Understanding Armed Forces: Structure, Roles, and Recruitment
Armed Forces: Joint Military Units and Structure
Armed forces are typically divided into distinct branches:
Army
The army’s military strength lies in its land-based capabilities. It is prepared and equipped to develop land operations for national defense and offense against the enemy.
Navy
The navy is responsible for the defense of territorial waters and port infrastructure.
Air Force
The air force supports ground troops and naval operations by bombing enemy infrastructure.
These divisions are becoming less distinct due to the need for an integrated offensive-defensive system. This system is organized and directed from a central command, under the authority of the President or Head of State, depending on the form of government (presidential or parliamentary).
Coordination and Subdivisions
Armed forces coordinate efforts to achieve specific purposes and are subdivided as follows:
Weapons
These are self-organized structures that differ based on their technical and operational expertise (e.g., cavalry, infantry, artillery, and engineering).
Services
These are additional structures that support the weapons divisions. They are characterized by the use of special technical support (e.g., health, veterinary services, anti-drug campaigns, transportation).
The Principle of Homeland Defense
The most important principle for the armed forces is “Homeland Defense,” which has different interpretations:
- Defense of the territory, airspace, and national waters against external aggression.
- Defense of institutions to ensure the performance of the democratic life of the state (opposition to internal aggression, such as civil war).
- The protection of public order and internal stability, which may be required during natural disasters. The army provides care in disaster areas, in cooperation with police forces.
- Literacy of recruits and the formation of a national ideology (ensuring that all work is done out of love for the country).
Recruitment Methods
Armed forces are characterized by the type of recruitment used:
- Conscription: This involves all male citizens born or resident in the territory of a state registering for conscription upon reaching the age limit established by law. After a medical review, they are inducted into the armed forces for a period determined by law, depending on essential military needs in times of peace.
- Joint Recruiting: A portion of the troops comes from conscription, while the other portion is from voluntary recruitment for long-term specialist service.
- Male Conscription: After initial training (around 20 years of age), individuals are subject to a series of shorter call-ups at intervals until the age of 40 or 45. The objective is to ensure that citizens remain trained and informed of technical innovations in military matters.
- Volunteer Recruitment: Individuals freely decide to join, and the state and military sign contracts for a limited time, providing competitive salaries compared to civilian professions.
The Mexican Army
The Mexican Army is the land branch of the Armed Forces of Mexico. It reports to the Ministry of National Defense and is responsible for defending the sovereignty of the country and protecting the security of its people. It currently has approximately 250,000 active troops and a reserve force due to the National Military Service (NMS), with a variable estimation of 1,500,000 non-stationed personnel.
Among the measures taken to defend sovereignty, the Mexican government requires all young people over 18 years of age to complete the National Military Service (NMS). Conscripts undergo basic combat training and weapons training. From 1994 to 2005, the military was mainly used for social service projects such as literacy campaigns and physical education. Since 2006, the National Military Service has provided basic combat and weapons training to conscripts.
The Political Role of Armed Forces
The political role of armed forces is considered an instrument for the conservation of peace and order, both from external hazards and internal threats.
Political power arises from the force and its physical conservation, which depends on the possibility of using violence. Armed forces, therefore, can be defined as the most common instrument to curb the will of others and are the monopoly of state power. This is why they are called repressive forces or repressive groups.