The United States Army Corps of Engineers: America's Backbone The United States Army Corps of Engineers in its entirety is a branch of the military that is part of the army's regimental system. The Engineer Regiment is made up of numerous types of engineers that include construction, combat and emergency services, and geospatial specialties. A testament to fortitude has been demonstrated since the corps' inception in 1775. The United States Army Corps of Engineers was first chartered on June 16, 1775, by the Continental Congress. Although the crew was initially small, with chief engineer Richard Gridley and two assistants, their duties were not. Richard Gridley lived to the age of 85. When he died in 1795 in Stoughton Village, near Boston, Massachusetts, he had seen the Corps of Engineers formally established by resolution of Congress on March 11, 1779, in the form of a staff and three companies of sappers and miners. But Richard Gridley was the first engineer, The US Army Engineers- Fighting Elite, (1967). The first Engineers set an example for future generations. Army Engineers, Including Veterans, Easily Demonstrate Their Solidarity with Pride, Colonel Michael Morgan, USA (2007). From the beginning, the Engineers have adapted to difficulties and improved all shortcomings to complete every mission entrusted to them by America. Today the Corps of Engineers is the second oldest corps in the Army, the first after the Infantry. As a regiment with over 230 years of history, the Corps of Engineers has consistently demonstrated how important this branch of the military has become. A stake has been claimed in every conflict, from the American Revolution to current operations in the Middle East and around the world. The Corps of Engineers in confidence…middle of paper…the whole spectrum is a testament to what people should strive to be. Engineers have demonstrated that through integrity, tenacity and dedication, a country can be formed. Engineers will always be ready for the next mission. They're just waiting for someone to let them try. Essays!ReferencesDavis Jr, F.M., Jones, T.T. (1967). US Army Engineers - Fighting Elite (p. 19). New York, NY: Franklin Watts, Inc. Morgan, M. (2007). Inseparable ties of the Engineer Service. Army Engineer, 42. Retrieved May 26, 2014, from armyengineer.com.National Society of Professional Engineers (2014). Retrieved from armyengineer.com/magazine.htm.U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (2008). The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: A History. Retrieved May 23, 2014, from Alexandria, Virginia: Office of History, Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.