Protecting Prosperity
The Navy and Marine Corps celebrate their 250th birthdays during a series of commemorations, including leadership outreach events, multilateral exercises, and community engagements of varying scope and duration.
These activities showcase the strength and importance of the Navy and Marine Corps to national security and present opportunities to inspire a new generation of Americans to take up the call to serve, in and out of uniform, in the public and private sectors.
NAVY
America is a maritime nation. For 250 years, the Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom.
A 13 October 1775 resolution of the Continental Congress established what is now the United States Navy with “a swift sailing vessel, to carry ten carriage guns, and a proportionable number of swivels, with eighty men, be fitted, with all possible despatch, for a cruise of three months….” After the American War of Independence, the U.S. Constitution empowered the new Congress “to provide and maintain a navy.” Acting on this authority, Congress established the Department of the Navy on 30 April 1798.
In 1972, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt authorized official recognition of 13 October as the birthday of the U.S. Navy. Since then, each CNO has encouraged a Navy-wide celebration of this occasion “to enhance a greater appreciation of our Navy heritage, and to provide a positive influence toward pride and professionalism in the naval service.” 13 October 2025 will mark the Navy's 250th birthday.
MARINE CORPS
For 250 years, the United States Marine Corps has served honorably in every clime and place.
On November 10, 1775, the Second Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia passed a resolution stating that "two Battalions of Marines be raised" for service as landing forces with the fleet. This resolution established the Continental Marines and marked the birth date of the United States Marine Corps.
Serving on land and at sea, these first Marines distinguished themselves in a number of important operations, including their first amphibious raid into the Bahamas in March 1776, under the command of Captain (later Major) Samuel Nicholas. The first commissioned officer in the Continental Marines, Nicholas remained the senior Marine officer throughout the American Revolution and is considered to be the first Marine Commandant. The Treaty of Paris in April 1783 brought an end to the Revolutionary War and as the last of the Navy's ships were sold, the Continental Navy and Marines went out of existence.
USNA
This October, the United States Naval Academy celebrates its 180th birthday.
USNA has a long and storied history rooted in the evolving needs of the Navy and the nation it serves. Through the efforts of the Secretary of the Navy George Bancroft, the Naval School was established at a 10-acre Army post named Fort Severn in Annapolis, Maryland, on October 10, 1845, with a class of 50 midshipmen and seven professors.
In 1850 the Naval School became the United States Naval Academy. A new curriculum went into effect requiring midshipmen to study at the Academy for four years and to train aboard ships each summer. That format is the basis of a far more advanced and sophisticated curriculum at the Naval Academy today.
Events
Thank you for your support of Navy and Nation 250 efforts, we appreciate your commitment to our Sailors and Navy.At this time, all Navy and Nation 250 events are paused as part of the government shutdown protocols.
We hope to recommence planning once appropriations are provided.
