National Armed Forces of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

The main roles of the National Armed Forces of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Fuerza Armada Nacional Bolivariana, FANB) are to defend the sovereign national territory of Venezuela, fight against drug trafficking, to provide search and rescue capabilities and in case of natural disasters protection and aid to the civilian population.

The Venezuelan National Armed Forces are denominated "Forjador de Libertades" or "Forger of Freedoms". This refers to the Venezuelan armies fighting in Venezuela's independence war, as well as the independence wars of five other countries, namely Colombia, Ecuador, Perú, Panamá (then part of New Granada, present day Colombia) and Bolivia.

Currently, the national armed force of Venezuela is a conscript force. It does not have nuclear, chemical or biological warfare capability. It has established a number of partnerships with other regional militaries.

History of the Armed Forces of Venezuela
The origin of an organized and professional armed forces in Venezuela dates to the Spanish troops quartered in the former Province of Venezuela in the 18th century. Politically and militarily until the creation of the Captaincy General of Venezuela in 1777, the Province of Venezuela depended on the Real Audiencia of Santo Domingo (in today's Dominican Republic) or the Viceroyalty of New Granada (today, Colombia) for the defense of the area. In 1732 the Spanish crown created a Military Directorate and established a number of battalions, and had a few units from infantry regiments based in Spain arrive in the area. Reform of the military in the colonies began a few decades later. The first squadrons of cavalry arrived from Spain in 1751. The first batteries of Artillery were officially raised just two years later. Both Creole whites and blacks were allowed to enter the ranks of the artillery companies. That same year, a Fixed Caracas Battalion was established. Until the creation of this battalion, defense had been based on small colonial militia companies, which initially only accepted whites. Gradually, this racist policy yielded and the entry of mixed-race people was allowed in the militias. It was from these various units that the bulk of the officers who fought in the battles of the Venezuelan War of Independence emerged. Among them were Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda, Simón Bolívar (Bolívar's own father had been Colonel of the Militia of Aragua), General in chief Santiago Mariño, Rafael Urdaneta, among many other heroes. With the establishment of an independent captaincy general in the latter half of the 18th century, the Spanish troops quartered in the province passed to the direct command of Caracas. The troops in the other provinces of the country, under the command of local governors, were overseen by the Captain General of Caracas, who served as commander in chief of the armed services. In this way a series of autonomous units was created for the peoples of the area and for defense duties, open to all fit males regardless of color. Aside from these the Spanish Navy also operated naval bases in the Captaincy General's territorial coastline, open to both whites and blacks as well.

Already in the early 19th century, many of these Venezuelans who had formed the bulk of the officer corps at the start of the formation of the national armed forces began to arrive in the country after participating in military campaigns abroad in the American Revolutionary War, the French Revolution, or after completing their studies in Europe. With them came a number of mercenaries of many different nationalities: English, Scottish, Irish, French, German, Brazilian, Poles, Russians, and others. It was only in 1810 in the aftermath of the coup d'état of April 19 that year that formally began the process of raising the national armed services. Several of the military officers of the colonial military forces supported the coup and the subsequent creation of a junta. That Supreme Junta later appointed Commander Lino de Clemente to be in charge of defense affairs for the Captaincy General, and thus the armed forces began to be formed through their efforts, including the opening of a full military academy in Caracas for the training of officers, later joined by a naval academy in La Guaira for naval officer education the following year.

It could be said that in the first two decades of the 19th century, the nascent Liberation Army and Navy, was in the midst of the intellectual training of their military cadres, in various attempts to unleash the revolutionary war, and trying to build a modern army and navy. In the midst of that task came the generalissimo Francisco de Miranda, and the Liberator Simón Bolívar, who called for immediate action to, once and for all, ensure the independence of the nation, achieved through the aformationed April 19 coup of 1810 and later through the formal enactment of the 1811 Venezuelan Declaration of Independence. Bolívar surprised his military colleagues, when he rejected part of the Napoleonic military assumptions, habits and behaviors, took more British soldiers and those from other nations, and even through third parties requested the assistance of the British Crown for the formation of the regular army and navy for the growing republic. And he did made no mistake indeed: the 19th century, ultimately, was dominated by British and Prussian military influences. Once in battle, Bolívar began to develop his own tactics, military strategies and practices, whose legacy remains till this day in the National Armed Forces, and led to victory after victory and the full liberation of not just Venezuela, but of northern South America, through battles in both land and sea until the wars ended in 1824.

