<P> When the American Revolutionary War began in April 1775 , the colonial revolutionaries did not have an army . Previously , each colony had relied upon the militia , made up of part - time civilian - soldiers . The initial orders from Congress authorized ten companies of riflemen . The first full regiment of Regular Army infantry , the 3rd Infantry Regiment , was not formed until June 1784 . After the war , the Continental Army was quickly disbanded because of the American distrust of standing armies , and irregular state militias became the new nation 's sole ground army , with the exception of a regiment to guard the Western Frontier and one battery of artillery guarding West Point 's arsenal . </P>
<P> When the American Revolutionary War began in April 1775 , the colonial revolutionaries did not have an army . Previously , each colony had relied upon the militia , made up of part - time civilian - soldiers . The initial orders from Congress authorized ten companies of riflemen . The first full regiment of Regular Army infantry , the 3rd Infantry Regiment , was not formed until June 1784 . After the war , the Continental Army was quickly disbanded because of the American distrust of standing armies , and irregular state militias became the new nation 's sole ground army , with the exception of a regiment to guard the Western Frontier and one battery of artillery guarding West Point 's arsenal . </P>
when did the us have a standing army
when did the us have a standing army
June 1784
June 1784