How did the Continental soldiers differ from colonial militia forces during the American Revolution?

During the American Revolution, the Continental Army and state militias functioned as two distinct types of organizations.1

The primary differences included:

• Organization and Control: Militias were independent, state-controlled forces with elected officers. In contrast, the Continental Army was a national standing force established by the Continental Congress to provide a stable, unified military nucleus.12
• Training and Discipline: Militias were generally poorly disciplined and lacked extensive military training. Continentals were trained more thoroughly and served as the primary, reliable fighting force for George Washington.132
• Terms of Service: Militia members were typically summoned for short periods, often not exceeding three months, and were accustomed to returning home once a specific danger passed. Continental soldiers enlisted for longer, gradually increasing terms, though maintaining these forces was difficult due to poor pay and the colonists' traditional suspicion of standing armies.12

While militias provided a large pool of manpower, their unreliability led Washington to advocate for a more centralized national military structure.2