25 FASCINATING U.S. ARMY FACTS THAT YOU'VE PROBABLY NEVER HEARD
If some of you don’t know, the Army is one of the major branches of the United States Armed Forces, and also is one of the country's oldest parts of the government. It’s been around for almost 250 years and has always played an important role in protecting the country. It did change over the years, but their mission is still the same.
To give a highlight to the Army, let’s take a closer look at some U.S. Army facts that you've probably never heard before.
The Army’s Legendary History
Let’s start with a deep dive into history, as the Army’s roots go so deep that it was around before the country even existed. Yes, these U.S. Army facts show how wild the beginnings were.
1. The Army is older than the United States.
Yes, you read it right. The Army was formed on June 14, 1755, which is a full year before the Declaration of Independence.
2. George Washington wasn’t excited to lead.
George Washington doubted his ability to command, and he thought we weren’t a great fit for the job, and it turns out he was wrong.
3. The first submarine used in war was Army-operated.
The first submarine used in war was Army-operated, and it was the Turtle, which was used for a mission in the Revolutionary War.
4. The Army’s dress colors were chosen by George Washington.
George Washington chose traditional blue uniforms, and over 200 years later, the Army returned and chose to have that same look.
5. Guerrilla warfare began with the Army.
The hit-and-run strategy was used in swamps to outsmart British troops. Crazy, right?
6. A Gay Prussian officer trained Washington’s troops.
Baron von Steuben was the one who trained Washington’s troops, and he fled persecution for being homosexual.
7. The Air Force and the Army were once one.
Yes, the Air Force used to be a part of the Army until it split off to become its own branch.
They Had Experiments and Amazing Tactics
We thought the Army was doing everything in the open, but these amazing U.S. Army facts show how sneaky a military strategy is, and sometimes, shocking!
8. Chemical agents were tested on U.S. cities.
Zinc cadmium sulfide was sprayed over places like St. Louis and San Francisco to test dispersal methods back in the 1950s and 1960s. Incredibly shocking.
9. Nerve agents were dumped into the ocean by the Army.
The Army disposed of 64 million pounds of toxic weapons off the coast, not knowing where they went.
10. Psychological warfare teams called enemies "cowardly dogs."
PSYOPS soldiers used loudspeakers to insult and bait enemy fighters into losing battles, which was kind of smart.
11. The Army fires depleted uranium bullets.
The rounds were so deadly that they could pierce armor and ignite on impact, and it is highly toxic, so there could be internal damage if they are inhaled.
12. They fired 1,400 rounds at a weather balloon.
In the Battle of Los Angeles, the soldiers fired into the sky, which turned out to be just harmless balloons, because they panicked.
13. An entire island was cleared for a U.S. base.
The Army was building a base that required the people of Diego Garcia to leave their homes.
14. The Army mapped much of America.
The Lewis and Clark expedition was led by Army officers, and yes, they pretty much traveled America.
Major Contributions in the Army
The Army’s pretty evolved now, but you might be surprised by the major contributions that shaped the present day.
15. Ray-Bans were made for Army pilots.
Cool, right? The famous sunglasses were mostly created to help the Army reduce glare and motion sickness when they are in flight.
16. Coca-Cola created a military unit to serve soda.
“Technical Observers” were sent out to build bottling plants and give troops Coke for a nickel.
17. The Army had a “Red Team” of skeptics.
They were trained to question everything so they wouldn’t make a bad decision.
18. A swastika was once part of an Army insignia.
The 45th Infantry used the symbol as a Native American good luck sign before WWII, which they later replaced with a thunderbird.
19. The Army once considered bat bombs.
Not the bath bombs that you use for relaxation, but literally bat bombs. Bats carrying explosives were almost used in WWII, we said almost.
20. The Army created its official song last.
Other branches had theirs, but the Army didn’t pick “The Army Goes Rolling Along” until 1956—181 years after it was founded.
21. The Army uses 400 pounds of batteries for a 3-day mission.
They carry these loads of tech, and all of these need battery power so they can use them in the field.
Surprising Statistics About the Army
As we all know, the Army is the largest and one of the major branches. You might be surprised, but the Army is made up of people from all walks of life, and the numbers and facts that are included here are a testament to the fact that the Army’s reach is very wide.
22. There are over 1 million people in the Army.
That includes the Regular Army, National Guard, and Army Reserve combined.
23. The Army owns more land than some states.
Are they that rich? No, they just have 24,000 square miles under their control, and it would be the 42nd largest state in the U.S.
24. The Army has the most military bases worldwide.
Yes, they are the largest, so they have about 750 U.S. military bases in over 80 countries.
25. A third of the Union Army were immigrants.
Immigrants and Black soldiers made up a huge portion of the troops during the Civil War.
These 25 U.S. Army facts let us realize that we most likely have little knowledge about the incredible story of the Army, and it somehow reminds us that even the most serious branch can have a little crazy twist along the way.
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