Veterans Voices and the U.S. Armed Forces

Veterans Voices Military Group strives to support our brothers and sisters in our community, and beyond, who have served our country in the armed forces. Please take a moment to learn a little more about each branch of service and its history.

The United States Army

Created by the 2nd Continental Congress in 1775, the Army is the oldest of the military services of the United States.  The initial mission of the Army was to protect the original 13 colonies.  The current mission of the U.S. Army is, "to fight and win our Nation's wars, by providing prompt, sustained, land dominance, across the full range of military operations and the spectrum of conflict, in support of combatant commanders". The Army is composed of the active duty force, the reserve forces (Ready Reserve, Standby Reserve, Retired Reserve), and the Army National Guard.

The United States Navy

The United States Navy claims October 13, 1775 as the date of its official establishment, when the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution creating the Continental Navy. The mission of the Navy is, “to maintain, train and equip combat-ready naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas.” The Navy is comprised of the active force and the reserve force (the Ready Reserve, Standby Reserve and Retired Reserve).

The United States Marine Corps

The Marine Corps was founded on November 10, 1775, when the Continental Congress ordered that two battalions of Marines be raised for service as landing forces with the fleet. The mission of the Marine Corps is made up of three primary areas of responsibility: Seizure or defense of advanced naval bases and other land operations to support naval campaigns; Development of tactics, techniques, and equipment used by amphibious landing forces in coordination with the Army and Air Force; and such other duties as the President or Department of Defense may direct. The Marine Corps consists of the active force and the Marine Corps Reserve, comprised of the Selected Marine Reserve and the Individual Ready Reserve.

The United States Merchant Marine

The first war that an organized United States Merchant Marine took part in was the American Revolutionary War. The first wartime role of the United States Merchant Marine took place on June 12, 1775, in and around Machias, Mass. According to the Merchant Marine Act of 1936: "It is necessary for the national defense... that the United States shall have a merchant marine of the best equipped and most suitable types of vessels sufficient to carry the greater portion of its commerce and serve as a naval or military auxiliary in time of war or national emergency...".