what percentage of the US population is in the military, law
enforcement, and related support organizations

Tarder --

Thanks for the interesting question!

The Statistical Abstract of the United States includes employment
statistics for a large number of categories and has both full-time and
part-time employment.  The estimated U.S. population today was 288.5
million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The percentages are indicated for each category, as you may wish to
include some and not others in the definition:


LAW ENFORCEMENT
----------------

Local police
  Full-time: 556,631
  Part-time: 63,575
Sheriff
  Full-time: 290,707
  Part-time: 19,670
State police
  Full-time: 85,442
  Part-time:   926

SUB-TOTAL
  Full-time: 932,780 (0.32%)
  Part-time:  84,171 (0.03%)


CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES
-----------------------

Federal: 25,379
State: 321,941

SUB-TOTAL: 347,320 (0.12%)


FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT
------------------

Defense Department: 676,268
Justice Department: 125,970

Federal Judiciary: 32,186 

Veterans Affairs: 219,547

SUB-TOTAL: 1,053,971 (0.37%)


STATE & LOCAL JUDICIAL
----------------------

State: 148,000
Local: 250,000

SUB-TOTAL: 399,000 (0.14%)

The total percentage, including the part-time employment, is 0.98% of
the U.S. population.

Sources:
Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2001
"Federal Government Finances and Employment"
http://www.census.gov/prod/2002pubs/01statab/fedgov.pdf
"Law Enforcement, Courts & Prisons"
http://www.census.gov/prod/2002pubs/01statab/law.pdf
"State and Local Government Finances and Employment"
http://www.census.gov/prod/2002pubs/01statab/stlocgov.pdf

Google search strategy:
"Statistical Abstract" + U.S. + 2001
"Census Bureau"

Best regards,

Omnivorous-GA

military was last referred to... and no mention of military/industrial
employment... but i definitely got a ball park number to think about.
thanks

Another section of the Statistical Abstracts will also give you
details of the 2.8 million Americans in the military (beyond those
employed directly by the Department of Defense).  This can be found
at:

http://www.census.gov/prod/2002pubs/01statab/defense.pdf