National period
During the second half of the 19th century, a school for officers continued (Military Academy of Mathematics, which was decades in advance of the policy of unification of arms and services of the Spanish military academy, which was in fact after to the Venezuelan one), a standing Army, weapons, and creating new services including the Corps of Sappers. This phase of the Venezuelan Army, is marked by infighting and a domain of local militias with no training (the Federal War was one example). The little outside help in military matters at this stage is limited to the British and the later Chilean military missions, which began the long modernization of the army and navy. The military figures (there were other political figures) of the armed forces who were the most important at this stage were Marshal Juan Crisóstomo Falcón, General in Chief Cipriano Castro, Brigadier General Ezequiel Zamora and Manuel Ezequiel Bruzual.

Already in the first half of the 20th century, President General in Chief Juan Vicente Gómez, who originally based on the plans of General in Chief Cipriano Castro, began a thorough modernization in the armed services, but does not create a new army as some historians point out. This modernization was done with the help of instructors and advisers from Chile, France, Italy and Germany. Interestingly, the late Prussian influence, did not reach the Venezuelan Army from the Germans, but from the Chilean military instructors in 1910. One of the most important reforms undertaken during the Gómez regime of the National Armed Forces, which began in 1910 with the aim of making the national armed services uniform, modern and technically advanced in this era of the 20th century.

The reform coincided with the centennial anniversary of the Venezuelan Declaration of Independence, which contributed to the doctrinal and political cohesion of the army and the navy. The most important milestones of this reform were:

In 1910, operation of the Military Academy of Venezuela that was reformed in 1903 started, and within it, the Nautical School (then called Naval School of Venezuela), establishing the School of Application for Military officers in active service with the aim of upgrading their military expertise. In 1913 the Superior Technical Office responsible for the development of military doctrine, organization and training of the army, was founded.

In 1920 the Military Aviation School of Venezuela was established. It was located in Maracay and was inaugurated the first of January of the next year to train the nation's military pilots.

In 1923/1930 a new Code of Military law was adopted that superseded all previous military laws and responded to the new political and military situation in the country. This process was accompanied by the modernization of the infrastructure, provision of arms, equipment, uniforms and a sustained growth of the military budget, which was made possible by oil revenues. The reform had a strong German influence. This is due mainly to the fact the Prussian/German army was the most modern of the era and in this sense become a model internationally.

The most important political consequence of this reform was the military defeat and political leadership, converted in 1913 after anti-gomecism. Since 1914 Gomez always retained the post of commander in chief of the Army, even when not holding the presidency of the Republic. The power base of support of the regime after 1913, apart from the yellow liberals and nationalists, was the armed forces, which became an essential element of repression to ensure public order and national progress.

At this stage the military and political figures more relevant (apart from the general Gómez himself), were General in Chief Eleazar López Contreras (who founded the National Guard in 1937) and Divisional General Isaías Medina Angarita, both Presidents of the Republic.

The second half of the 20th century, was just as turbulent for the Army, but it was projected into the future as a modern force, though not yet cohesive. Already under the government of Divisional General Marcos Pérez Jiménez, who led the country in the late 1940s and the early 1950s, the American influence (cultural, political and military) became more prominent then in the entire history of the armed forces. So jealous of the Venezuelan Army, over the subsequent decades, he kept a precarious existing French influence, as a balance to the overwhelming American influence in the armed forces. Between the years 1945 and 1952, there was a major program of military equipment purchases almost monopolized by the United States (although other military material was acquired from other sources) plus the military missions sent by that country. And again in the early years of the decade of the'70s, albeit in a more balanced way by their countries of origin.

