SUMMARIZED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
The total numerical strength of the Armed Forces on Aug. 31,
1996 was 1,475,825.
This is a decrease of 3,316 from July 31,
1996 and a decrease of 52,124 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.
August 1996 strength figures for each service with month-ago
and year-ago figures for comparison are:
08/31/96 07/31/96 Change from Prev. Month
(Actual) (Actual) Amount Percent 08/31/95
Total DoD 1,475,825 *1,479,141 -3,316 -0.22% 1,527,949
Army 492,878 *491,813 1,065 0.22% 512,919
Navy 418,467 421,955 -3,488 -0.83% 437,621
Marine Corps 173,737 173,094 643 0.37% 175,359
Air Force 390,743 392,279 -1,536 -0.39% 402,050
*Total DoD previously reported as 1,478,926; Army was 491,598.
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.