General Confusion
Too many Chiefs, not enough Indians

Here's the amount of Generals and Flag Officers (Admirals) for each of the Services;

(1) For the Army, 302.
(2) For the Navy, 216.
(3) For the Air Force, 279.
(4) For the Marine Corps, 80.
(5) For the Coast Guard, 44. (Helemt tip to JACK)

And that's for only 1.4 million total, both Active and Reserve.

Now with all that said, here's a report more than a few years old, but the numbers haven't changed that much since this was first given to Congress: ARMY. In 1945, the number of Army generals per active Army division was 14. In 1986, at the height of the Cold War, the army had 24 generals per division. Now, as we face no major threat, there are 30 generals per division.

NAVY. At the end of WWII there were 130 Navy ships per admiral. In 1986, at the height of the Cold War, there were 2.2 ships per admiral. Now, as we face no major threat, there is an average of only 1.6 ships per admiral.

MARINES. In 1945 there were 469,925 Marines commanded by 81 generals; by March 1997, 79 generals commanded a mere 173,011 Marines.

AIR FORCE. In 1945 there were 244 aircraft per general in the Air Force. In 1986, at the height of the Cold War, there were 28 aircraft per general. Now, as we face no major threat, there are only 23 aircraft per general.

Also, in 1945 there was one officer - ranging from lieutenants and ensigns through generals and admirals - for every 11 enlisted personnel. Now there is one for less than every six enlisted people.Two maxims I lived by before I retired from The Corps;

- That Lieutenant looks so young, I didn't know if I should salute him, or burp him.

- When all else fails, ask a Lance Corporal.