MILITARY STRENGTH FIGURES FOR DECEMBER 31, 1996 SUMMARIZED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
The total numerical strength of the Armed Forces on Dec. 31,
1996 was 1,456,266. This is a decrease of 9,353 from Nov. 30,
1996 and a decrease of 46,077 from the same time in 1995.
These figures represent full-time military personnel
comprising both regular and reserves on active duty and officer
candidates, including cadets at the three military academies.
Excluded from these figures are approximately 65,000 full-
time military personnel who are paid from other than active duty
military personnel appropriations. This group is funded from
appropriations for reserve components and Corps of Engineers
civil functions. A comparable figure for Fiscal Year 1996 was
also 65,000 military personnel.
December 1996 strength figures for each service with month-
ago and year-ago figures for comparison are:
12/31/96 11/30/96 Change from Prev. Month
(Actual) (Actual) Amount Percent 12/31/95
Total DoD 1,456,266 1,465,619 -9,353 -0.64% 1,502,343
Army 485,180 491,242 -6,062 -1.23% 499,848
Navy 413,065 413,869 -804 -0.19% 432,033
Marine
Corps 173,595 174,806 -1,211 -0.69% 174,049
Air Force 384,426 385,702 -1,276 -0.33% 396,413
Please note the active duty personnel strength data provided
does not include Selected Reserve strength ordered to active duty
by the President under Title 10, United States Code 12304.
