SUMMARIZED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Total numerical strength of the Armed Forces on March 31, 1996, based on
preliminary reports, was 1,495,880. This is a decrease of 2,595 from February
29, 1996 and a decrease of 71,637 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 1995 was also 65,000 military personnel.
March 1996 strength figures for each service with month-ago and year-ago
figures for comparison are:
03/31/96 02/29/96 Change from Prev. Month
(Preliminary) (Actual) Amount Percent 03/31/95
Total DoD 1,495,880 1,498,475 -2,595 -0.17% 1,567,517
Army 499,145 500,582 -1,437 -0.29% 532,231
Navy 430,901 430,053 848 0.20% 450,578
Marine Corps 172,434 173,187 -753 -0.43% 172,729
Air Force 393,400 394,653 -1,253 -0.32% 411,979
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.
