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  Field Listing - Military branches


Country
Military branches
Afghanistan NA; note - the December 2001 Bonn Agreement called for all militia forces to come under the authority of the central government, but regional leaders have continued to retain their militias and the formation of a nation army will be a gradual process; Afghanistan's forces continue to be factionalized, largely along ethnic lines
Albania Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Interior Ministry Troops, Border Guards
Algeria People's National Army (ANP), Algerian National Navy (ANN), Air Force, Territorial Air Defense, National Gendarmerie
Andorra no regular military forces, but there is a police force
Angola Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Police Force
Antigua and Barbuda Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force, Royal Antigua and Barbuda Police Force (including the Coast Guard)
Argentina Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic (includes naval aviation and Marines), Coast Guard, Argentine Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Aeronautical Police Force
Armenia Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border Guards
Aruba no regular indigenous military forces; Royal Dutch Navy and Marines, Coast Guard
Australia Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force
Austria Land Forces (KdoLdSK), Air Forces (KdoLuSK)
Azerbaijan Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces
Bahamas, The Royal Bahamas Defense Force (Coast Guard only), Royal Bahamas Police Force
Bahrain Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF) comprising Ground Force (includes Air Defense), Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Police Force, Amiri Guards, National Guard
Bangladesh Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, paramilitary forces (includes Bangladesh Rifles, Bangladesh Ansars, Village Defense Parties, Armed Police Battalions, National Cadet Corps)
Barbados Royal Barbados Defense Force (including Ground Forces and Coast Guard), Royal Barbados Police Force
Belarus Army, Air Force (including air defense), Interior Ministry Troops, Border Guards
Belgium Army, Navy, Air Components, Federal Police
Belize Belize Defense Force (includes Army, Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and Volunteer Guard)
Benin Armed Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force), National Gendarmerie
Bermuda no regular indigenous military forces; Bermuda Regiment, Bermuda Police Force, Bermuda Reserve Constabulary
Bhutan Royal Bhutan Army, Royal Bodyguard, National Militia, Royal Bhutan Police, Forest Guards
Bolivia Army (Ejercito Boliviano), Navy (Fuerza Naval, includes Marines), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Boliviana), National Police Force (Policia Nacional de Bolivia)
Bosnia and Herzegovina VF Army (the air and air defense forces are subordinate commands within the Army), VRS Army (the air and air defense forces are subordinate commands within the Army)
Botswana Botswana Defense Force (including Army and Air Wing), Botswana National Police
Brazil Brazilian Army, Brazilian Navy (includes naval air and marines), Brazilian Air Force, Federal Police (paramilitary)
Brunei Land Forces, Navy, Air Force, Royal Brunei Police
Bulgaria Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces (subordinate to Ministry of Defense), Internal Forces (subordinate to Ministry of Interior), Civil Defense Forces (subordinate to the president)
Burkina Faso Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police, People's Militia
Burma Army, Navy, Air Force
Burundi Army (including naval and air units), Gendarmerie
Cambodia Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF): Army, Navy, Air Force
Cameroon Army, Navy (includes naval infantry), Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Presidential Guard
Canada Canadian Armed Forces (comprising Land Forces Command, Maritime Command, Air Command, Communications Command, Training Command)
Cape Verde Army, Coast Guard
Cayman Islands no regular indigenous military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)
Central African Republic Central African Armed Forces (FACA) (including Republican Guard, Ground Forces, Naval Forces, and Air Force), Presidential Security Guard, Gendarmerie, National Police
Chad Armed Forces (including National Army, Air Force, and Gendarmerie), Rapid Intervention Force, National and Nomadic Guard (GNNT), Presidential Security Guard, Police
Chile Army of the Nation, National Navy (including naval air, coast guard, and marines), Air Force of the Nation, Chilean Carabineros (National Police), Investigations Police
China People's Liberation Army (PLA): comprises ground forces, Navy (including naval infantry and naval aviation), Air Force, and II Artillery Corps (strategic missile force), People's Armed Police Force (internal security troops, nominally a state security body but included by the Chinese as part of the "armed forces" and considered to be an adjunct to the PLA), militia
Colombia Army (Ejercito Nacional), Navy (Armada Nacional, including Marines and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Colombiana), National Police (Policia Nacional)
