In 2005, more than 2.6 million people served in the Armed Forces. More than 1.4 million were on active duty in the Armed Forces, about 487,000 in the Army, 350,000 in the Navy, 356,000 in the Air Force, and 185,000 in the Marine Corps. In addition, more than 1.2 million people served in their Reserve components, and the Air and Army National Guard. In addition, 33,000 individuals served in the Coast Guard, which is now part of the U. S. Department of Homeland Security.

Table 1 shows the occupational composition of the 1.2 million active-duty enlisted personnel in February 2005; table 2 presents similar information for the 216,000 active-duty officers. Military personnel are stationed throughout the United States and in many countries around the world. About half of all military jobs in the U. S. are located in California, Texas, North Carolina, Virginia, Florida, and Georgia. Approximately 169,000 service members were deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom either in or around Iraq in June 2005. An additional 278,000 individuals were stationed outside the United States, including 21,000 assigned to ships at sea. About 106,000 were stationed in Europe, mainly in Germany, and another 81,000 were assigned to East Asia and the Pacific area, mostly in Japan and the Republic of Korea.

Table 1. Military enlisted personnel by broad occupational category and branch of military service, February 2005 occupational Group - EnlistedArmyAir ForceCoast GuardMarine CorpsNavyTotal, all servicesAdministrative occupations 14,01625,0082,2419,61225,92376,800 combat specialty occupations 113,68939885152,2566,264173,458 construction occupations 15,5446,407 5,1475,08532,183 electronic and electrical repair occupations 39,60140,0833,04515,58658,992157,307 engineering, science, and technical occupations 35,48250,73298623,65641,951152,807 health care occupations 27,03117,924682 26,61472,251 human resource development occupations 15,90812,468 6,8034,82240,001 machine operator and precision work occupations 4,1037,4091,5482,43912,27427,773 media and public affairs occupations 4,8676,4531212,2585,04718,746 protective service occupations 23,27031,7162,6955,73312,21575,629 support services occupations 13,4381,6671,1462,26410,69929,214 transportation and material handling occupations 53,34934,58810,54922,82542,860164,171 vehicle machinery mechanic occupations 48,57750,5325,53818,07650,020172,743       Total, by service 408,875285,38529,402166,655302,7661,193,083       SOURCE: U. S. Department of Defense, Defense Manpower Data Center

Table 2. Military officer personnel by broad occupational category and branch of service, February 2005 occupational Group - OfficerArmyAir ForceCoast GuardMarine CorpsNavyTotal, all servicesCombat specialty occupations 18,8356,007 4,6625,46334,967 engineering, science, and technical occupations 19,13717,5031,5763,5769,77851,087 executive, administrative, and managerial occupations 11,26210,3952822,5827,45031,971 health care occupations 9,7929,41343 6,98326,231 human resource development occupations 2,1282,4182132993,2588,316 media and public affairs occupations 22450020442821,070 protective service occupations 2,2371,4101043098904,950 support services occupations 1,525830 381,0033,396 transportation occupations 13,21619,7292,2507,08211,97554,252       Total, by service 78,35668,2054,00518,59247,082216,240       SOURCE: U. S. Department of Defense, Defense Manpower Data Center

The earnings structure for military personnel is shown in table 4. Most enlisted personnel started as recruits at Grade E-1 in 2004; however, those with special skills or above-average education started as high as Grade E-4. Most warrant officers had started at Grade W-1 or W-2, depending upon their occupational and academic qualifications and the branch of service of which they were a member, but warrant officer typically is not an entry-level occupation and, consequently, most of these individuals had previous military service. Most commissioned officers started at Grade O-1; some with advanced education started at Grade O-2, and some highly trained officers, for example, physicians and dentists, started as high as Grade O-3. Pay varies by total years of service as well as rank. Because it usually takes many years to reach the higher ranks, most personnel in higher ranks receive the higher pay rates awarded to those with many years of service.

