Conclusion

In a sense, the more things have changed for the Army’s role since 1775, the more they have stayed the same. Admittedly, the federal gov­ernment’s more activist role in American life since 1900 has resulted in an enhanced role for the Army in responding to challenges such as disaster relief and organized crime. Nevertheless, a review of American history makes clear that the missions of the Army have always included not only its primary mission of national defense but

42

also a number of other tasks reaching beyond defense. The precise nature of the Army’s missions has varied depending on the nation’s needs at a particular time, whether fighting a war for survival, developing a transportation network and skilled engineers to support it, pro­viding disaster relief, keeping the peace, or supporting American diplomacy. Over the course of American history, one can truly say of the Army: “When it was needed, it was there.”

43

Return to Contents

	Return to CMH Online
	Last updated 7 September 2006