Heritage Foundation The Heritage Foundation’s Index of U.S. Military Strength finds the U.S. military is rated “weak”

For the second year in a row, The Heritage Foundation’s Index of U.S. Military Strength finds that, as currently postured, the U.S. military is rated “weak” and at significant risk of not being able to meet the demands of a single major regional conflict while attending to various presence and engagement activities.

Heritage released the 2024 Index of U.S. Military Strength on Wednesday. The release comes as America’s key adversaries—China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea—are advancing their military capabilities and intimidating U.S. partners.

The Index of U.S. Military Strength is a comprehensive, authoritative assessment of America’s military power, the operating environments around the world relevant to America’s vital national interests, and the threats posed to the United States by our adversaries. The Index gives each service a “capacity,” “capability,” “readiness,” and “overall” rating on the following scale: very weak, weak, marginal, strong, or very strong. Overall ratings are highlighted below:

Army: “Marginal.”

Navy: “Weak.”

Air Force: “Very Weak.”

Marine Corps: “Strong.”

Space Force: “Marginal.”

Nuclear Capabilities: “Marginal.”

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