The 70s were also marked with the Carabobo Reorganizational Plan, aimed to enhance the capability of the Army and marked an increase of regular army units and materiel. The Air Force, Navy and National Guard increased their capabilities as well with modern equipment to satisfy all those who serve.

Born again under a turbulent internal and external picture for the nation is the modern National Bolivarian Armed Forces, in the midst of the economic crises of the 1980s and the subsequent military coups of the early 1990s. But in a relatively short time it has undergone significant changes, including its name (from National Armed Forces to National Bolivarian Armed Forces) to its doctrines, switching from a non-political position to one that defends socialism and the Bolivarian revolution itself on its own. This change has been clearly visible by the switchover of partners and suppliers from 1999, the year that marked the end of a long-standing cooperation between the National Armed Forces, the US and its allies, to a new system of "multilateral alliances" with the Russian Federation as the biggest of those new military allies.

Today the NBAF stands prous of its long history and heritage and is committed to contribute to total national defense and development as the oldest active armed forces in South America and in the whole of Latin America.

Doctrine
The military doctrine of the National Bolivarian Armed Forces combines both Bolivarian and socialist principles, and also contributes to the development of the Venezuelan people integrated in the work of social mission promoted by the national Government; This new doctrine replaced the doctrine of national security. In the new defense doctrine, it replaces the people as potential enemy, and sets greater civil-military interaction and cooperation. The new Bolivarian Constitution promulgated in 1999, is unmistakable when specified, in its preamble, the democratic, anti-imperialist, condition as well as the defence of the principles of non-intervention and self-determination of peoples, as the momentum and consolidation of Latin American integration.

"“The people of Venezuela, in exercise of their creative powers and invoke God's protection, the historical example of our liberator Simon Bolivar and the heroism and sacrifice of our Aboriginal ancestors and of precursors and a free and sovereign homeland forgers; the Supreme goal of redefining the Republic to establish a democratic, participatory society and leading, multi-ethnic and multicultural in a State of Justice, federal and decentralized, which consolidate the values of freedom, independence, peace, solidarity, the common good, territorial integrity, coexistence and the rule of law for this and future generations; ensure the right to life, to work, to culture, to education, to social justice and equality without discrimination or subordination of any; promote peaceful cooperation between Nations and impulse and consolidate Latin American integration in accordance with the principle of non-intervention and self-determination of peoples, the universal and indivisible guarantee of human rights, the democratization of international society, nuclear disarmament, the ecological balance and environmental legal goods such as common and inalienable heritage of humanity; in exercise of its originating power represented by the National Constituent Assembly, by a free vote and democratic referendum has decreed the following”.

Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela 1999"

Mission Statement
According to the Article 3 of the Armed Forces Organic Law, the fundamental mission of the National Bolivarian Armed Forces is to ensure the independence and sovereignty of the nation and ensure the integrity of the geographical territories of the country, by means of military defence, cooperation in the maintenance of internal order and active participation in national development.

Organization and Structure
The President of Venezuela is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces under constitutional provisions, thus he has overall supervision and control over it. He also appoints the commanders of the Operational Strategic Command and the service branches and has full authority over all uniformed personnel.

Ministry of Defense


The Venezuelan Ministry of the People's Power for Defense is the federal-level organ responsible for maintaining the Venezuelan armed forces. As of July 2013, this ministry is headed by Admiral Carmen Melendez after the retirement of her predecessor, Admiral Diego Alfredo Molero Bellavia, from military service, becoming the first ever woman defense minister in Venezuelan history. The ministry coordinates numerous counter-narcotics operations, organizes various civil protection measures and operations, and general oversees the conventional military capabilities of Venezuela.

