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National Armed Forces of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

National Bolivarian Armed Forces
Fuerza Armada Nacional Bolivariana
Seal of the Venezuelan Armed Forces.png
Service branches

Strategic Command Operations of Venezuela seal.png Strategic Command Operations

Flag of the Venezuelan Army.png Venezuelan Army
Flag of the Venezuelan Navy.png Navy of Venezuela
Flag of the Venezuelan Air Force.png Venezuelan Air Force
Flag of the Venezuelan National Guard.png Venezuelan National Guard
Seal of the Venezuelan National Militia.png Venezuelan National Militia
Leadership
Commander-in-Chief President Nicolás Maduro
Minister of Defense General-in-chief Vladimir Padrino López
Manpower
Conscription 18-30 years of age
30 month term
Active personnel 113,558 (2012)
Expenditures
Budget $4.508 billion (2012)
Percent of GDP 6.5% (2012)
1.1% (2010 est.)
Industry
Domestic suppliers CAVIM
CENARECA
MAZVEN
DIANCA
UCOCAR
G&F Tecnología
Foreign suppliers  Russia
 Spain
 Italy
 China
 France
 Belarus
 Sweden
 Austria
 Brazil
 South Africa
 Iran
 Belgium
 Cuba
 Japan
Related articles
History Venezuelan War of Independence
Federal War
Ranks Venezuelan military ranks

Strategic Command Operations of Venezuela seal.png Strategic Command Operations

The National Bolivarian Armed Forces (Spanish: Fuerza Armada Nacional Bolivariana) are controlled by the Commander-in-Chief (the President) and a civilian Minister of Defense. In addition to the army, navy, and air force there is also a national guard and national militia primarily focused on internal security.

The armed forces primary purpose is to defend Venezuelan territory from attack, combat drug trafficking, provide search and rescue capabilities, aid the civilian population in case of natural disasters protection, as well as numerous internal security assignments. As of 2012, the armed forces have 113,558 personnel.

The origin of an organized and professional armed forces in Venezuela dates to the Spanish troops quartered in the former Province of Venezuela in the 18th century. Politically and militarily until the creation of the Captaincy General of Venezuela in 1777, the Province of Venezuela depended on the Real Audiencia of Santo Domingo (in today's Dominican Republic) or the Viceroyalty of New Granada (today, Colombia) for the defense of the area. In 1732 the Spanish crown created a Military Directorate and established a number of battalions, and had a few units from infantry regiments based in Spain arrive in the area. Reform of the military in the colonies began a few decades later. The first squadrons of cavalry arrived from Spain in 1751. The first batteries of Artillery were officially raised just two years later. Both Creole whites and blacks were allowed to enter the ranks of the artillery companies. That same year, a Fixed Caracas Battalion was established. Until the creation of this battalion, defense had been based on small colonial militia companies, which initially only accepted whites. Gradually, this racist policy yielded and the entry of mixed-race people was allowed in the militias. It was from these various units that the bulk of the officers who fought in the battles of the Venezuelan War of Independence emerged. Among them were Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda, Simón Bolívar (Bolívar's own father had been Colonel of the Militia of Aragua), General in chief Santiago Mariño, Rafael Urdaneta, among many other heroes. With the establishment of an independent captaincy general in the latter half of the 18th century, the Spanish troops quartered in the province passed to the direct command of Caracas. The troops in the other provinces of the country, under the command of local governors, were overseen by the Captain General of Caracas, who served as commander in chief of the armed services. In this way a series of autonomous units was created for the peoples of the area and for defense duties, open to all fit males regardless of color. Aside from these the Spanish Navy also operated naval bases in the Captaincy General's territorial coastline, open to both whites and blacks as well.


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Wikipedia

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