Military of Chile
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Military of Chile |
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| Service branches | Chilean Army Chilean Navy Chilean Marines Corps Chilean Air Force Carabiniers of Chile |
| Military age | 18 years of age |
| Available for military service |
Males age 15-49: 3,815,761 (2005 est.), age 15–49 |
| Fit for military service |
Males age 15-49: 3,123,281 (2005 est.), age 15–49 |
| Reaching military age annually |
Males: 150,084 (2005 est.) |
| Active personnel | 86,000 (ranked 46th) |
| Expenditures | |
| Budget | $3.62 billion |
| Percent of GDP | 3.9% of GDP |
| Industry | |
| Domestic suppliers | FAMAE ENAER ASMAR |
| Foreign suppliers |  Germany United Kingdom Netherlands United States Israel |
Chile's armed forces are subject to civilian control exercised by the president through the Minister of Defense. Military service of 12 to 24 months is mandatory for all male citizens upon turning 18. This conscription service can be postponed for educational or religious reasons.
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[edit] Structure
[edit] Army
The current Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean Army is Gen. Óscar Izurieta Ferrer. The 45,000-person army is organized into six divisions and one air brigade. The army operates Leopard 1V as main battle tank. The purchase of 140 second hand Leopard 2A4 from the German army is under delivery. It must be noted that the Chilean Army has never lost a war. This is stated in their main statement "siempre vencedor y jamas vencido", with English translation: "always victorious and never defeated".
[edit] Navy
Admiral Rodolfo Codina Díaz directs the 18,000-person Chilean Navy, including 4,800 marines. Of the fleet of 66 surface vessels, eight are major combatant ships and they are based in Valparaíso. The navy operates its own aircraft for transport and patrol; there are no fighter or bomber aircraft but they have attack helicopters. The Navy also operates four submarines based in Talcahuano.
[edit] Air Force
Gen. Ricardo Ortega Perrier heads 11,000 strong Chilean Air Force. Air assets are distributed among five air brigades headquartered in Iquique, Antofagasta, Santiago, Puerto Montt, and Punta Arenas. The Air Force also operates an airbase on King George Island, Antarctica.
[edit] Police
The Chilean police are a national, uniformed force, the Carabiniers, in Spanish Carabineros, and a smaller, plainclothes investigations force, called Investigaciones de Chile. After the military coup in September 1973, the Chilean national police were incorporated into the Defense Ministry. With the return of democratic government, the police were placed under the operational control of the Interior Ministry but remain under the nominal control of the Defense Ministry. Gen. José Bernales, who directs the national police force of 40,000, is responsible for law enforcement, traffic management, narcotics suppression, border control, and counter-terrorism throughout Chile. Gen. José Bernales passed away on Thursday, May 29, along with 9 others, in a helicopter accident in Panama City, Panama.
[edit] External links
- (Spanish) Ejército de Chile (Army)
- (Spanish) Armada de Chile website (Navy)
- (Spanish) Fuerza Aérea de Chile website (Air Force)
- (Spanish) Carabineros de Chile website
- (Spanish) Investigaciones de Chile website
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 Ejército de Chile (Army)  Armada de Chile (Navy)  Fuerza Aérea de Chile (Air Force)  Carabineros de Chile (Military Police) |
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