High Command and the High Council of the FAN
He or she is assisted in his functions by the Military High Command of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, which consists of the Minister of Defense who is an officer of the armed forces with the rank of general or admiral in chief (which is the only officer who holds this rank in the armed forces), the Chief of Inspectorate General for Defense, the Chief of the Operational Strategic Command, the Commanding General of the Army, the Commanding General of the Navy, the Commanding General of the Air Force, the Commanding General of the National Guard, and the Commanding Officer of the General Command of the National Reserve and National Mobilization (LOFAN Art. 42). The High Council of the NAF is made by the Military High Command. It is the principal organ for consultation and advice of the President of the Republic, of the National Defense Council and Minister of Defense, on issues of organization, operation, development and employment of the Armed Forces, either in peacetime or in state of emergency.

Operational Strategic Command
Formerly the Armed Forces Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Operational Strategic Command (CEOFAN) is the highest organ of programming, planning, management, implementation and strategic joint operational control of the National Armed Forces, with jurisdiction over the entire geographical area of the country and in mainland areas, water and space, according to treaties signed and ratified by the Republic. This organization is supported legally by the current Article 60 of the Organic Law of the National Armed Forces (LOFAN) as amended. This body is called by the same organic law as the CUFAN (Unified Command of the National Armed Forces). The leadership of this organ is held by a major general or admiral of a component of the FAN, and sometimes by a General in Chief or Admiral in Chief if promoted. Basically the Operational Strategic Command (CEO) is the body responsible for coordinating the action of military units belonging to different components of the Armed Forces, for example, an air war, where they expect the participation of the Army battalions, groups of aviation and air support units from the Navy, National Guard or the Militia, would be coordinated by the command.

Its former commander (until July 2012) was General in Chief Henry Rangel Silva concurrently also Minister of Defense, and the current commander is Major General Wilmer Omar Barrientos Fernández, the former Auditor General of the National Armed Forces (soon to be replaced by General in Chief Vladimir Padrino Lopez).

The newly created military regions are subordinate to the OSC, NBAF.

Since the implementation of the amendments to the Armed Forces Organic Law, the commanders of the OSC have been:

(*): They were subsequently appointed defence ministers, and they were also promoted to the rank while holding the office of the OSC Commander.

Note: Jesús Alfonzo González González was promoted to General in Chief after his term as the OSC Commander ended in 2009.

Military Regions
The Integral Strategic Defense Regions (REDI, Regiones Estrategicas de Defensa Integral), were formally activated on 13 September 2008, in compliance with the provisions of the new Organic Law of the National Armed Forces.

These are organized in the following manner as the:

Note: Major General Celso Enrique Canelones Guevara came from being the chief of the REDI Los Llanos.

REDI Los Andes is the newest of these regional formations, having been raised on 28 August 2013.

Service components
The National Armed Forces of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Fuerza Armada Nacional, FAN) are the overall unified military forces of Venezuela. It includes 113,558 (2012) men and women, under Article 328 of the Bolivarian Constitution (1999), in 5 components of Ground, Sea and Air, plus a special honor guard unit stationed in Caracas for the security of the President and for public duties. The components of the National Armed Forces are as follows:


 * Venezuelan Bolivarian National Army
 * Venezuelan Bolivarian National Navy
 * Venezuelan Bolivarian National Air Force
 * Venezuelan Bolivarian National Guard
 * Venezuelan Bolivarian National Militia
 * Venezuelan Presidential Honor Guard

Service branches of the NBAF
According to Article 9 of the Organic Law of the National Armed Forces, which took effect on Sept. 26, 2005, the entire National Armed Forces is composed of four service components, the Army, Navy, the Air Force, National Guard, which operate in an integrated manner and are supplemented by the National Reserve and Territorial Guard under the General Command of the National Reserve and National Mobilization, as the fifth component of it, to contribute to national defense and to meet the national defense requirements and capabilities. Each component has its own command and general staff, logistical structures and training schools, with the exception of the Reserve, which is fed by tables of NCO, sergeants and officers previously trained in other branches, but it has its own training centers, and has initiated special courses for training officers.

