Here is a list of the 31 presidents who served in the U.S. military. It would be easy to assume that an American President must have some background in military service–the President is the Commander-In-Chief, after all. But the reality is that military service is NOT a prerequisite to hold the highest office in America. That said, a significant number of U.S. Presidents did serve in some capacity.
How many American Presidents served in the United States military? The U.S. Constitution specifies civilian control of the armed forces, and no sitting general may also hold the office of President. But a former military member can, and many did. The actual number of sitting presidents who have served may surprise you – of the 46 Presidents, a whopping 31 also had military service.
That means that 15 did not serve. Which presidents did NOT serve? Most notably, Presidents Joe Biden, Donald J. Trump, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Roosevelt’s entry is notable as he served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy during World War One. He tried to resign in order to enter uniformed service but his resignation was not accepted and he did not join.
The last president to serve in the military was George W. Bush who served in the Texas Air National Guard. The last president to see combat was George H. W. Bush.
Thirty-One Presidents With Military Backgrounds
Many of the U.S. presidents who served prior to World War Two served in the Army, but since WW2 many have served in the Navy. President George W. Bush served stateside duty in the Texas Air National Guard during Vietnam, Ronald Reagan served in both the Army Reserve and U.S. Army Air Forces.
At the time of this writing, no member of the U.S. Marine Corps or the United States Coast Guard has ever held the office of President. At least five Presidents served in state militias including Chester Arthur, Abraham Lincoln, and James Buchanan (in no particular order).
Among the youngest of those who served at time of entry, President William Henry Harrison started a military career at 18 years of age. A dozen of the Presidents who served were Generals including George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, and Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Eight presidents served during World War II, while seven served in the military during the American Civil War.
The Most Recent President To Experience Combat
The last U.S. President to see combat at the time of this writing was President George H.W. Bush, who earned the Distinguished Service Flying Cross as a member of the Navy Reserve. President Ronald Reagan served during World War Two, but his service was stateside-based.
President Jimmy Carter served aboard submarines and battleships as a Navy Lieutenant and Richard Nixon earned two Service Stars for his work as a Reserve Commander in the U.S. Navy.
President Lyndon Johnson was awarded the Silver Star for his work as an aerial combat observer when his aircraft was attacked over New Guinea. President John F. Kennedy not only served as a Lieutenant during World War Two, but was also awarded the Purple Heart for his efforts.
In terms of military service, it doesn’t get any more “up there” than the record of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, who before he became President served as a General during World War One, and as the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe during World War II.
The three presidents to hold the highest military ranks were: George Washington, Dwight D. Eisenhower and Ulysses S. Grant, respectively.
James Buchanan, the 15th president, held the lowest rank among Veteran U.S. presidents. He was a private (E-1) in the Army, and the only president who enlisted without becoming a commissioned officer.
Presidents Who Served: 1700-1800
1. George Washington 1775-1783
General and Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Continental Army
2. Thomas Jefferson 1770-1779
Colonel, Virginia Militia
3. James Madison 1775-1781
Colonel, Virginia Militia
4. James Monroe 1775-1778
Major, Continental Army
Presidents Who Served: 1800-1900
5. Andrew Jackson 1814-1821
Major General, U.S. Army
6. William Henry Harrison 1812-1814
Major General, Kentucky Militia
7. John Tyler 1812
Captain, Virginia Militia
8. James K. Polk 1821
Colonel, Tennessee Militia
9. Zachary Taylor 1805-1815, 1816-1849
Major General, U.S. Army
10. Millard Fillmore 1861
Major, Union Continentals
11. Franklin Pierce 1846-1848
Brigadier General, New Hampshire Militia
12. James Buchanan 1814
Private, Pennsylvania Militia
13. Abraham Lincoln 1832
Captain, Illinois Militia
14. Andrew Johnson 1862-1865
Brigadier General, U.S. Army
15. Ulysses S. Grant 1866-1869
General, U.S. Army
16. Rutherford B. Hayes 1861-1865
Major General, U.S. Army
17. James A. Garfield 1861-1863
Major General, U.S. Army
18. Chester A. Arthur 1858-1863
Brigadier General, New York Militia
19. Benjamin Harrison 1862-1865
Brevet Brigadier General, U.S. Army
20. William McKinley 1861-1865
Brevet Major, U.S. Army
21. Theodore Roosevelt 1898
Colonel, U.S. Army
Presidents Who Served: 1900-2021
22. Harry S. Truman 1919-1945
Colonel, Army Officer Reserve Corps
23. Dwight D. Eisenhower 1915-1948, 1951-1952
General of the Army, U.S. Army
24. John F. Kennedy 1941-1945
Lieutenant, U.S. Naval Reserve
25. Lyndon B. Johnson 1940-1964
Commander, U.S. Naval Reserve
26. Richard M. Nixon 1942-1966
Commander, U.S. Naval Reserve
27. Gerald R. Ford, Jr. 1942-1946
Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Naval Reserve
28. Jimmy Carter 1946-1953
Lieutenant, U.S. Navy
29. Ronald Reagan 1942-1945
Captain, U.S. Army
30. George H.W. Bush 1942-1945
Lieutenant JG, U.S. Navy
31. George W. Bush 1968-1973
First Lieutenant, Texas Air National Guard
Presidents That Did Not Serve In The Military
1. John Adams
2. John Quincy Adams
3. Martin Van Buren
4/5. Grover Cleveland (served two non-consecutive terms)
6. William Howard Taft
7. Woodrow Wilson
8. Warren G. Harding
9. Calvin Coolidge
10. Herbert Hoover
11. Franklin D. Roosevelt
12. Bill Clinton
13. Barrack Obama
14. Donald Trump
15. Joe Biden
Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter for Air Force Television News
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