# Ratio of Combat Troops To Support troops? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 25, 2003, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ratio-of-combat-troops-to-support-troops/164111 "2003-03-25T20:36:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ratio-of-combat-troops-to-support-troops/164111/1 "2003-03-25T20:36:06Z")
Years ago, I read that in the American Civil War, there were almost 10 front-line combat troops for every support person in the rear. In WWI, this ratio had changed-there were now about 3 support troops for every 10 front-line soldiers. In WWII, there were more than 3 support/10 front-line. By the time of Vietnam, there were nearly 5 rear area support personnel for every 10 soldiers. My question: the current Gulf War-the US has sent around 300,000 men/women, the UK about 50,000. What are the ratios today? I assume that there have to be a lot of support people in a modern army-after all you have doctors and nurses, food service, burial details etc. Anybody know how many actual frontline soldiers are in this? ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ratio-of-combat-troops-to-support-troops/164111/2 "2003-03-25T21:48:05Z")
I heard just the opposite on CBS radio this morning (KNX 1070 in LA)- that by Viet Nam, there were 10 support troops for every 1 combat soldier. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2003, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ratio-of-combat-troops-to-support-troops/164111/3 "2003-03-26T00:00:50Z")
I don’t have a cite, but I believe I read a news story recently that said the current Gulf War had 100,000 front line troops. Thus a ratio of 3 support troops for every 1 front line soldier. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2003, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ratio-of-combat-troops-to-support-troops/164111/4 "2003-03-26T00:08:23Z")
Sorry… seems like I can’t add. Depending on if the UK troops were counted, the ratio should have been 2 to 2.5 support troops for each front line soldier. ---
**Author:** ![Xgemina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/b5e925/32.png) [@Xgemina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xgemina)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2003, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ratio-of-combat-troops-to-support-troops/164111/5 "2003-03-26T01:27:11Z")
I can’t remember my source, but IIRC, the ratio of support to combat troops is about 20:1. There are a great deal more support troops than trigger pullers. The combat arms are: Infantry, Armor, Artillery, and Air Defense. Support troops include, but are not limited to: maintenance, medical, supply, admin, military police, intelligence, training, cooks, etc. ---
**Author:** ![mcbiggins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7c8e57/32.png) [@mcbiggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcbiggins)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2003, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ratio-of-combat-troops-to-support-troops/164111/6 "2003-03-26T01:39:27Z")
Some numbers that seem to stand out from university came from a prof. who was convinced that Germany lost WWII because of a lack of support troops. He said the Americans had 7 support troops for every combat soldier, while the Nazi ratio was 1:1. ---
**Author:** ![Fernmeldetruppe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@Fernmeldetruppe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fernmeldetruppe)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2003, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ratio-of-combat-troops-to-support-troops/164111/7 "2003-03-26T02:17:42Z")
I believe the fourth combat arms branch is Combat Aviation not Air Defense Artillery. ---
**Author:** ![Xgemina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/b5e925/32.png) [@Xgemina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xgemina)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2003, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ratio-of-combat-troops-to-support-troops/164111/8 "2003-03-26T03:13:35Z")
Opps, I missed a couple of combat arms branches. According to PERSCOM (US Army Personnel comand) there are seven combat arms branches: Air Defense Artillery, Armor/Cavalry, Aviation, Field Artillery, Infantry, Engineers and Special Forces.