Comoros Comoran Security Force
Congo, Democratic Republic of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Special Security Battalion
Congo, Republic of the Army, Air Force, Navy, Gendarmerie, National Police
Costa Rica no regular indigenous military forces; Air Section, Ministry of Public Forces (Fuerza Publica)
Cote d'Ivoire Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary Gendarmerie, Republican Guard (includes Presidential Guard)
Croatia Ground Forces (Hrvatska Vojska, HV), Naval Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces
Cuba Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) including Revolutionary Army (ER), Revolutionary Navy (MGR), Air and Air Defense Force (DAAFAR), Territorial Militia Troops (MTT), and Youth Labor Army (EJT); note - the Border Guard Troops (TGF) are controlled by the Interior Ministry
Cyprus Greek Cypriot area: Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG; including air and naval elements), Greek Cypriot Police
Turkish Cypriot area: Turkish Cypriot Security Force (GKK)
Czech Republic Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Territorial Defense Force
Denmark Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal Danish Air Force, Home Guard
Djibouti Djibouti National Army (including Navy and Air Force)
Dominica Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (including Special Service Unit, Coast Guard)
Dominican Republic Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police
East Timor The East Timor Defense Force or FALINTIL-FDTL comprises a light-infantry Army and a small Naval component; note - plans are to develop a force of 1,500 active personnel and 1,500 reserve personnel over the next five years
Ecuador Army, Navy (including Marines), Air Force, National Police
Egypt Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command
El Salvador Army, Navy (FNES), Air Force
Equatorial Guinea Army, Navy, Air Force, Rapid Intervention Force, National Police
Eritrea Army, Navy, Air Force
Estonia Estonia Defense Forces (including Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force), Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops), Volunteer Defense League (Kaitseliit), Maritime Border Guard, Coast Guard
note: Border Guards and Ministry of Internal Affairs become part of the Estonian Defense Forces in wartime; the Coast Guard is subordinate to the Ministry of Defense in peacetime and the Estonian Navy in wartime
Ethiopia Ethiopian National Defense Force (Ground Forces, Air Force, militia, police)
note: Ethiopia is landlocked and has no navy; following the secession of Eritrea, Ethiopian naval facilities remained in Eritrean possession
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) British Forces Falkland Islands no regular indigenous military forces; (includes Army, Royal Air Force, and Royal Navy), Police Force
Faroe Islands no regular indigenous military forces; small Police Force and Coast Guard are maintained
Fiji Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF), includes ground forces, naval division
Finland Army, Navy, Air Force, Frontier Guard (including Sea Guard)
France Army (includes marines), Navy (includes naval air), Air Force (includes Air Defense), National Gendarmerie
French Guiana no regular indigenous military forces; French Forces, Gendarmerie
French Polynesia no regular indigenous military forces; French Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie
Gabon Army, Navy, Air Force, Presidential (Republican) Guard (charged with protecting the president and other senior officials), National Gendarmerie, National Police
Gambia, The Gambian National Army (GNA) (includes marine unit), National Police, Presidential Guard
Gaza Strip in accordance with the peace agreement, the Palestinian Authority is not permitted conventional military forces; there are, however, a Public Security Force and a civil Police Force
Georgia Ground Forces (includes National Guard), combined Air and Air Defense Forces, Naval Forces, Republic Security and Police Forces (internal and border troops)
Germany Army, Navy (including naval air arm), Air Force, Medical Corps, Joint Support Service
Ghana Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force
Gibraltar no regular indigenous military forces; British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force
Greece Hellenic Army, Hellenic Navy, Hellenic Air Force, Police, National Guard
Grenada Royal Grenada Police Force, Coast Guard
Guadeloupe no regular indigenous military forces; French Forces, Gendarmerie
Guatemala Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force
Guinea Army, Navy, Air Force, Republican Guard, Presidential Guard, paramilitary National Gendarmerie, National Police Force (Surete National)
Guinea-Bissau People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP; includes Army, Navy, and Air Force), paramilitary force
Guyana Guyana Defense Force (including Ground Forces, Coast Guard, and Air Corps), Guyana Police Force, Guyana People's Militia, Guyana National Service
Haiti Haitian National Police (HNP)
note: the regular Haitian Army, Navy, and Air Force have been demobilized but still exist on paper until or unless they are constitutionally abolished
