Hey, quick question. I was having a debate with some friends and we were wondering which of the US military branches is the largest? Anyone got some stats on this?
Hello! The Department of Defense releases data on the number of personnel in each branch of the military. As of the latest data, here's a general breakdown:
1. The United States Army is currently the largest branch, if you're counting both active-duty members and reserves. As of fiscal year 2021, it had just over 1 million personnel: around 480,000 active-duty members, 189,000 Army National Guard personnel, and 336,000 Army Reserve personnel.
2. The Air Force, including both active-duty and Air National Guard, came in second, with a total of about 690,000 personnel.
3. The Navy, not including the Marines, had about 439,000 personnel, which includes both active-duty members and reserves.
4. The Marine Corps, which operates under the Department of the Navy, had about 222,000 personnel.
5. The newest branch, the Space Force, is the smallest, with around 6,400 assigned personnel.
Therefore, if you are only considering active duty members, The Army is still the largest, followed by the Navy, then Air Force, Marines, and Space Force. Remember, these numbers fluctuate annually based on enlistments, discharges, and the needs of the service branches.
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