The United States Army is the largest branch of the armed forces of the United States. Like all armies, it has the primary responsibility for land-based military operations.
The modern Army had its roots in the Continental Army which was formed on June 14, 1775, before the establishment of the United States, to meet the demands of the America Revolutionary War. Congress created the United States Army on June 3, 1784 after the end of the war to replace the disbanded Continental Army. The Army considers itself to be descended from the Continental Army, and thus dates its inception from the origins of that force.[1]
Control and operation of the Army is administered by the Department of the Army, one of the three service departments of the Department of Defense. The civilian head is the Secretary the Army and the highest ranking military officer in the department is the Chief of Staff. As of March 31, 2007, the Regular Army reported a strength of 507,082 soldiers.[2] By the end of 2005, the Army National Guard (ARNG) reported 333,177 and the United States
\Army Reserve (USAR) reported 189,005,[3] putting the approximate combined component strength total at 1,029,264.



These are the US Army ranks and their equivalent NATO designations.
Commissioned Officers[7]:
There are several paths to becoming a commissioned officer including Army ROTC, the United States Military Academy at West Point or the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, and Officer Candidate School. Certain professionals, physicians, nurses, lawyers, and chaplains are commissioned directly into the Army. But no matter what road an officer takes, the insignia are the same. The highest officer rank is the five-star general (General of the Army) and the lowest is the second lieutenant. Address all personnel with the rank of general as "General (last name)" regardless of the number of stars. Likewise, address both colonels and lieutenant colonels as "Colonel (last name)" and first and second lieutenants as "Lieutenant (last name)."