Holy See (Vatican City) Swiss Guards Corps (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera)
Honduras Army, Navy (including marines), Air Force
Hong Kong no regular indigenous military forces; Hong Kong garrison of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) including elements of the PLA Ground Forces, PLA Navy, and PLA Air Force; these forces are under the direct leadership of the Central Military Commission in Beijing and under administrative control of the adjacent Guangzhou Military Region
Hungary Ground Forces, Air Forces
Iceland no regular armed forces; Police, Coast Guard
India Army, Navy (including naval air arm), Air Force, Strategic Nuclear Command (SNC), Coast Guard, various security or paramilitary forces (including Border Security Force, Assam Rifles, Rashtriya Rifles, National Security Guards, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Special Frontier Force, Ladakh Scouts, Central Reserve Police Force, Central Industrial Security Force, Railway Protection Force, Defense Security Corps, and Indian Reserve Battalions)
Indonesia Army, Navy (including marines and naval air arm), Air Force
Iran Islamic Republic of Iran regular forces (includes Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force and Air Defense Command), Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) (includes Ground Forces, Air Force, Navy, Qods [special operations], and Basij [Popular Mobilization Army] forces), Law Enforcement Forces
Iraq Army, Republican Guard, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, Border Guard Force, Fedayeen Saddam; note - with the defeat of Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003, the data listed in the following entries for Iraq is invalid, but is retained here for historical purposes and until replaced by valid information related to the future Iraqi Government (April 2003)
Ireland Army (including Naval Service and Air Corps), National Police (Garda Siochana)
Israel Israel Defense Forces (IDF) (includes ground, naval, and air components with Air Defense Forces), Pioneer Fighting Youth (Nahal); note - historically there have been no separate Israeli military services
Italy Army, Navy, Air Force, Carabinieri
Jamaica Jamaica Defense Force (including Ground Forces, Coast Guard, and Air Wing), Jamaica Constabulary Force
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (Army), Maritime Self-Defense Force (Navy), Air Self-Defense Force (Air Force), Coast Guard
Jordan Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) (Royal Jordanian Land Force, Royal Naval Force, Royal Jordanian Air Force, and Special Operations Command or SOCOM); note - Public Security Directorate normally falls under Ministry of Interior but comes under JAF in wartime or crisis situations
Kazakhstan Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Naval Force, Border Service, Republican Guard
Kenya Army, Navy, Air Force
Kiribati no regular military forces; Police Force (carries out law enforcement functions and paramilitary duties; small police posts are on all islands)
Korea, North Korean People's Army (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), Civil Security Forces
Korea, South Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, National Maritime Police (Coast Guard)
Kuwait Army, Navy, Air Force (including Air Defense Force), National Police Force, National Guard, Coast Guard
Kyrgyzstan Army, Air and Air Defense, Security Forces, Border Troops
Laos Lao People's Army (LPA; including Riverine Force), Air Force, National Police Department
Latvia Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border Guard, National Guard
Lebanon Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF; includes Army, Navy, and Air Force)
Lesotho Lesotho Defense Force (LDF; including Army and Air Wing), Royal Lesotho Mounted Police
Liberia Army, Navy, Air Force
Libya Armed Peoples on Duty (Army), Navy, Air and Air Defense Command (includes Air Force)
Lithuania Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force, National Volunteer Defense Forces (SKAT)
Luxembourg Army, Grand Ducal Police
Macau no regular indigenous military forces; responsibility for defense reverted to China on 20 December 1999; there is a local police force
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Army (ARM), Air and Air Defense Forces, Police Force
Madagascar People's Armed Forces (comprising Intervention Force, Development Force, Aeronaval [Navy and Air] Force), Gendarmerie, Presidential Security Regiment
Malawi Army (including Air Wing and Naval Detachment), Police (including paramilitary Mobile Force Unit)
Malaysia Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy, Royal Malaysian Air Force, Royal Malaysian Police Field Force, Marine Police, Sarawak Border Scouts
Maldives National Security Service
Mali Army, Air Force, Gendarmerie, Republican Guard, National Guard, National Police (Surete Nationale)
Malta Armed Forces (including land forces [with subordinate air squadron and maritime squadron] and the Revenue Security Corps), Maltese Police Force
Marshall Islands no regular military forces; Police Force
Martinique no regular indigenous military forces; French Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie
