Military of Viet Nam
From Roach Busters
Service branches | Army Navy Air Force |
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Commander-in-Chief | President Nguyễn Thị Mai Dương |
Military age | 18-45 years old |
Conscription | Compulsory military service |
Available for military service | males age 16-49: 24,586,328 (2008 est.) females age 16-49: 24,335,132 (2008 est.) |
Fit for military service | males age 16-49: 18,849,274 (2008 est.) females age 16-49: 20,575,884 (2008 est.) |
Reaching military age annually | males: age 16-49: 903,734 (2008 est.) females age 16-49: 845,306 (2008 est.) |
Active personnel | 968,000 (2008 est.) |
Reserve personnel | 4,000,000 (2008 est.) |
Budget | USD $93.474 billion (2008 est.) |
Percent of GDP | 7.3% (2008 est.) |
The Military of Viet Nam (Vietnamese: Quân sự Việt Nam), encompassing the Army, Navy, Air Force, and various paramilitary and militia forces, is tasked with defending the Republic of Viet Nam, its people, and its national interests, at home and abroad. Due to the country's proximity to several hostile powers, most notably the People's Republic of China, Viet Nam maintains one of the largest militaries in the world. More than 70% of its armed forces are permanently stationed in the northernmost part of the country, to provide defense against a possible invasion by China.
The Vietnamese military, while proficient in most kinds of warfare, is especially well versed in counterinsurgency, urban, and unconventional warfare. Approximately 968,000 personnel are currently on active duty in the military with an additional 4,000,000 in the reserve components and 5,080,000 in the paramilitary forces, giving the military as a whole a total of over 10,000,000 personnel.
As of fiscal year 2008, the government allocates approximately 7.3% of GDP ($93.474 billion) on defense.
Viet Nam counts the Russian Second Republic and the Republic of China among its closest military allies, though the United States of America remains the primary supplier of Viet Nam's military hardware.