Chapter 3

ACTIVE COMPONENT ENLISTED FORCE

At the end of Fiscal Year 1998, enlisted force end-strength was 1.17 million, down from 1.20 million in FY 1997.  Enlisted end-strength has dropped each year since FY 1987, when the Active Component counted 1.85 million enlisted members, which was more than in any year since FY 1974.  Figure 3.1 displays trend lines by Service for the active duty enlisted force size since FY 1973, and Appendix Table D-15 provides end-strength data by year and by Service for FYs 1964 and 1973 through 1998. 

Figure 3.1. Active Component enlisted force end-strength, by Service, FYs 1973–1998.

Characteristics of Active Component Enlisted Force

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