Editing French and Indian Wars (section)

===British===
The British military forces consisted of the [[British Army]]'s regular regiments and independent companies; the provincial regiments raised by the several colonies in [[British America]], and the [[Militia (United States)|colonial militia]].

====British Army====
{{main|British soldiers in the eighteenth century}}
The British Army had two types of units in North America: regular regiments serving in the colonies for a longer or shorter period of time, normally sent there only after the war had begun, and [[British Army Independent Companies of Foot in South Carolina, 1721-1763|independent companies]], permanently based in the colonies as [[garrison]]s of forts and fortresses. The British Army was largely recruited among the poor and the criminal classes; yet, the independent companies had lower status. Their ranks were often filled with people who had left the regular service – former soldiers mainly, but also [[deserter]]s. The officers were often promoted [[non-commissioned officers]]. The independent companies became rooted in the local society, often transforming the military service into a sideline of a civilian occupation, and remaining in the colonies after expiration of the enlistment period.<ref name="Offen">[http://historyreconsidered.net/Brittish_Military_Presence_in_America.html Lee Offen, ''The British Military Presence in America, 1660-1720''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522085846/http://historyreconsidered.net/Brittish_Military_Presence_in_America.html |date=2011-05-22 }} Retrieved 2017-02-11.</ref>

====Provincial troops====
{{Main|Provincial troops in the French and Indian Wars}}

When war began, the several colonies organized their own military forces, provincial troops, through temporary enlistments. The soldiers came from the lower orders of society, which did not strengthen their reliability or efficiency. [[Province of Massachusetts Bay|Massachusetts Bay]], [[Province of New York|New York]] and [[Connecticut Colony|Connecticut]] usually mobilized large contingents, while the southern colonies always very reluctantly contributed to the imperial cause. The British Army did not have high opinions of the battleworthiness of the provincial troops, with the exception of the [[Roger's Rangers|ranger units]]. During conjoint operations the provincial troops were subject to the very strict British [[Articles of War]]. The officers of the provincial troops had lower relative rank than the officers of the regular army; a provincial [[field officer]] ranked as a senior British captain, although these officers were members of the colonial elite, often members of colonial [[legislature]]s. Disputes concerning rank and precedent between regular and provincial officers were common. Junior provincial officers were often popular militia officers, who easily could recruit a company of men.<ref name="Stacey">C.P. Stacey (1974). "The British Forces in North America during the Seven Years' War." ''Dictionary of Canadian Biography.'' Toronto: University of Toronto Press, vol. 3: xxiv–xxx.</ref><ref name="Wright">[http://www.colonialwarsct.org/colonial_military_experience.htm Robert K.Wright Jr, "Colonial Military Experience." ''The Society of Colonial Wars in Connecticut.''] Retrieved 2017-02-11.</ref>

====Colonial militia====
{{main|Militia (United States)}}
Each colony had its own militia, which in principle contained all able-bodied men 16 to 60 years of age. In reality, however, membership in the militia was restricted to the more substantial members of society, since every militiaman had to provide himself with a musket, knapsack, powder, bullets, flints, and sword. Each local community organized its own militia. The officers were either appointed by the governor or elected by the men. The main task of the local militia was local defense, rarely serving in the field but acting as a more or less efficient [[home guard]].<ref name="Stacey"/><ref name="Wright"/>