It is good to know that US Constitution provides for an Army for only two years at a time via funding specifications and appropriations. Anytime congress wanted to dissolve the Army, it could by simply refusing to fund it past another budget cycle. It would die from no funding.
Of course, enlistment contracts and commissions would not expire when funds ran out, as there is no provision in any such agreement for remuneration or benefits, simply service until expiration date ( which can be extended involuntarily) or release based on needs of the Army.
Effectively, unless the states desired to fund the ARNG, it too would dry up and die for lack of funds.
The Naval services, on the other hand are not under the same constitutional restrictions, although all funding is rolled up in one Nat Defense Authorization ( NDA).
The standing army we need to be concerned about is the local, state and federal agencies that police us. I find it interesting that only the elected sheriff is noted or mentioned int eh constitution- and that is because during that era (of the founding) there was no formalized police force- the elected magistrate or local elected government would commission people to execute warrants and arrests based on presentments or indictments- we only use police powers today to do any of that- the prosecutor and police decide who is to be subject to arrest and warrant, the people can only file complaints to them, not directly to a judge or magistrate. how convenient- a monopoly on justice.
We can that a guy named Peale, in Britain, for the evolution of the modern police force and power. It spread like a communicable disease to the rest of the western world. I say we the people ought to possess that power n and of ourselves, directly to the local justice and courts. Frivolous accusations would quickly be rebutted and judges/courts would hold liars and incompetent accusers liable, and we would live at peace, everyone looking out for not only their own interests, but those of their neighbors. We more likely would be less inclined to shoot each other too.
Then it's a good thing we have the Third Amendment to keep them from quartering in our homes when the money ran out.
-PJ