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The United States Constitution names the president of the United States the commander in chief of the United States Armed Forces. Many presidents, however, also served in the military before taking office; all but 13 of the 45 persons to become president have served. Of the 32 presidents with military service, 31 have been commissioned officers, of whom five began their careers as regular officers (Jimmy Carter transferred to the Naval Reserve after five years in the Navy). There have been 13 presidents who held general officer rank (four regular officers, six militia officers, three volunteers). In addition to this, 4 of them got military awards by heroism; Theodore Roosevelt (posthumous Medal of Honor), John F. Kennedy (Navy and Marine Corps Medal), Lyndon B. Johnson (Silver Star) and George H. W. Bush (Distinguished Flying Cross), although the third was object of controversy. TOC

Rank order Highest rank Branch President Service experience Service notes1 General of the Armies of the United States Virginia militia(1752–1758)Continental Army(1775–1783)United States Army(1798–1799) George Washington French and Indian War(1754–1758)War for Independence(1775–1783)Whiskey Rebellion (1791–1794) Served in the Virginia militia (1752–1758) during the French and Indian War. Served as commander in chief of the Continental Army (1775–1783) during the Revolutionary War, with the rank of "General and Commander in Chief." Washington was a lieutenant general in the United States Army at his death. In 1976, as part of the Bicentennial, then president Gerald R. Ford posthumously appointed Washington as General of the Armies of the United States, a rank that ensured he would forever rank above all other officers. United States Army(Regular Army) Ulysses S. Grant Mexican–American War and Civil War Graduated West Point; first Lieutenant General since Washington, appointed as four star General of the Army of the United States in 1866. In 2022 Grant was promoted by the United States Congress to General of the Armies to celebrate the 200th anniversary of his birth. The rank of General of the Armies is considered senior to General of the Army. Grant became the third person to become General of the Armies after John J. Pershing and George Washington. Grant and Pershing are outranked only by Washington.

Rank order Highest rank Branch President Combat experience Service notes 2 General of the Army United States Army(Regular army) Dwight D. Eisenhower Supreme Commander of the Allied Invasion of Europe, primarily the Battles for Normandy, France and Germany World War II. Army Distinguished Service Medal (5)Navy Distinguished Service Medal Graduated West Point; served 1915–1952,resigned to run for president. Commission and rank restored by Congress in 1961. Commissioned but inactive until death. Served stateside during World War I and as Supreme Allied Commander during World War II.

Rank order Highest rank Branch President Combat experience Service notes3Major General United States ArmyNorth Carolina MilitiaTennessee Militia Andrew Jackson Revolutionary War, Creek War, War of 1812, First Seminole War. Served at age 13 as a militia messenger during the Revolutionary War; was captured, becoming the only president to have been held as a prisoner of war (Washington had surrendered in the French and Indian War but was immediately paroled); served in the War of 1812, attaining the rank of major general and became a national hero after his success at the Battle of New Orleans. United States Army William H. Harrison Northwest Indian War, War of 1812 Dates of service: 1791–1798, 1812–1814. Became national hero after success at the Battle of the Thames. Zachary Taylor War of 1812, Black Hawk War, Second Seminole War, and Mexican–American War Became a national hero because of his achievements in the Mexican–American War. Brevet Major General of Volunteers United States Army(volunteers) Rutherford B. Hayes American Civil War Successful leadership in Virginia/West Virginia region; wounded at the Battle of South Mountain Major General of Volunteers United States Army(volunteers) James A. Garfield American Civil War His heroic ride at the Battle of Chickamauga later helped him to be elected president. Major General American Red Cross (Under jurisdiction of the US War Dept) William Howard Taft None He was Secretary of War under President Theodore Roosevelt from 1904 to 1908. Taft also joined a Connecticut Home Guard unit during World War I. He was commissioned with military rank in the American Red Cross by President Wilson August 1917

