By the Numbers - Mar. 20, 2017

By the Numbers - Mar. 20, 2017

4,073,124

The number of "unique individuals (who) served at least 1 day in the active component" from from October 1, 2001 through October 1, 2016, according to an article in the January 2017 issue of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch's Medical Surveillance Monthly Report -- Selected demographic and service characteristics of the U.S. Armed Forces, active and reserve components, 2001, 2009, and 2016. 

An additional 2,561,073 served at last one day in the reserve component.

The researchers used three specific time points to gather demographic surveillance data -- 1 October 2001 (the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom); 1 October 2016 (15 years later); and 1 April 2009 (the midpoint of the entire time period). Some data points from the report:

  • For these three time points, the total number of men serving in the active component was greatest in 2009 but was 10% lower in 2016.
  • The total number of men serving in the reserve component was 7.5% lower in 2016, compared to 2001.
  • Among women, the numbers serving in the active component were similar in 2001 and 2016, but the number serving in 2009 was slightly lower.
  • The numbers of women serving in the reserve component were successively higher at each of the three time points, with a net increase of 9.9 percent from 2001 to 2016.

The report also provides data on age, ethnicity, rank/grade, service branch, and percentages cared for in a military treatment facility or outsourced TRICARE facility.

percentage of service members ever deployed