SUMMARIZED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
The total numerical strength of the Armed Forces on March
31, 1997 was 1,443,138. This is a decrease of 7,211 from Feb.
28, 1997 and a decrease of 50,253 from the same time in 1996.
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.
March 1997 strength figures for each service with month-ago
and year-ago figures for comparison are:
Change from Prev.
03/31/97 02/28/97 Month
(Actual) (Actual) Amount Percent 03/31/96
Total DoD 1,443,138 1,450,349 -7,211 -0.50% 1,493,391
Army 482,847 485,674 -2,827 -0.58% 499,145
Navy 404,691 407,758 -3,067 -0.75% 428,412
Marine
Corps 173,011 173,432 -421 -0.24% 172,434
Air Force 382,589 383,485 -896 -0.23% 393,400
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.
