A standing army is an army composed of full time professional soldiers. They differ from army reserves who are activated only during such times as war or natural disasters. Army (From Latin armata (act of arming) via Old French armée) can, in some countries, refer to any armed force. ... A Norwegian soldier (a Corporal, armed with an MP-5) A soldier is a person who has enlisted with, or has been conscripted into, the armed forces of a sovereign country and has undergone training and received equipment to defend that country or its interests. ... Army reserves are a part of an army which is normally activated only during emergencies such as a war. ... The United States detonated an atomic bomb over Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. ... For natural incidents, see Natural disaster A young rap group made up of five young teens from the Chicago subarbs. ...

Standing armies tend to be much more expensive to maintain and therefore are usually of limited size. However, a standing army tends to be better equipped, better trained, and better prepared for emergencies, particularly wars.

The army of ancient Rome is considered to have been a standing army during some of Roman history, but especially the empire.

The first 'modern' standing army in Europe were the Janissaries of the Ottoman Empire, formed in the fourteenth century AD. In western Europe the first standing army was established by Charles VII of France in the fifteenth century. The establishment of standing armies in seventeenth century Britain and later in the United States was controversial, some fearing that it would give too much power to the head of state, erode the civilian control of the military, eventually leading to tyranny. The Janissaries (or janizaries; in Turkish: Yeniçeri, meaning New Troops) comprised infantry units that formed the Ottoman sultans household troops and bodyguard. ... Motto: دولت ابد مدت Devlet-i Ebed-müddet (The Eternal State) Anthem: Ottoman imperial anthem At the height of its power (1683) Capital Söğüt (1299-1326) Bursa (1326-1365) Edirne (1365-1453) Kostantiniyye (Istanbul) (1453-1922) Language(s) Ottoman Turkish Government Monarchy Sultans  - 1281–1326 Osman I  - 1918–1922 Mehmed VI... Charles VII the Victorious, a. ... (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ... Queen Elizabeth II, is the Head of State of 16 countries including: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Jamaica, New Zealand and the Bahamas, as well as crown colonies and overseas territories of the United Kingdom. ... U.S. President Abraham Lincolns active involvement in the conduct of the American Civil War, which frequently involved pressing his generals to undertake more aggressive actions, set a precedent for the power of the civilian Commander-in-Chief. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Philosopher Adam Smith in book V, chapter 1, part 1 of his influential work The Wealth of Nations (published 1776), comments that standing armies are a sign of modernising society as modern warfare requires increased skill and disclipine of regularly trained standing armies. It is so that since the eighteenth century standing armies have been a integral part of the defence of the majority of more economically developed countries.