[ctdonath2]

I recall a reference to there being just 30,000 “trigger pullers” in the US military. Can anyone insightfully elaborate on that, and how the latest cuts are impacting it? Weapons systems & infrastructure are of course vital, but it all comes to “boots on the ground” ... and I doubt how many trigger-ready “boots” we’ve got to put on the ground.

[Feckless]

I read a study once that placed the number of support troops required to put one grunt on the front lines at 30.

The study was about WWII.

[huldah1776]

As a former Marine Mom, you can have a unit of say 1000 men, but there are 3000 men behind them doing all kinds of stuff. Luv them all. Best bet would be to search for articles on number of infantry, mechanized, and air force. Don’t ever forget our beloved special ops. :)