More Captains than Master Chiefs

Projected Navy Active End Strength 2009

May 7th, 2008

Every year I look at the numbers below and the one thing that aways strikes me odd is the difference in the number of Master Chiefs and Captains. I guess really no surprise it takes less Master Chiefs to get the job done!

Master Chiefs (E-9s of all services) are capped at 1% of the total enlisted force per United States Code Title 10 Section 517(a). Section 517 also states that the total E-8/9 cannot exceed 3.5%, reviewing the numbers below - Master Chief billets will only be .95% and Senior Chief will be 2.45% - In a nut shell the budget projections are a reflection of future enlisted end strength cuts or a good way to ensure the Navy never breaks the law by breaking the caps. E-8/9 are the only individual military enlisted ranks that are capped by law.

Reading the United States Code can be boring to say the least but you can find some interesting tidbits of information reading the laws that govern the United States Military - Title 10

The Navy military personnel (MPN) budget estimates for 2009 report a projected active duty accession mission of 42,000 which is up from the 2008 goal of 39,000.