture and punish Indians.

Before the King Phillip’s War there was a provision of organizing military companies and for the frequent drilling of the soldiers. During that time even ten years old boys were trained to handle guns, half- pikes, bows and arrows.

It also required every man to have a service pistol for security. Every trained soldier was required to turn out immediately. There is a penalty of $5 for neglect. Military officers were empowered to appoint what firearms to be brought to the meeting houses on the Lord’s days and other times of gatherings.

In the Revolutionary War, the Continental Army was formed. It was George Washington who was chosen to be the Commander in Chief. It was the congresses who select him right after the formation of the continental army. Choosing him was made for geographical and political as much as for military reasons, because the New Englanders felt that in order to enlist the help of the southern colonies a southerner should be chosen for the position.

In Early Republic, Washington open an alternative to a large standing army, he was referring to founding an effective militia. So the congress passed the basic militia law in May 1792, it refers to recruiting of every able-bodied white male citizen between 18-45 and to organize militia into divisions, brigades, regiments, battalions, and companies by the individual states.

Each militiaman should be provided by his own arms, munitions, and other accouterments. The act also provides the idea of a citizen soldiery, a concept of deep importance to the future of the country, and it also provide for the creation of special volunteer units to supplement the mandatory group system. The volunteers are organized into companies, met regularly for military training under elected officers. With antecedents in the organized military associations of the colonial era, this volunteer force is now known as the National Guard.

In the War of 1812-1815, the military forces took place at the battle of Fort Stephenson, battle of Lake Erie, Fort Dearborn and siege of Fort Erie. From the Indian wars to the Persian Gulf War military has serve as the defense and offense of the United States. In World War II and even the previous Wars the Military forces was based in any part of the globe invading and defending the territory. Like in Sicily Campaign, the American soldier had much to be proud.

With the exception of those units which had taken part in the Tunisia Campaign, especially the 1st and 9th Infantry Divisions, few American formations employed in Sicily began the campaign with any combat experience, and their abilities were still unknown. But the American troops had done well.

Sicily was also a victory for the logistician and the staff planner. Although overshadowed by the Normandy invasion a year later, Operation HUSKY was actually the largest amphibious operation of World War II in terms of the size of the landing zone and the number of divisions put ashore on the first day of the invasion.

This pushed the U.S. Military to recruit and expand itself for the needs of national security and peace keeping inside the state.

The U.S. Military is divided into seven, the Army that handle the land especially mountains, valley and other far places in the states that needs security and peacekeeping. Naval or Navy that protect the sea territory of the states, Marine which is deployed in the heavy attack like outside war that needed reinforcement by the states, Air Force the one who protect the air territory of the states, National Guard the volunteer organized troops, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine helps the navy in sea territory peacekeeping.

About The Author


Johnny Blade, a former private investigator and award winning author who writes on a variety of subjects, is an online marketer for many sites such as Resources and Articles About the US Military.

http://military-resources.favoritefacts.com/

This article is free for republishing.

Copyright © Johnny Blade 2006