<P> The U.S. Armed Forces are one of the largest militaries in terms of the number of personnel . It draws its personnel from a large pool of paid volunteers . Although conscription has been used in the past in various times of both war and peace, it has not been used since 1972, but the Selective Service System retains the power to conscript males, and requires that all male citizens and residents residing in the U.S. between the ages of 18--25 register with the service . </P> <P> As of 2016, the U.S. spends about US $580 billion annually to fund its military forces and Overseas Contingency Operations . Put together, the U.S. constitutes roughly 40 percent of the world's military expenditures . The U.S. Armed Forces has significant capabilities in both defense and power projection due to its large budget, resulting in advanced and powerful equipment and its widespread deployment of force around the world, including about 800 military bases outside the United States . The U.S. Air Force is the world's largest air force, and the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps combined are the world's second largest air arm . Also, the U.S. Navy is the world's largest navy by tonnage . </P> <P> The history of the U.S. Armed Forces dates to 14 June 1775, with the creation of the Continental Army, even before the Declaration of Independence marked the establishment of the United States . Continental Navy, established on 13 October 1775, and Continental Marines, established on 10 November 1775, were created in close succession afterwards by the Second Continental Congress in order to defend the new nation against the British Empire in the American Revolutionary War . </P> <P> These forces demobilized in 1784 after the Treaty of Paris ended the War for Independence . The Congress of the Confederation created the current United States Army on 3 June 1784 . The United States Congress created the current United States Navy on 27 March 1794 and the current United States Marine Corps on 11 July 1798 . All three services trace their origins to the founding of the Continental Army, the Continental Navy, and the Continental Marines . The 1787 adoption of the Constitution gave the Congress the power to "raise and support armies", "provide and maintain a navy" and to "make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces", as well as the power to declare war . The President is the U.S. Armed Forces' commander - in - chief . </P>

When were the branches of the military founded