The Armed Forces of El Salvador are the official governmental military forces of El Salvador. The Forces have three branches: the Salvadoran Army, the Air Force of El Salvador, and El Salvador's Navy. The Forces were founded in 1840 at the time of the dissolution of the United Provinces of Central America. Between 1978 and 1992, the Salvadoran armed forces fought a civil war against the Frente Farabundo Marti para la Liberacion Nacional (FMLN). The military is accused of committing massacres, killings, torture and abuses of human rights during this time. The Salvadoran armed forces are a combat force composed of army, navy and air force each led by their Chief of the General Staff. The support units are a military education and doctrine command, a logistics support command, a military health command, a military special security brigade and a directorate general of recruitment and reserves. The duties of the Salvadoran Armed Force is described in articles 211 and 212 of the Constitution of 1983. It is the duty of the armed forces to defend national territory and sovereignty; maintain public peace, tranquillity, and security; and support democracy. Article 212 describes the armed forces as a 'fundamental institution for national security, of a permanent character, apolitical, obedient to established civilian authority, and non-deliberative". It also charges the military with enforcing the no-reelection provision of the country's president; guaranteeing universal suffrage, human rights; and working with the executive branch of government to promote national development. The Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces is the president. Reporting to the president is the Ministry of Defence. Members of the ministry advise the Secretary of State and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The military provides a panel composed of the Chiefs of the General Staff and military experts who provide the ministry with technical advice for policy-making and strategic planning. Oversight of the military is provided by the Assistant Inspector General of the Armed Forces. Within the military leadership are operating units, tactical units and advisory bodies. The operating units build on operational plans. The tactical units include detachments, training centres and forces of the army at the battalion level. The combat recognition and transport groups make up the Air Force tactical unit. The Navy uses to transport and hydrographic tactical units.

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Founded  7 May 1824;

Headquarters  Km 5 1/2 Carretera a Santa Tecla, San Salvador, El Salvador;

Military age  16 (voluntary), 18 (conscription)

Conscription  Yes

Available for military service1,634,816 males, age 16–49, 1,775,474 (2008 est.) females, age 16–49

Fit for military service1,201,290 males, age 16–49 - 1,547,278 (2009 est.) females, age 16–49

Reaching military age annually  77,473 males,
74,655 (2009 est.) females

Active personnel  47,000 (2017 est.)

Budget  $157,000,000 (2008 est.)

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Ref: Wikipedia