Being a bit of an armchair military history buff, I couldn’t help but notice that every time I watch TV, there’s a new and different general or admiral being interviewed.
So, I decided to put on my research hat and dig into this a bit.
With it being widely accepted that the number of Americans in uniform during WWII was right around 16 million, for a nation of 150 million, it’s a fair bet that just about every American family had at least one loved one in the fight. Some, even more.
Roughly 10.67 percent America was in uniform during WWII.
It turns out that during the entire course of the war, everyone from the rank of Brigadier General/Rear Admiral (eventually changed to Commadore for the duration), all the way to General of the Army/Fleet Admiral, the total was 942, to include all federalized reservists and National Guardsmen.
US Army Generals during WWII – 505*
US Army Air Forces Generals during WWII – 76**
US Navy Flag officers during WWII – 228
US Marine Corps General officers during WWII – 90
US Coast Guard Flag officers during WWII – 43***
*All National Guard divisions were federalized for the duration.
**Still part of the US Army.
***During time of declared war, part of the US Navy.
Please keep in mind, during the entire course of the war, less than 1,000 men wore stars in a military numbering 16 million.
Now we come to present day. I can’t think of a nice way to put it, so I’ll just give you the hard numbers, then the breakdowns;
In a nation of approximately 330 million citizens, there are a mere two million (2,074,026) on active duty, reserves or National Guard. That’s just 0.61 percent of the Land of the Free.
For whatever strange reason, the US Army failed to submit their manpower numbers to the Defense Manpower Data Center until October of 2022. All the numbers below are as of 10/31/22;
ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY STRENGTH – 1,310,603
RESERVIST AND NATIONAL GUARD STRENGTH – 763,432
Now the really depressing news.
For the National Guard and all branches’ of reservists, there are 709 people wearing stars. For all active-duty, there are 850. Total number of General and Flag grade officers: 1,559. Total force of slightly over 2 million.
During the entirety of WWII, we had 16 million troops, less than one thousand wore the stars of the many different General/Flag grade ranks.
Present day, one-and-a-half thousand sporting stars in a military of just two-million.
I understand that technology have changed things… but we have a military 87.5 percent smaller than in WWII, but well over a 50 percent increase in generals and admirals?
I do remember being told once early on my Marine corps career (’77-’97) by a grizzled veteran, “In Vietnam, we had Corporals calling in air and artillery strikes. Now it has to be cleared by at least a fucking Lt. Col.”
Pretty sure that Old Salt has long since passed away. I’d hate to tell him that things have only gotten worse.