Mauritania Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Guard, National Police, Presidential Guard
Mauritius National Police Force (includes the paramilitary Special Mobile Force or SMF and National Coast Guard)
Mexico National Defense Secretariat (SEDENA) (including Army and Air Force), Navy Secretariat (including Naval Air and Marines)
Moldova Ground Forces (includes Air and Air Defense Forces), Republic Security Forces (includes paramilitary Internal Troops and Border Troops)
Mongolia Mongolian Armed Forces (includes General Purpose Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Civil Defense Troops); note - Border Troops are under Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs in peacetime
Montserrat no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force
Morocco Royal Armed Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie, Auxiliary Forces
Mozambique Army, Naval Command, Air and Air Defense Forces, Special Forces, Militia
Namibia National Defense Force (Army, including Air Wing), Police
Nauru no regular military forces; Nauru Police Force
Nepal Royal Nepalese Army (includes Royal Nepalese Army Air Service), Nepalese Police Force
Netherlands Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (including Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force, Royal Constabulary
Netherlands Antilles no regular indigenous military forces; Royal Netherlands Navy, Marine Corps, Royal Netherlands Air Force, National Guard, Police Force
New Caledonia no regular indigenous military forces; French Armed Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie); Police Force
New Zealand New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force
Nicaragua Army, Navy, Air Force
Niger Army, Air Force, Gendarmerie, National Intervention and Security Force
Nigeria Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force
Niue no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force
Norway Norwegian Army, Royal Norwegian Navy (including Coast Artillery and Coast Guard), Royal Norwegian Air Force, Home Guard
Oman Royal Omani Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force), Royal Omani Police
Pakistan Army, Navy, Air Force, Civil Armed Forces, National Guard
Palau NA
Panama an amendment to the Constitution abolished the armed forces, but there are security forces (Panamanian Public Forces or PPF includes the Panamanian National Police, National Maritime Service, and National Air Service)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea Defense Force (includes Ground Force, Maritime Operations Element, and Air Operations Element)
Paraguay Army, Navy (includes Naval Air and Marines), Air Force
Peru Army (Ejercito Peruano), Navy (Marina de Guerra del Peru; includes Naval Air, Marines, and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea del Peru; FAP), National Police (includes General Police, Security Police, and Technical Police)
Philippines Army, Navy (including Coast Guard and Marine Corps), Air Force, paramilitary units
Poland Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force
Portugal Army, Navy (PON) (includes Marines), Air Force, Republican Guard (includes Fiscal Guard)
Puerto Rico no regular indigenous military forces; paramilitary National Guard, Police Force
Qatar Army, Navy, Air Force
Reunion no regular indigenous military forces; French forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force, and Gendarmerie)
Romania Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces (AMR), Paramilitary Forces, Civil Defense, Border Guards
Russia Ground Forces, Navy, Air Forces; Airborne troops, Strategic Rocket Forces, and Military Space Forces are classified as independent combat arms, not subordinate to any of the three branches
Rwanda Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie
Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Kitts and Nevis Defense Force (including Coast Guard), Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force (including Special Service Unit)
Saint Lucia Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (includes Special Service Unit and Coast Guard)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (includes Special Service Unit), Coast Guard
Samoa no regular armed services; Samoa Police Force
San Marino Voluntary Military Force (Corpi Militari Voluntar), Gendarmerie; note - the Voluntary Military Force performs ceremonial duties and limited police assistance
Sao Tome and Principe Army, Navy, Security Police
Saudi Arabia Land Force (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, National Guard, Ministry of Interior Forces (paramilitary)
Senegal Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police (Surete Nationale)
Serbia and Montenegro Army (VJ) (including ground forces with border troops, naval forces, air and air defense forces)
Seychelles Army, Coast Guard (includes Air Wing), Presidential Protection Unit (includes Presidential Guard), Police Force (includes Police Mobile Unit, a special weapons and tactics unit capable of assisting the Army in maintaining internal stability)
Sierra Leone Army (RSLAF)
Singapore Army, Navy, Air Force, People's Defense Force, Police Force
