By Dr. Richard Hines
Program Director, History and Military History at American Military University

The third Saturday of May is Armed Forces Day to honor the men and women who have valiantly served the United States. This day is also intended to educate the public on the various roles of the military and how each branch of the service accomplishes the task of keeping our nation safe.

Armed Forces Day came into existence on August 31, 1949, when Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced that this single day would replace the individual celebrations for the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The Marine Corps League still celebrates Marine Corps Day, as well as Armed Forces Day.

Following the American Revolution, the citizens of this nation, because of their former relationship with Britain, feared a standing army. As a result, the United States continued to maintain a minimal force depending instead on an “army of potential,” the thinking being that we would raise an effective fighting force during times of need. Out of this grew a policy of a “navy second to none,” that could stop our enemies at mid-ocean. Ironically, both Kaiser Wilhelm and Adolph Hitler believed they could achieve their goals before the United States could effectively mobilize.