Military of Honduras

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Honduras
Military manpower
Military age	18 years of age for voluntary two-three year military service (2004)
Availability	males age 18-49:1,537,232 (2005 est.)
Fit for military service	males age 18-49: 1,100,991 (2005 est.)
Reaching military age annually	males: 82,105 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures
Dollar figure	$52.8 million (2005 est.)
Percent of GDP	2.55% (2005 est.)

Events during the 1980s in El Salvador and Nicaragua led Honduras—with US assistance—to expand its armed forces considerably, laying particular emphasis on its air force, which came to include a squadron of US-provided F-5s. The resolution of the civil wars in El Salvador and Nicaragua and across-the-board budget cuts made in all ministries has brought reduced funding for the Honduran armed forces. The abolition of the draft has created staffing gaps in the now all-volunteer armed forces. The military now is far below its authorized strength, and further reductions are expected. In January 1999, the Constitution was amended to abolish the position of military commander-in-chief of the armed forces, thus codifying civilian authority over the military. Since 2002 soldiers have been involved in crime prevention and law enforcement, patrolling the streets of the major cities alongside the national police.

Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Honduran Air Force (Fuerzas Aéreas de Honduras)