June 14, 1775
America’s oldest military branch and first national institution.
Educational Page
6 Branches of Service
An updated look at the United States military branches, their official birth dates, and the order commonly used for military precedence and service displays.
Important Note
Service Dates and Order Are Not Always the Same Thing
Many people assume the Navy comes before the Marine Corps because the Navy’s roots go back to the Continental Navy. However, when people talk about the traditional order used for the armed services, the Marine Corps is commonly placed before the Navy. It helps to separate founding dates from order of precedence.
This page shows both: the official founding dates of the six military branches and the commonly recognized modern order of precedence used in military settings and service flag displays.
Founding Dates
Official Branch Birth Dates
| # | Branch | Official Founding Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States Army | June 14, 1775 |
| 2 | United States Marine Corps | November 10, 1775 |
| 3 | United States Navy | October 13, 1775 |
| 4 | United States Coast Guard | August 4, 1790 |
| 5 | United States Air Force | September 18, 1947 |
| 6 | United States Space Force | December 20, 2019 |
By birth date alone, the Navy was established before the Marine Corps. The Coast Guard is also older than the Air Force and Space Force. But formal military precedence follows its own rules and traditions.
November 10, 1775
Founded by the Continental Congress and traditionally placed before the Navy in service precedence.
October 13, 1775
The official birthday of the U.S. Navy traces to the Continental Navy.
September 18, 1947
Established as an independent branch under the National Security Act of 1947.
December 20, 2019
The newest branch of the Armed Forces and the sixth military service.
August 4, 1790
One of the nation’s oldest services, with its roots in the Revenue Marine.
Precedence
Common Modern Order of Precedence
- United States Army
- United States Marine Corps
- United States Navy
- United States Air Force
- United States Space Force
- United States Coast Guard
This is the order most often seen in military formations, service flag displays, and ceremonial references. A common exception applies when the Coast Guard is operating as part of the Department of the Navy during wartime, in which case its placement may change.
Why It Matters
Understanding the Difference
When discussing the branches of service, people often mix up date of establishment with military order of precedence. Both are important, but they answer different questions.
If you are talking about which branch was founded first, the answer comes from history. If you are talking about flag order, ceremonial order, or branch precedence, the answer comes from military protocol.
That is why you may hear someone say, “The Navy is older than the Marine Corps,” while still seeing the Marine Corps displayed before the Navy in a formal order of precedence.