About 83,000 soldiers were integrated in the military through a fifth service branch, the Armed Reserve, although some of this force is more of a militia than a formal, professional armed corps.. In 2006 the FAN was transformed into six service branches, the Army, Navy, Air Force, National Guard, National Reserve and the Territorial Guard. The Army, Navy, Air Force and National Guard will serve under the Strategic Operational Command (Comando Estratégico Operacional), the National Reserve and the Territorial Guard will serve under the National Reserve and Mobilization Command (Comando General de la Reserva Nacional y Movilizacion Nacional), since 2009 now called as the National Militia General Command (Comando General de la Milicia Nacional).

Army


The Venezuelan Army (Fuerzas Terrestres or Ejército), is made up today of roughly 130,000 troops (including conscripts). Its main function is planning, implementing and monitoring terrestrial military operations in coordination with the other components of the national armed forces, in pursuit of the Integrated National Defense mission. Currently, it is organized in six operating divisions plus the other components: the Army Aviation Command, 6th Corps of Engineers, Army Logistics Command, and Army Education Command. It is a modern and disciplined army, composed of armored units, infantry, engineers, special forces and artillery, with a significant force projection power, and resources that allows to develop various types of airlift operations proportional to its size. It is the largest military branch of Venezuela's armed forces, which on 24 June 1821 won a huge military victory against the Empire of Spain in the Battle of Carabobo, which led to the independence of the nation and the beginning of the end of the long war for its independence. (This date is commemorated yearly as Army Day.) It later contributed to the independence of the present-day countries of Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Bolivia. It also fought in the long Federal War.

Its current commanding general is Major General Alexis Lopez Ramirez, formerly the first president of the Venezuelan Military University System.

Navy


The Venezuelan Navy (Fuerzas Navales or Armada Bolivariana) and Marines (Infanteria de Marina) is a modern navy of medium dimensions and ocean capable. The primary mission of the Navy is to implement, manage and control naval operations, naval aircraft, and the Coast Guard in support of Navy activities to ensure the execution of plans of employment.

The staff is estimated at roughly (estimated) 60,000 men and women. This figure includes 12,000 Marines and some 600 personnel from the Naval Aviation. The chain of command of the Venezuelan Navy is: Commanding General of the Navy, Inspector General of the Navy and Chief of the Naval General Staff. There are five major commands: Naval Logistics Command, Naval Personnel Command, Naval Education and Training Command and the Naval Operations Command, which in turn is composed of the following commands: Fleet Forces Command, Riverline Command, Naval Aviation Command, Coast Guard Command and the Marine Division. Operationally, the country is divided into two Naval zones; Western Naval Zone (HQ: Punto Fijo) and Eastern Naval Area (HQ: Carupano) that currently covers the Atlantic coast. The activation of the projected areas: Central Naval Area (HQ: Puerto Cabello), Atlantic (HQ: Güiria) and South (HQ: Caicara Orinoco) is currently in the planning stages.

Navy Day is celebrated on the date of Simon Bolivar's birthday, July 24, the day of the final battle of the Venezuelan War of Independence, the Battle of Lake Maracaibo, in 1823.

The Commanding General of the Navy (as of 2013) is Admiral Gilberto Pinto Blanco.

Air Force


Founded in 1946 on the basis of the aviation arms of the Army and the Navy, the Venezuelan Air Force (Fuerzas Aérea or Aviación Militar), today, is one of the most modern air forces in Latin America. It is organized the same as the other military components, with the following commands: Air Operations Command (integrated in thirteen Air Groups, consisting of squadrons of transport aircraft, helicopters, fighter and attack aircraft and training aircraft), the Air Defense Command, the Airborne Command, the Logistics Command, and the Personnel Command, including the Air Force Academy, Air Personnel Training School and the Air War College. Its main objective is to protect the airspace of Venezuela in coordination with the other components of the National Armed Forces, and to participate actively in the development of the nation. In 2007, the Air Force was renamed as the Bolivarian National Military Air Force of Venezuela and has gone into an expansion and modernization program to meet the demands of the present day air force.

