Tag Archives: Be All You Can Be

Happy 251st, Big Green

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Over the weekend, the U.S. Army turned 251, counting the mandate from the Second Continental Congress to begin to replace the assorted colonial militia units besieging the British in Boston with an official army in the field, just 55 days after the Battles of Lexington and Concord and less than 72 hours before the Battle of Bunker/Breed’s Hill.

Of note, the official order was to raise 10 companies of “expert riflemen” drawn from across the colonies and send them to Boston. Washington was selected to command said force the next day, on 15 June 1775.

While the uniforms, tactics, arms, and training have changed, the Army remains.

Army PFC Giovanni Tolbert fires a suppressed M7 NGSW-R during a Salaknib 2026 live-fire exercise at Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, June 2, 2026. Exercise Salaknib highlights the U.S.-Philippine alliance and supports efforts to maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific. (Army Photo 260602-A-PJ082-9481 by Spc. Justin Hicks)

Be all you can be, redux

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This week recognizes the U.S. Army’s 248th anniversary of its 14 June 1775 founding by the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia. (Yes, I know the Congress of the Confederation created the United States Army on 3 June 1784, and technically the force was “just” 239 years old two weeks ago…but, hey, what’s a decade between traditions?)

In case you missed it, below is the short (20-minute) Army Birthday Wreath Laying at Arlington, performed by the “Old Guard” of the U.S. 3rd Infantry Regiment. Sadly, the ceremony looked sparsely attended.

And in something that is also stirring for the blood, MCoE Fort Moore (Bragg) released these two great short videos they cut, showing Joes today compared to throwbacks from the old 1980s “Stripes” style Be All You Can Be recruiting spots, including the “more before 9 a.m.” one.

Razzle Dazzle!