Who They Are

--AGE 17 to 19 -- 20 to 24 -- 25 to 29 -- 30 to 34 -- 35 to 39 -- 40 to 44 -- 45 to 49 -- 50 and over --

Enlisted Officers

[FAMILY]

The AIR FORCE has the highest percentage of married members. On average, Air Force members are the oldest when their first child is born: 27

--MARITAL STATUS Married 59.9% Unmarried 40.1% Percentage married to other service members: 16.1% Women married to other service members: 24.9% Men married to other service members: 5.9%

--CHILDREN Have children 47.7% Have no children 52.3% Both parents in the military: 12,500 Single parent: 17,500

[RESERVES]

--The Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard have the highest average ages in the military. More than one-third are older than 40

--The air reserves have the fewest minorities. 80% of the Air National Guard is white

--The Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard have the highest marriage rates, 66% and 62%, respectively

--Half of all Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard members have children

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

[PERSONNEL]

The MARINE CORPS has the highest percentage of males in the services and the youngest average age

--SEX Men 93.9% Women 6.1%

--RACE White 67.9% Black 15.0% Hispanic 13.1% Other 4.0%

--RANK Enlisted 89.9% Officers 9.0% Warrant officers 1.1%

--AGE 17 to 19 -- 20 to 24 -- 25 to 29 -- 30 to 34 -- 35 to 39 -- 40 to 44 -- 45 to 49 -- 50 and over --

Enlisted Officers

[FAMILY]

Among the military, MARINES are least likely to be married or have children. Women in the Marines are most likely to be married to another service member

--MARITAL STATUS Married 42.9% Unmarried 57.1% Percentage married to other service members: 8.7% Women married to other service members: 26.3% Men married to other service members: 2.2%

--CHILDREN Have children 31.5% Have no children 68.5% Both parents in the military: 2,200 Single parent: 5,500

--The Marine Corps has the youngest reserve force. Almost two-thirds of its members are younger than 25. About 6% are older than 40

--Less than 5% of Marine reservists are women; about one-third are minorities

--Like active-duty Marines, comparatively few reservists are married, only 30%

--Marine reservists are the least likely to have children. Only 17% are parents, and the average age at which they have children is 26

Figures are for the four principal armed forces and their respective reserves under the Department of Defense. The Coast Guard, formerly part of the Department of Transportation, is now part of the Department of Homeland Security. During wartime, the Coast Guard can be assigned to the U.S. Navy.

Source: Department of Defense