# What is the current status of the US Armed Forces? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 28, 2003, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-current-status-of-the-us-armed-forces/198264 "2003-08-28T20:15:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-current-status-of-the-us-armed-forces/198264/1 "2003-08-28T20:15:43Z")
With regards to manpower? I know the US has a very large Armed Forces at its disposal, but is it starting to get spread a little, shall we say, “too thin?” How many troops (roughly, of course) does the Army, AF, Marines, Navy have in total, and how many of those are currentyly deployed? Seems to me the US has a lot of people scattered throughout the world right now. There is a large qty in Iraq, I assume lots still in Afghanistan, South Korea, Japan, Europe, etc. Is the draft a possibility? ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-current-status-of-the-us-armed-forces/198264/2 "2003-08-28T20:29:05Z")
[http://www.dior.whs.mil/mmid/military/ms1.pdf](http://www.dior.whs.mil/mmid/military/ms1.pdf) [http://www.dior.whs.mil/mmid/M05/hst1202.pdf](http://www.dior.whs.mil/mmid/M05/hst1202.pdf) (PDF ALERT) I’d say there’s no chance for a draft anytime soon. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-current-status-of-the-us-armed-forces/198264/3 "2003-08-28T20:36:24Z")
If you’re not crazy about .pdf, here’s the basics: As of 6/30/02 USA 485,536 USN 384,576 USAF 369,721 USMC 173,385 USCG 37,166 Total 1,450,384 The first .pdf gives a run down on officers, enlisted and cadets per service. The second gives deployment info. ---
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-current-status-of-the-us-armed-forces/198264/4 "2003-08-28T20:37:13Z")
Thanks very much for that response, it had some good hard numbers - it was pretty much exactly what I was looking for! The link showing deployed is a little dated though, especially in light of recent events. I love to see that but more current, say June/July… I suspect thats asking for a little too much though! ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-current-status-of-the-us-armed-forces/198264/5 "2003-08-28T20:45:22Z")
The info is from [here](http://www.dior.whs.mil/mmid/military/miltop.htm). It appears that the deployed data has not been updated since 12/30. Perhaps if you check back every now and again, it’ll be updated soon. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-current-status-of-the-us-armed-forces/198264/6 "2003-08-28T20:56:56Z")
[This map](http://www.cnn.com/interactive/maps/world/fullpage.troop.deployments/world.index.html) from [CNN.com](http://CNN.com) should help. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-current-status-of-the-us-armed-forces/198264/7 "2003-08-28T21:08:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bernse \* > \*\*With regards to manpower? \*\* Actually, a good share of the armed forces are _womanpower_, nowadays. ---
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-current-status-of-the-us-armed-forces/198264/8 "2003-08-28T21:20:25Z")
I am quite aware of that. While it might sound sexist, _manpower_ is still an often used generic term for working people in general. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-current-status-of-the-us-armed-forces/198264/9 "2003-08-28T22:49:40Z")
As of August 28, 2003 and from [the Navy’s website on the subject:](http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/news/.www/status.html) > [@](#): > > Active Duty: 384,242 > Officers: 55,660 > Enlisted: 324,245 > Midshipmen: 4,337 Ready Reserve: 151,701 [As of 31 July] > Selected Reserves: 87,604 > Individual Ready Reserve: 64,097 > > Personnel on deployment: 38,046 > Navy Department Civilian Employees: 185,227 [as of 30 June] > Ships and Submarines > Deployable Battle Force Ships: 298 > Ships Underway (away from homeport): > > 119 (40% of total) > On deployment: > > 100 ships (34% of total) Submarines underway (away from homeport): > > 21 submarines (40% of submarine force) > On deployment: > > 12 submarines (23% of submarine force) > Ships Underway > Carriers: > USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - Atlantic Ocean > USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - Arabian Sea > USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - port visit, Pusan, Korea > USS George Washington (CVN 73) - Atlantic Ocean > > * * * > > Command Ships: > USS LaSalle (AGF 3) - port visit, Valletta, Malta > USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) - Sea of Japan > Amphibious Ships: > Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) > USS Peleliu (LHA 5) [13 MEU] - Pacific Ocean > USS Ogden (LPD 5) - Pacific Ocean > USS Germantown (LSD 42) - Pacific Ocean > > * * * > > Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) > USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) [26 MEU] - Atlantic Ocean > USS Nashville (LPD 13) - Atlantic Ocean > USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) - Atlantic Ocean > > * * * > > USS Denver (LPD 9) - Pacific Ocean > USS Juneau (LPD 10) - Philippine Sea > USS Trenton (LPD 14) - Atlantic Ocean > USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) - Atlantic Ocean > USS Ashland (LSD 48) - Atlantic Ocean > USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) - Atlantic Ocean > > Aircraft (operational): 4,000+