A standing army is one that is A.) Available only in times of war
B.) Permanent and available at all times
C.) Available only after the harvests have been collected
D.) Independent from the government

Permanent and available at all times

Explanation:

the romans were initially interested in expansion via sicily (which at that time was a cultural melting pot), part of which lay under carthaginian control. at the start of the first punic war (264-241 bc), carthage was the dominant power of the western mediterranean, with an extensive maritime empire