In 2002, there were 16,541 active-duty military personnel stationed in Louisiana. There was one major army installation in the state, Ft. Polk at Leesville; an Air Force base at Barksdale near Bossier City; and a naval air station and support station in the vicinity of New Orleans. During fiscal year 2001, Louisiana firms received defense contracts totaling $1.4 billion.
There were 392,486 veterans of US military service in Louisiana as of 2000, of whom 71,894 served in World War II; 43,980 in the Korean conflict; 114,470 during the Vietnam era; and 53,843 during 1990–2000 (including the Persian Gulf War). Veterans' benefits during fiscal year 2002 amounted to $860 million.
In 2000, the Louisiana State Police employed 934 full-time sworn officers.