Slovakia Army (Ground Forces), Air and Air Defense Forces, Home Guards (Territorial Defense Forces), Civil Defense Force, Railway Armed Forces (subordinate to the Ministry of Transportation, Post, and Telecommunications)
Slovenia Slovenian Army (includes Air and Naval Forces)
Solomon Islands no regular military forces; Solomon Islands National Reconnaissance and Surveillance Force; Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIP)
Somalia A Somali National Army was attempted under the interim government; numerous factions and clans maintain independent militias, and the Somaliland and Puntland regional governments maintain their own security and police forces
South Africa South African National Defense Force (including Army, Navy, Air Force, and Medical Services), South African Police Service
Spain Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Civil Guard, National Police, Coastal Civil Guard
Sri Lanka Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force
Sudan Army, Navy, Air Force, Popular Defense Force Militia
Suriname National Army (including small Navy and Air Force elements), Civil Police
Swaziland Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (Army), Royal Swaziland Police Force
Sweden Army, Royal Navy (including Coast Artillery and Naval Helicopter Service), Air Force
Switzerland Army, Air Force, Frontier Guards, Fortification Guards
Syria Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab Air Force (includes Air Defense Forces), Police and Security Force
Taiwan Army, Navy (including Marine Corps), Air Force, Coast Guard Administration, Armed Forces Reserve Command, Combined Service Forces Command
Tajikistan Army, Air Force and Air Defense Force, Presidential National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border troops)
Tanzania Tanzanian People's Defense Force (including Army, Navy, and Air Force), paramilitary Police Field Force Unit (including Police Marine Unit and Police Air Wing), territorial militia
Thailand Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy (includes Royal Thai Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force, paramilitary forces (includes the Border Patrol Police [including Police Aerial Reinforcement Unit], Thahan Phran, Special Action Forces, Police Aviation Division, Thai Marine Police, and the Volunteer Defense Corps)
Togo Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie
Tonga Tonga Defense Services (made up of three operational command components and two support elements, including the Royal Marines, Royal Guards, Maritime Force, a support/logistics group, and a training group), Police; note - a new air wing that will be subordinate to the Ministry of Defense is being developed
Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (including Ground Force, Coast Guard, and Air Wing), Trinidad and Tobago Police Service
Tunisia Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary forces, National Guard
Turkey Land Forces, Navy (includes Naval Air and Naval Infantry), Air Force, Coast Guard, Gendarmerie
Turkmenistan Ministry of Defense (Army, Air and Air Defense, Navy, Border Troops, and Internal Troops), National Guard
Tuvalu no regular military forces; Police Force (includes Maritime Surveillance Unit for search and rescue missions and surveillance operations)
Uganda Ugandan Peoples' Defense Force (including Army, Marine unit, Air Wing)
Ukraine Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air Force, Air Defense Forces, Interior Troops, Border Troops
United Arab Emirates Army, Navy (including Marines and Coast Guard), Air Force, Air Defense, paramilitary forces (includes Federal Police Force)
United Kingdom Army, Royal Navy (including Royal Marines), Royal Air Force
United States Army, Navy and Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard (Coast Guard administered in peacetime by the Department of Homeland Security but in wartime reports to the Department of the Navy)
Uruguay Army, Navy (including Naval Air Arm, Coast Guard, Marines), Air Force, Police (Coracero Guard, Grenadier Guard)
Uzbekistan Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard, Security Forces (internal security and border troops)
Vanuatu no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF; including the paramilitary Mobile Force or VMF)
Venezuela National Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Nacionales or FAN) includes Ground Forces or Army (Fuerzas Terrestres or Ejercito), Naval Forces (Fuerzas Navales or Armada - including marines and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerzas Aereas or Aviacion), Armed Forces of Cooperation or National Guard (Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperacion or Guardia Nacional)
Vietnam People's Army of Vietnam (includes Ground Forces, People's Navy Command [including Naval Infantry], Air and Air Defense Force, Coast Guard)
Yemen Army (includes Special Forces, established in 1999), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Forces, Republican Guard
Zambia Army, Air Force, Police, paramilitary forces
Zimbabwe Zimbabwe National Army, Air Force of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Republic Police (includes Police Support Unit, Paramilitary Police)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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