27 November is now celebrated as Air Force Day since 2010 to honor the Air Force participation in the 2nd coup d'état of 1992 against President Carlos Andes Perez. It was formerly held on 10 December is celebrated in honor of the 1920 founding of the Air Force Academy in Maracay from 1946 to 2009.

The Commanding General of the Venezuelan Air Force is Major General Giusseppe Angelo Yofreda.

National Guard


The National Guard of Venezuela (Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperacion or Guardia Nacional), according to the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, will conduct operations required for the maintenance of internal order in the country, cooperate in military operations required to ensure the defense of the Nation, exercise administrative and police activities of Criminal Investigation assigned to it by the laws, and will actively participate in national development in the territory of the nation. It is a military corps with police functions. With roughly 70,000 troops, its organized into twelve regional commands (brigade size), with plans to expand that number to fifteen commands. Additionally, there is the Coastal Surveillance Command, the Air Support Command, the National Guard Command School, the Logistics Support Command and the National Guard Academy and the various other institutions under its Education Command. It is planned to structure the National Guard in divisions, under the command of the Territorial Commands. In 2007, the National Guard was renamed as the Bolivarian National Guard of Venezuela, and was expanded even further to include the People's Guards Command in 2011 and the Anti-extortion and Sequestration Command in 2013, with a Social Action Division in the planning stage as of present. It marked its diamond year anniversary in 2012.

As the service was formally raised on August 4, 1937, via a presidential decree, the date is commemorated every year as National Guard Day.

The Commanding General of the National Guard is Major General Justo Noguera Pietri.

National Militia
The Venezuelan militia traces its origins to the militia battalions raised in the 18th century during the Spanish era, that later formed the basis of the armed forces upon the independence of the nation. It was only in the 21st century that the militias were revived this time as a full branch of the armed services of Venezuela, formed on the basis of the various reserve commands of the National Armed Forces first as the Armed Reserve Force, then as the National Reserve and Mobilization Command, and from 2009, as the National Bolivarian Militia.

Today the General Command of the National Militia is divided in two major commands:

1. The National Reserve, consisting of all Venezuelan citizens who are not in active military service, or have completed military service, or who voluntarily join the reserve units.

2. The Territorial Guard, consisting of all Venezuelan citizens who voluntarily serve to organize local resistance to any external threat to national independence.

A third component, the People's Navy Branch, created in 2013, serves as a naval militia component composed of volunteer national servicemen and women contributing to the defense of the nation's maritime waters and coastline.

At present the National Militia is organized on the basis of nine (09) Reserve groupings, present throughout the national territory, and a dozen Special Resistance Corps (grouped around workers contingents of state enterprises and federal government institutions). It is an autonomous and auxiliary force for the Armed Forces' service branches. It can be estimated at the present time about 400,000 men and women are on various training levels, but the target of its authorities is to reach 1,100,000 part-time national servicemen and women, including a newly raised youth cadet arm for university students and a women's militia component. Today more than 150,000 men and women serve actively in the militia, with plans to have a half a million strong active militia force in 2015.

In honor of the reservists' honorable service during the April 13, 2002 coup d'état in defense of the presidency, armed forces and the people, that day is celebrated yearly as National Militia Day.

The Commanding General of the National Militia is Major General José Antonio Briceño Romero.

