How Many People Are In The U.S. Military On Active Duty? 2025

How many people are in the U.S. military? Learn about active duty and reserve numbers and the potential long-term health risks they face.

August 28, 2024 Read in 3 mins

Summary

The U.S. military has roughly 1.3 million active-duty members
Its branches also maintain a reserve force of about 738,000
Both active duty and reserve troops face long-term health problems

Total Armed Services Personnel

The U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard collectively maintain a combined strength of approximately 1.3 million active duty service members and 738,000 reserve and national guard members as of June 30, 2024. The U.S. military also employs about 754,000 civilians, giving it a total force of about 2.8 million.

Detailed Branch Analysis: U.S. Military Personnel Numbers

Number of Personnel in U.S. Military by Branch in 2024

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The data is based on June 30, 2024.
Sources: DMDC

Data Share

According to the military’s breakdown by branch, the U.S. Navy has 329,000 sailors and officers. Meanwhile, the Marine Corps counts 168,000 marines. The Air Force maintains a personnel count of 317,000. Lastly, the newest branch, the Space Force, has 9,370 members.

How Many Soldiers Does the U.S. Have?

The U.S. Army currently includes 443,000 service members. Understanding this number is crucial for assessing the Army's readiness to handle challenges both at home and abroad.

The U.S. Coast Guard

The Coast Guard, part of the Department of Homeland Security during peacetime, can be transferred to operate under the Department of Defense in times of war. This allows it to align more directly with the Navy to carry out defense operations and secure the nation's waters. It currently has 40,400 active members.

Analyzing Changes in U.S. Military Size

The U.S. military has seen major drawdowns since the 1980s, likely due to adaptations in force size and capabilities to align with new strategies and technology. However, the Coast Guard and Space Force have both recorded small increases in personnel. These increases reflect the Coast Guard's vital role in maritime safety and rescue operations, and the Space Force's increasing involvement in space defense and technology initiatives.

Long-Term Health Issues for Members of the Armed Forces

The U.S. government, through its Veterans Administration (VA), is responsible for injuries and disabilities suffered by military members during their service. Many of these issues are expected based on how many people are in the U.S. military who suffer combat-related injuries.

However, since the Vietnam War, the VA has also slowly become more aware of the risks posed by toxic chemicals. During that war, service members were exposed to Agent Orange, a defoliant that causes health problems in people exposed to it.

As a result, the VA conducts a toxic exposure screening of retiring service members for exposures to dangerous substances, including:

Radiation
Burn pits
Contaminated water at Camp Lejeune
Asbestos

Service members who develop health problems due to these exposures can seek VA benefits. These substances have also been at the forefront of many product liability lawsuits, including class actions, against manufacturers. Through these legal actions, injured service members can recover damage awards and settlements.

Contact ConsumerShield to Learn More About Military Health Issues

Given how many people are in the U.S. military, both active and retired, millions could face long-term health issues. ConsumerShield helps everyone facing these problems learn about their legal rights and connect with a lawyer who can help. Contact us for a free case evaluation.