Serving in the military isn't a prerequisite for becoming president. Nonetheless, out of the 45 presidents of the United States, 29 had some military experience in their background, according to the US Department of Veterans Affairs. This seems fitting, given that the president is the commander-in-chief of America's military.
Military service has also come up as a political issue over time. The military service of George W. Bush and John Kerry received heavy scrutiny during the 2004 presidential campaign.
And while observers have pointed out that U.S. President Donald Trump has a fondness for military trappings and parades — even sparking anger by referring to his staff as "my generals," Business Insider's Mark Abadi reported — the medical deferment that kept him out of the Vietnam War is a source of controversy.
Related: Vetearns Day Free Meals and Restaurant Discounts
These are the presidents who served in the armed forces in some capacity, from the modern day to the American Revolution:
1. George W. Bush
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Service: Texas Air National Guard
Rank: First lieutenant
Conflict: Stateside during the Vietnam War
2. George H.W. Bush
Image: U.S. Navy
Service: United States Naval Reserve
Rank: Lieutenant (junior grade)
Conflict: World War II
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross
3. Ronald Reagan
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Service: United States Army Reserve, United States Army Air Corps
Rank: Captain
Conflict: Stateside during World War II
4. Jimmy Carter
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Service: United States Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Conflict: World War II and Korea
5. Gerald Ford
Service: United States Naval Reserve
Rank: Lieutenant commander
Conflict: World War II
6. Richard Nixon
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Service: United States Naval Reserve
Rank: Commander
Conflict: World War II
Awards: Two Service Stars
7. Lyndon B. Johnson
Service: United States Naval Reserve
Rank: Commander
Conflict: World War II
Awards: Silver Star
8. John F. Kennedy
Service: United States Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Conflict: World War II
Awards: Navy and Marine Corps Medal and a Purple Heart
9. Dwight D. Eisenhower
Service: United States Army
Rank: Army General during World War I, supreme Allied commander in Europe during World War II
Conflict: World War I and World War II
10. Harry S. Truman
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Service: Army Officer Reserve Corps
Rank: Colonel
Conflict: World War I
11. Theodore Roosevelt
Service: United States Army
Rank: Colonel
Conflict: Spanish-American War
Awards: Medal of Honor (Roosevelt is the only U.S. president to have received this award)
12. William McKinley
Service: United States Army
Rank: Brevet major
Conflict: American Civil War
13. Benjamin Harrison
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Service: United States Army
Rank: Brigadier general
Conflict: American Civil War
14. Chester A. Arthur
Service: New York State Militia
Rank: Brigadier general
Conflict: American Civil War
15. James Garfield
Service: United States Army
Rank: Major general
Conflict: American Civil War
16. Rutherford B. Hayes
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Service: United States Army
Rank: Major general
Conflict: American Civil War
17. Ulysses S. Grant
Service: United States Army
Rank: General of the Army
Conflict: Mexican-American War and American Civil War
18. Andrew Johnson
Service: United States Army
Rank: Brigadier general
Conflict: American Civil War
19. Abraham Lincoln
Service: Illinois State Militia
Rank: Captain
Conflict: Black Hawk War
20. James Buchanan
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Service: Pennsylvania State Militia
Rank: Private
Conflict: War of 1812
21. Franklin Pierce
Service: United States Army
Rank: Brigadier general
Conflict: Mexican-American War
22. Millard Fillmore
Service: New York State Militia
Rank: Major
Conflict: American Civil War
23. Zachary Taylor
Service: United States Army
Rank: Major general
Conflict: War of 1812, Black Hawk War, Second Seminole War, Mexican-American War
24. James K. Polk
Service: Tennessee State Militia
Rank: Colonel
Conflict: Did not see war service
25. John Tyler
Service: Virginia Militia
Rank: Captain
Conflict: War of 1812
26. William Henry Harrison
Service: United States Army
Rank: Major general
Conflict: Northwest Indian War and the War of 1812
27. Andrew Jackson
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Service: United States Army
Rank: Major general
Conflict: American Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Creek War and the First Seminole War
28. James Monroe
Service: Continental Army
Rank: Major
Conflict: American Revolutionary War
29. George Washington
Service: Virginia militia, Continental Army, United States Army
Rank: General
Conflict: French and Indian War and American Revolutionary War
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