Service Manpower Drawdowns After Korean and Vietnam Wars

Service Year Manpower Total Timespan
ARMY 1952 1,596,419  
  1961 858,622 = 46.2% (9 Years)
ARMY 1968 1,570,343  
  1979 758,852 = 51.7% (11 Years)
NAVY 1952 824,265  
  1960 616,987 = 25.1% (8 Years)
NAVY 1968 763,626  
  1979 523,335 = 31.5% (11 Years)
MARINES 1952 231,967  
  1960 170,621 = 26.4% (8 Years)
MARINES 1968 307,252  
  1979 185,250 = 39.7% (11 Years)
AIR FORCE 1952 983,261  
  1960 814,752 = 17.1% (8 Years)
AIR FORCE 1968 904,850  
  1980 557,969 = 38.3% (12 Years)

The manpower figures for 1952-80, taken from the Department of Defense Selected Manpower Statistics, Fiscal Year 1992, represent assigned strength. The years 1952 and 1968 were used as the base because these were the Army's peak strength years. The other years represent that period when the services reached their lowest strength level.


page updated 29 May 2001


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