Presidential Honor Guard
The Presidential Honor Guard Brigade is the military unit mandated to ensure the immediate security of the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and his First Family. The most distant antecedent of the Presidential Honor Guard goes back to the Hussars Troop of Bolivar, of the Venezuelan War of Independence and of the larger Spanish American wars of independence, raised in June 1815. The Presidential Honor Guard is composed today by the personnel from both the five components of the National Armed Forces and the civil security services, and is commanded by a brigadier general or colonel or equivalent. At the moment, it is a unit of Brigade size. The Brigade provides the honor guard to the President in State Arrival Ceremonies at the Miraflores Palace and to the President in every activity held in the grounds and at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Carabobo Field, Valencia Municipality, Carabobo, in honor of its participation in one of the final two battles of the Venezuelan War of Independence, the Battle of Carabobo in June 24, 1821, fought at the very grounds where the tomb is located, where a Guard Mounting ceremony is held daily in the midday hours. And from 2013 onward the Brigade is also charged with mounting the guard at the tomb of the late President Hugo Chavez at Fort Montana in Caracas plus in Bolivar's renovated mausoleum in the National Pantheon of Venezuela complex, also in Caracas, with guard mounting duties done daily, with all of them open to the public.

The dress uniform used by the Presidential Honor Guards mirrors the uniform of Bolivar's Hussar Troop during the Venezuelan War of Independence: red short jacket polo with black trousers or pants with sabre and scabbard, long black belt, black boots and a busby hat. The Mounted Platoon wears the Sabretache with the dress uniform when mounted in appropriate occasions like military parades. In both cases the brigade personnel carry sabres and lances with the full dress uniform. Red berets are worn with the service dress green and combat dress uniforms.

The Commander of the Presidential Honor Guard Brigade (as of July 12, 2013) is Brigadier General Manuel Gregorio Bernal.

Military Intelligence
The main directorate of military intelligence (Dirección General de Inteligencia Militar, DGIM), is the bureau in charge to collect all the strategic intelligence data, and to coordinate the diverse institutions or departments of military intelligence, of the components of National Armed Force.

The Chief of the main directorate of military intelligence is brigadier general Wilfredo Figueroa Chacín.

Budget
According to the law of the approved budget for the 2012 Fiscal year, the budget allocated to the defense sector, is US$ 4.959 million, which represents 6.5% of Venezuela's gross domestic product (GDP). Another source indicates that the amount is of 4,508 millions of dollars. This amount does not include the additional credit granted by the Russian Federation of 4 billion of dollars, half of which will be used in fiscal year 2012, and the other half in fiscal year 2013.

Military Justice
According to the article 76 of the Organic Law of the National Armed Force, the system of military justice consists of


 * The Military Criminal Judicial Circuit.
 * The Military Prosecutor.
 * The Military Advocacy.
 * Auxiliary and research bodies.

Article 77 of the same Act specifies the support logistics and financial of the same: the Ministry of defence will provide the human, financial, material and technical resources for its proper functioning. Likewise, will seek the administrative and financial autonomy of each of the members of the system of military justice.

Personnel
All men and women that are citizens of Venezuela have a constitutional duty to register for military service at the age of 18, which is the age of majority in Venezuela.

Requirements for military service

 * Be Venezuelan
 * Be between eighteen and thirty (30) years of age for men, and the women twenty-five (25) years of age.
 * Be unmarried; and for women not to have children.
 * Not having a case in court.
 * Present the identity card (while still losing).
 * Not be disabled physically.
 * Not have a criminal record.

Military Education
The military educational system, according to the concept of military strategy of the National Armed Forces, has a mission to educate, train and develop professionals pro-active, responsible, aware of the commitment with the defense in depth and its participated actively in the development of the country, achieving a comprehensive and interdisciplinary training that enable them to interact with the management of public or private; the education system will be geared towards a sound humanistic, scientific, research and spiritual culture that promotes leadership and educational self-management, development of competences, which facilitates the adaptation of their knowledge to the continuous transformation of science and technology, with emphasis on the observance and respect of human rights and international humanitarian law.

