Armed Forces Day—195 6
"tach year c.i the third Saturday in May, the Armed forces of the United
States, including the Reserve component# and auxiliary Services, make a
special effort to increase public understanding of our national defense
program which is, and has been from the beginning of our Republic,
dedicated to achieving and maintaining peace.
"la the present world situation, it is most important that our own people,
end others throughout the world who believe as we do, should be cognizant
of all aspects of our national strength —the spiritual and the moral, as
well as the material and the military —and be reminded of our con
tinuing efforts for peace.
"l ho purpose of Armed Forces Day is to increase public understanding of,
and to emphasise, our peaceful aspirations. I hope that all Americans, as
wall as many of our friends in other lands, will accept the invitation to
visit our Armed Forces at this time."
I '
~ WIGHT D. EISENHOWER, President of the United States
. C4MHHia«i4«f im CIm«# ~ ’
“IF
Armed Services Trim Weight
In Programmed Manpower Drop
Washington (AFRS)—The num
erical strength of the Armed
Forces continued to decline during
the past year as the services got
down to fighting strength by re
moving excess poundage.
Three of the services, the Army,
Air Force and Marine Corps, were
programmed for a manpower drop
during the year while the Navy
was given a slight increase in
strength.
A year ago the U.S. had 2,968,810
men under arms. By June 30, 1956,
the end of the current fiscal year,
there will be 2,814,074 men and
women on active duty.
Present Defense Department
planning calls for the strength of
the services to climb upwards
once again during the coming fis
!■ ill Bid i iti—mi—m—rmwmwfui
cal year. By June 30, 1957, it is
anticipated that there will be
2,839,458 personnel in uniform, un
less there is a critical change in
the world situation.
Here’s the way the services will
look by next June 30th.
Army—Authorized 1,034,300 men
men with 19 divisions (three in
the Far East and five in Europe),
10 regimental combat teams, 137
AAA battalions and six army train
ing centers. By June 30, 1957, it is
planned to have an Army strength
of 1,034,500.
Navy—Authorized 662,774 men
with 994 ships (403 warships)
and 12,548 aircraft. Plans call for
the Navy to have 663,233 men in
uniform by the end of the 1957 fis
cal year.
Air Force—Authorized 916,000
men, 131 wings and 26,429 active
aircraft. Nearly 90 percent of all
planes, except transports, are jet
equipped. By June 30, 1957, the
AF is expected to have 936,000
men, 137 wings and 26,736 air
craft.
Marine Corps—Authorized 201,
000 men with three divisions (one
in the Pacific area) and three air
wings (one in Japan). By the end
of fiscal 1957, the Department of
Defense proposes to increase Mar
ine Corps strength to 205,735 men.
Coast Guard—Under the juris
diction of the Secretary of Treas
ury, this service has a force of
28,500 men and 342 vessels (33
cutters.
"On Armed Foi
marines everywh
ciples which mat
and our way of
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In the 12 m
Armed Forces D
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