29 American presidents who served in the 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:

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

Jimmy Carter

Service: United States Navy

Rank: Lieutenant

Gerald Ford

Service: United States Naval Reserve

Rank: Lieutenant Commander

Conflict: World War II

Richard Nixon

Conflict: World War II

Awards: Two Service Stars

Lyndon B. Johnson

Awards: Silver Star

John F. Kennedy

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Conflict: World War I and World War II

Harry S. Truman

Theodore Roosevelt

William McKinley

Conflict: American Civil War

Benjamin Harrison

Chester A. Arthur

Service: New York State Militia

Rank: Brigadier General

Conflict: American Civil War

James Garfield

Rutherford B. Hayes

Ulysses S. Grant

Andrew Johnson

Abraham Lincoln

James Buchanan

Franklin Pierce

Millard Fillmore

Zachary Taylor

James K. Polk

John Tyler

William Henry Harrison

Andrew Jackson

Service: United States Army

Rank: Major General

Conflict: American Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Creek War, and the First Seminole War

James Monroe

Service: Continental Army

Rank: Major

Conflict: American Revolutionary War

George Washington

Service: Virginia militia, Continental Army, United States Army

Rank: General

Conflict: French and Indian War and American Revolutionary War

29 American presidents who served in the military

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