In addition to receiving their basic pay, military personnel are provided with free room and board (or a tax-free housing and subsistence allowance), free medical and dental care, a military clothing allowance, military supermarket and department store shopping privileges, 30 days of paid vacation a year (referred to as leave), and travel opportunities. In many duty stations, military personnel may receive a housing allowance that can be used for off-base housing. This allowance can be substantial, but varies greatly by rank and duty station. For example, in fiscal year 2005, the average housing allowance for an E-4 with dependents was $958 per month; for a comparable individual without dependents, it was $752. The allowance for an O-4 with dependents was $1,645 per month; for a comparable individual without dependents, it was $1,428.

Other allowances are paid for foreign duty, hazardous duty, submarine and flight duty, and employment as a medical officer. Athletic and other facilities such as gymnasiums, tennis courts, golf courses, bowling centers, libraries, and movie theaters, are available on many military installations. Military personnel are eligible for retirement benefits after 20 years of service. The Veterans Administration (VA) provides numerous benefits to those who have served at least 24 months of continuous active duty in the Armed Forces. Veterans are eligible for free care in VA hospitals for all service-related disabilities, regardless of time served; those with other medical problems are eligible for free VA care if they are unable to pay the cost of hospitalization elsewhere. Admission to a VA medical center depends on the availability of beds, however. Veterans also are eligible for certain loans, including loans to purchase a home. Veterans, regardless of health, can convert a military life insurance policy to an individual policy with any participating company upon separation from the military.

In addition, job counseling, testing, and placement services are available. Veterans who participate in the Montgomery GI Bill Program receive education benefits. Under this program, Armed Forces personnel may elect to deduct up to $100 a month from their pay during the first 12 months of active duty, putting the money toward their future education. In fiscal year 2005, veterans who served on active duty for 3 or more years or who spent 2 years in active duty plus 4 years in the Selected Reserve received $1,004 a month in basic benefits for 36 months of full-time institutional training. Those who enlisted and serve less than 3 years received $816 a month for 36 months for the same. In addition, each service provides its own contributions to the enlistee's future education. The sum of the amounts from all these sources becomes the service member's educational fund. Upon separation from active duty, the fund can be used to finance educational costs at any VA-approved institution. Among those institutions which are approved by the VA are many vocational, correspondence, certification, business, technical, and flight-training schools; community and junior colleges; and colleges and universities.

Table 4. Military basic monthly pay by grade for active duty personnel, January, 2005 GradeYears of serviceLess than 2 Over 4 Over 8 Over 12 Over 16 Over 20       O-10 $12,963.00 O-9 11,337.90 O-8$8,022.30$8,508.30$9,089.40$9,519.00$9,915.3010,742.40 O-76,666.006,233.007,642.508,113.509,089.409,714.60 O-64,940.705,784.006,054.906,087.907,045.507,763.40 O-54,118.705,021.405,341.805,799.006,431.106,793.20 O-43,553.804,449.604,977.605,582.705,872.205,933.70 O-33,124.504,168.204,586.704,962.005,083.205,083.20 O-22,699.403,660.903,736.203,736.203,736.203,736.20 O-12,343.602,948.102,948.102,948.102,948.102,948.10       W-5 5,548.20 W-43,228.603,671.404,007.104,341.004,779.005,117.40 W-32,948.403,238.803,522.303,918.904,285.504,509.30 W-22,593.502,965.503,268.203,564.003,771.303,977.40 W-12,290.202,684.403,030.903,275.403,438.303,659.70       E-9 3,989.704,232.404,575.90 E-8 3,193.503,442.103,640.503,949.20 E-72,220.002,638.802,899.503,084.603,332.403,458.70 E-61,920.302,296.502,604.302,779.202,888.702,908.20 E-51,759.502,060.702,329.802,450.702,450.702,450.70 E-41,612.801,877.701,957.801,957.801,957.801,957.80 E-31,456.201,641.001,641.001,641.001,641.001,641.00 E-21,384.501,384.501,384.501,384.501,384.501,384.50 E-1 4 Mos+1,235.101,235.101,235.101,235.101,235.101,235.10 E-1 <4 Mos 1,142.70        SOURCE: U. S. Department of Defense, Defense Finance and Accounting Service