Rank order Highest rank Branch President Combat experience Service notes 4Brigadier General United States ArmyNew Hampshire Militia Franklin Pierce Mexican–American War Served in New Hampshire Militia from 1831 to 1847 and attained the rank of Colonel. Appointed to command 9th Infantry Regiment during Army expansion for Mexican–American War. Subsequently, promoted to Brigadier General and command of a brigade. New York State Militia Chester A. Arthur Inspector General of the New York Militia–Civil War Joined militia as Judge Advocate of 2nd Brigade. Appointed Quartermaster General on Governor's staff, and later appointed Inspector General. Offered command of brigade raised in New York City, but Governor declined to allow him to leave state service. Left service in 1863 after new Governor appointed a successor. United States Army Andrew Johnson Military Governor of Tennessee–Civil War Served in the 90th Regiment of Tennessee Militia in 1830s. Later appointed Colonel. United States ArmyIndiana State Militia Benjamin Harrison Civil War Battle of Perryville – Atlanta Campaign – Battle of Nashville

Rank order Highest rank Branch President Combat experience Service notes5Colonel Virginia State MilitiaAlbemarle County Thomas Jefferson None Like other Virginia gentlemen, he had militia duties, and did administrative work Virginia Colonial MilitiaOrange County James Madison None Left militia to enter Virginia legislature. (Some sources claim Madison briefly assumed command of an artillery battery during the British assault on Washington during the War of 1812. If true, he would join Washington (Whiskey Rebellion) as having seen military service as commander in chief.) Continental ArmyVirginia State Militia James Monroe Revolutionary War Dates of service: 1776–1779. Wounded and nearly died in the Battle of Trenton. Returned to Virginia to recruit and lead a regiment as a militia Lieutenant Colonel, but the regiment was never raised. Commissioned as a Colonel during British invasion of Virginia in 1780 to command the militia raised in response and act as liaison to the Continental Army in North Carolina. Appointed As Secretary of State during the War of 1812, scouted and deployed troops during the British invasion of Washington. Tennessee Militia James K. Polk None Captain in a cavalry unit beginning in 1821. Subsequently, appointed Colonel on staff of Governor William Carroll. United States Army Theodore Roosevelt Spanish–American War–Medal of Honor(posthumously; 2001) Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the New York National Guard's 8th Regiment in 1882. Company commander with rank of Captain when he resigned in 1886. Famous for charge up San Juan Hill. Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. As ex president, volunteered for service in World War I, but President Wilson declined. Harry S. Truman World War I Armed Forces Reserve Medal (2) Served 1905–1911, then in World War I, 129th Field Artillery (1917–1919), Army Reserves (1919–1953)

Rank order Highest rank Branch President Combat experience Service notes6 Commander United States Navy(Reserve) Lyndon B. Johnson World War II–Silver Star Awarded Silver Star by General Douglas MacArthur for his role as an observer on a B 26 bomber mission. This award has been subject to controversy. Richard Nixon World War II Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal Served 1942–1945 on various islands in the South Pacific and commanded SCAT units in the South Pacific. United States Naval Reserve (1946–1966).

Rank order Highest rank Branch President Combat experience Service notes7 Major New York State Militia Millard Fillmore None Years of service: 1820s–1830s, 1860s–1870s Brevet Major United States Army(volunteers) William McKinley Civil War Served in the Army of the Potomac, originally with the 23rd Ohio Infantry same as President Rutherford B. Hayes. First major engagement in West Virginia in 1861 and was present at the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia. Lieutenant Commander United States Navy(Reserve) Gerald Ford World War II American Campaign MedalAsiatic Pacific Campaign MedalWorld War II Victory Medal Years of service: 1942–1946. Served on USS Monterey. Earned 10 battle stars.

