Armed Forces of Malta

Armed Forces of Malta Forzi Armati ta' Malta
The coat of arms of the Armed Forces of Malta.
Founded	19 April 1973
Service branches	Headquarters 1st Regiment 3rd Regiment 4th Regiment Maritime Squadron Air Wing
Headquarters	Luqa
Leadership
Commander-in-Chief	Marie Louise Coleiro Preca
Minister for Home Affairs and National Security	Carmelo Abela MP
Chief of Defense	Brigadier Jeffrey Curmi
Manpower
Military age	18 years of age
Conscription	Voluntary
Available for military service	males age 15-49: 99,107 (2002 est.), age 15–49
Fit for military service	males age 15-49: 78,909 (2002 est.), age 15–49
Active personnel	2,130 (2012)
Expenditures
Budget	€42.7 million (2012)
Percent of GDP	0.6% (2012)
Industry
Foreign suppliers	European Union  United Kingdom  United States
Related articles
History	Military history of Malta King's Own Malta Regiment National Congress Battalions

The Armed Forces of Malta is the name given to the combined armed services of Malta. The AFM is a brigade sized organisation consisting of a headquarters and three separate battalions, with minimal air and naval forces. Since Malta is guardian of the European Union's most southerly border, the AFM has an active role in border control.

See: King's Own Malta Regiment

In April 1800 after the Siege, Thomas Graham raised the first official Maltese Troops in the British Army, which became known as the Maltese Light Infantry. This battalion of men was disbanded in 1802 and succeeded by the Maltese Provincial Battalions, the Malta Coast Artillery and the Maltese Veterans. In 1815, Lieutenant Colonel Count Francis Rivarola was entrusted with the task of raising the Royal Malta Fencible Regiment following the disbandment of the Provincials, Veterans and Coast Artillery. The Royal Malta Fencible Regiment was converted to an artillery regiment in 1861, and became known as the Royal Malta Fencible Artillery. Twenty-eight years later, the worthy predecessors of the Armed Forces of Malta came into existence following the formation of the Royal Malta Artillery on March 23, 1889.

The King's Own Malta Regiment, it was a territorial infantry regiment on the British Army colonial list prior to Malta's independence. It was formed in 1801 as the "Regiment of Maltese Militia", existing only until the following year. It was reformed as the "Maltese Militia" by Sir Adrian Dingli in 1852 before disbanding again in 1857. It was raised again, this time as the "Royal Malta Regiment of Militia" in 1889; this regiment was considered to be the successor to the "Maltese Chasseurs" of the early 19th century. The regiment was renamed the "King's Own Royal Malta Regiment of Militia" in 1903, and was disbanded in 1921. The regiment was raised for a fourth time in 1931 as the "King's Own Malta Regiment". Initially on the British Establishment, in 1951 it was transferred to the Malta Territorial Force before becoming part of the Malta Land Force on Malta's independence in 1970. The regiment was disbanded in 1972.

The AFM was formed upon Malta becoming a republic in 1974, when 1 Regiment Royal Malta Artillery was renamed as 1 Regiment, AFM. This initially continued the artillery role, with 2 Regiment formed as an engineers unit. In 1980, 1 Regiment became a mixed unit, with infantry, aircraft and maritime responsibilities, the artillery element being transferred to 2 Regiment. In 1992, there was a major re-organisation, which led to the formation of 3 Regiment and the current structure.