New Pentagon data highlights rising Latino and female representation amid renewed debate over readiness and leadership
The U.S. Army’s racial composition shows significant diversity, with recent data (around 2022-2023) indicating White (non-Hispanic) as the largest group, followed by Black, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander, reflecting a broader trend of increasing minority representation, although underrepresentation in senior leadership persists for some groups. For example, a late 2022 snapshot showed about 53.7% White, 20.2% Black, 17.5% Hispanic, and 6.9% Asian/Pacific Islander in the active component.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told senior military leaders Tuesday that the era of a “politically correct” armed forces is over, calling for a return to standards from the 1990s.
Speaking at Quantico, Virginia, in an unusual gathering of the military’s top leaders, Hegseth suggested changes in the makeup and priorities of the armed forces have caused them to weaken over time.
“What were the military standards in 1990? And if they have changed… Tell me why? Was it a necessary change based on the evolving landscape of combat, or was the change due to a softening, weakening or gender-based pursuit of other priorities?” I have asked.
The Hearst Television National Investigative Unit and Get the Facts Data Team reviewed and analyzed data from several government sources to assess how the makeup of the active duty enlisted military has changed over the decades.
A changing military
According to data from the Defense Manpower Data Center and Military One Source, the active-duty force has declined by approximately 40% since 1980, shrinking from nearly 1.76 million enlisted personnel to 1.04 million in 2023.
Data of enlisted personnel does not include military officers.
Women in combat roles
While men continue to account for the vast majority of enlisted military, the gender makeup has shifted.
In 1980, women represented fewer than 10% of active duty troops. In 2023, the latest year for which data is available, women represent about 17% of active enlisted members.