Rank order Highest rank Branch President Combat experience Service notes8Captain Virginia State Militia John Tyler War of 1812 Raised a company for the defense of Richmond in 1813 Illinois State Militia Abraham Lincoln Black Hawk War Initially elected to command a company as a captain. Was mustered in and out of service during the Black Hawk War, going from Captain to Private and finishing his service in an independent spy company commanded by Captain Jacob Early. Honorably discharged without seeing combat. Also served in Stillman's Run and Battle of Kellogg's Grove. United States Army Air Forces(Reserve) Ronald Reagan None Served as a second lieutenant in the U. S. Army Reserve; served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II, attaining the rank of captain. Was barred from combat because of poor eyesight. Narrated pre flight training films under the Army Air Forces Motion Picture Unit. LieutenantUnited States Navy(Reserve) John F. Kennedy World War II–Navy and Marine Corps Medal Commanded a PT boat. Earned Navy and Marine Corps Medal for heroism in the PT 109 Incident. George H. W. Bush World War II–Distinguished Flying Cross Years of service: 1942–1955 (on active service 1942–1945). Second youngest pilot in the United States Navy during World War II (Three days before turning 19). Earned Distinguished Flying Cross. Jimmy Carter None National Defense Service Medal Years of service: 1946–1961 (on active service 1946–1953). Graduated 59th in class of 1946 out of 820, United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Submarine service (Nuclear Specialist). Midshipman during World War II, served during Korean War, but never sent to Korea

Rank order Highest rank Branch President Combat experience Service notes9 First lieutenant United States Air Force(Air National Guard) George W. Bush None Outstanding Unit Award He performed Air National Guard duty as an F 102 pilot through April 1972, logging 336 hours, when he lost his authorization to be a pilot for failing to meet attendance and physical examination requirements. He was later discharged eight months short of his six year service requirement.

Rank order Highest rank Branch President Combat experience Service notes 10 Private Pennsylvania National Guard James Buchanan War of 1812 Joined volunteer light dragoon unit and served in defense of Baltimore. Only future president with military service who did not serve as an officer.

President Service notes John Adams Adams was 41 years old when the Revolutionary War broke out and did not serve in the field. In addition to his diplomatic duties during the war, he served an executive role in managing the distribution of ammunition and other supplies for the Continental Army and coordinating strategic communication among the generals of the various theaters. He is sometimes called the "de facto Secretary of War" during this time. John Quincy Adams The U. S. did not fight any major wars during the time when Adams was of the usual age for military service (18 to 33) and the peacetime armed forces were very small during this time. It would not have been expected for a member of a prominent, wealthy family to serve unless a war broke out. Martin Van Buren Van Buren was a member of the New York state senate when the War of 1812 began and was involved in the military justice system and on issues of military administration during the war. Grover Cleveland Drafted during the Civil War, but paid $150 for a substitute (a legal option under the terms of the Enrollment Act of 1863, and his substitute survived the war). Woodrow Wilson The U. S. did not fight any major wars during the time when Wilson was of the usual age for military service (18 to 33) and the peacetime armed forces were very small during this time. Wilson was in his mid 40s and working as a professor at Princeton during the Spanish American War. Moreover, his poor health (he had experienced a minor stroke in 1896), would have disqualified him from any active service. Warren G. Harding Harding was a 33 year old member of the Ohio state senate when the Spanish American War broke out. Calvin Coolidge Coolidge was 26 years old, practicing as an attorney, and serving as a city council member when the Spanish American War broke out. Herbert Hoover Served in a private humanitarian capacity as a civilian in Europe during World War I. He was also involved in the Siege of Tientsin during the Boxer Rebellion as a guide for U. S. Marines. Franklin D. Roosevelt Attempted to join the Navy during the Spanish–American War but was unable as he contracted measles. Served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy from 1913 and through World War I; when the U. S. entered the war in 1917 he offered his resignation so that he could apply for a commission in the Navy, but was refused by the president. However he did visit the Western Front 1918. Bill Clinton Received a 2 A student draft deferment during the Vietnam War, and later registered for the draft. He received a high draft number, was not drafted and did not serve. Barack Obama Reached age 18 in 1979, six years after the end of the military draft in the U. S. Donald Trump Attended New York Military Academy 1964. Received four draft deferments while attending college, then one for medical reasons after he was diagnosed with bone spurs on his heels. Joe Biden While in school, received five student draft deferments and afterward was classified as unavailable for military service due to asthma.