According to the constitution of Afghanistan, the defense of the country is the responsibility of all citizens of Afghanistan. Similar to the United States Military Academy at West Point, Afghanistan has established the National Military Academy of Afghanistan. It's mission is to produce officers for the Afghan National Army and Afghan Air Force. The Afghan National Army which numbers 134,000 troops ^[1] and growing, was put together and is currently being trained by the United States and other coalition forces. Desertion and difficulty recruiting qualified individuals are the major problems faced by the Army. The Afghan government would like the country's armed forces to be around 250,000. Senior Afghan officials openly admit that Afghanistan's armed forces are not ready to defend the country against the Taliban and Al Qaeda and will need international assistance for many years.

Latest Afghan Military Related News

Afghan Air Force Helicopter Fleet Grows To 31 New Female Lieutenants Commissioned into Afghan Army Afghan Army Grows by More Than 900 Commandos Afghan Army reaches targeted strength early Afghan National Army opens infantry school President Hamid Karzai creates an Air Force President Karzai Congratulates Future Leaders Flight School From Scratch Afghanistan Considers Conscript Army, To Mixed Reviews Training Afghan Forces Poses Challenges for US Military Difficult Prospects For Building A Viable Afghan Army Afghan pilots closer to providing own air support Afghan Military Pilots To Get U.S. Training Transition Command Helps to Build Afghan Air Corps A More Effective Afghan Army US Defense Secretary Robert Gates Endorses Big Expansion of Afghan Army Army Reaches 70,000 Mark, As Taliban Vows New Offensive

Basic Facts on Afghanistan's Military

Minister of Defense: Abdul Raheem Wardak Army Chief of Staff: Lt. General Sher Mohammad Karimi Branches: Afghan National Army and Afghan Air Corps. There are also militias authorized by the government. Military service age and obligation: 22 years of age; inductees are contracted into service for a 4-year term. [2] Manpower available for military service: Males age 16-49: 7,431,147 Females age 16-49: 7,004,819 (2008 est.) [2] Manpower fit for military service: Males age 16-49: 4,234,180 Females age 16-49: 3,946,685 (2008 est.)[2] Manpower reaching service age annually: Males age 16-49: 371,451 Females age 16-49: 351,295 (2008 est.) [2] Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.9% (2006 est.) [2] Major Modern Wars: Anglo Afghan War I, II, & III, and the Soviet War Major Foreign Donor/Supplier: U.S.A

References:

^[1] NATO Press Release August 10, 2010 - "Afghan Army reaches targeted strength early"

^[2] United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) - accessed May 5, 2008

By Abdullah Qazi
Section last updated on October 6,  2010