• The president is considered the commander-in-chief of the US military.
• A total of 29 US presidents have served in the American military in some capacity.
• The last president to see combat was George H. W. Bush.
Serving in the military isn't a prerequisite for becoming president. Nonetheless, out of the 44 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 also came up as a political issue over time. The military service of both George W. Bush and John Kerry received heavily scrutiny during the 2004 presidential campaign.
And, while observers have pointed out that US 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.
These are the presidents who served in the armed forces in some capacity, from the modern day to the American Revolution:
SEE ALSO: America's 9 Greatest War Hero Presidents
George W. Bush
Service: Texas Air National Guard
Rank: First Lieutenant
Conflict: Stateside during the Vietnam War
George H. W. Bush
Service: United States Naval Reserve
Rank: Lieutenant (junior grade)
Conflict: World War II
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross
Ronald Reagan
Service: United States Army Reserve, United States Army Air Corps
Rank: Captain
Conflict: Stateside during World War II
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