This State Is the Beating Heart of the US Military

"Headquartered at the Pentagon, the Department of Defense employs nearly 2.6 million people and has an annual budget of more than $870 billion, making it the largest, and one of the best funded agencies in the federal government. Thousands of DOD employees, including both civilians and active-duty service members, are stationed in each of the 50 states, as well as Washington, D.C."

"According to Defense Spending by State, a recent report from the DOD, approximately 247,200 national defense personnel were stationed in Virginia in fiscal 2023 - the second most among the 50 states. The largest share of department employees in the state - 49.3% - are active-duty troops. An additional 40.6% are civilian employees, 6.7% are reservists, and 3.4% are members of the National Guard."

"The largest DOD service branches in the state by total employment, including civilians and reservists, are the Navy and Marine Corps with a combined total of about 142,600 employees, followed by the Army with a total of 52,600 personnel. The Air Force and Space Force also collectively have about 23,600 in the state on payroll, and another 29,400 Virginians work in other areas of national defense."

The Department of Defense employs nearly 2.6 million people and operates with an annual budget exceeding $870 billion. DOD personnel are stationed in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., but Virginia accounts for about 247,200 national defense personnel in fiscal 2023, the second highest among states. Nearly half of those in Virginia are active-duty troops, with significant shares of civilian employees, reservists, and National Guard members. The Navy and Marine Corps represent the largest combined workforce in Virginia, followed by the Army, with the Air Force, Space Force, and other defense roles making up the remainder.

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