Venezuelan Bolivarian Military University


The Venezuela Bolivarian Military University (Universidad Militar Bolivariana de Venezuela, UMBV), was created by initiative of the National Government, through the efforts of the late President Hugo Chávez, with the firm intention to promote a strategic vision for the country and accelerate the thinking and the military national strategy inspired by the ideologies of Simón Bolívar, Samuel Robinson and Ezequiel Zamora. The university was formally launched on September 3, 2010, 200 years from the day of the founding of the Military academy of Venezuela, the oldest military academy in Latin America, to help understand the issue of safety in a holistic manner and to respond in complex form. The VBMU promotes the integration and educational interaction of the various components and the bolivarian militia. Also, the military civic integration also recognizes both dimensions as a condition sine qua non for the guarantee of the security of the Venezuelan State. This University has the mission of educating integrally all its cadets, with ethical, moral, spiritual and Socialist values, to prepare them for the duties of being an officer in the National Bolivarian Armed Forces' various service arms and the militia, through a process of humanistic, scientific, technical and sporting skills, to fulfill the tasks inherent to the components and the militia in national defence and security as well as in contributing to national development. Headquartered in Fort Tiuna in Caracas with branches in Catia del Mar and Maracay, Brigadier General Alexis Jose Rodriguez Cabello serves as its president as of 2013.

This is formed by the following institutions:

Academies
 * Military Academy of the Army (Caracas, Capital District)
 * Military Academy of the Navy (Catia La Mar, Vargas State)
 * Military Aviation Academy (Maracay, Aragua State)
 * Military Academy of the National Guard (Caracas, Capital District)
 * Bolivarian Military Technical Academy (Maracay, Aragua State)
 * Troop Officers Training Center (Centro de Formación de Oficiales de Tropa, CEFOT) (Caracas, Capital District)

Specialty Schools
 * Infantry School General-in-Chief Rafael Urdaneta
 * Cavalry and Armored Forces School Brigadier General Juan Guillermo Iribarren
 * Artillery School Colonel Diego Jalón
 * Logistics School Brigadier General José Gabriel Pérez
 * Military Engineering School Brigadier General Francisco Jacot
 * Naval Tactical Studies School
 * Air Power College
 * School of Internal Security Studies
 * National Armed Forces Military Communications and Electronics Institute (Instituto Universitario Militar de Comunicaciones y Electrónica de la Fuerza Armada Nacional, IUMCOELFA)
 * Languages School of the National Armed Forces Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda

Post-Graduate Studies Centers
 * National Defense Advanced Studies Institute Grand Marshal of Ayacucho Anthonio Jose de Sucre (Instituto de Altos Estudios de la Defensa Nacional, IAEDEN)
 * National Armed Forces War College

National Experimental University of the Armed Forces
The National Experimental University of the Armed Forces (Spanish: Universidad Nacional Experimental Politécnica de la Fuerza Armada Bolivariana, UNEFA) is a Venezuelan public university associated with the Venezuelan armed forces. Founded in 1974 as the National Armed Forces University Polytechnical Institution (Instituto Universitario Politécnico de las Fuerzas Armadas Nacionales), it was renamed by the Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez in 1999 to its current name. It's mission is the training of civilian personnel in the NAF and all military personnel in educational skills, and it also offers doctoral programs and post-graduate studies.

Mission Miranda
The main goal of the armed forces, under this mission, are to organize, recruit, record, monitor, and re-train the Armed Forces Reserves and National Militias with the aim of defending the integrity of the country through military defense, cooperation in maintaining internal order, and active participation in the national development.

Objectives:
 * 1. Form a structural organization of adequate reserves for the needs of the FAN.
 * 2. Procure the required infrastructure for the various commands of the reserve in each of the components.
 * 3. Procure equipment and materials for storage to be used by members of the Reserve of the Armed Forces:
 * 4. Develop an effective registration and monitoring program to ensure the identification, recording and location by region of the personnel of the Armed Forces Reserve.
 * 5. Meet the curricular plans and instructional programs for academic activities and skills of the staff of the Armed Forces Reserve.
 * 6. Meet the curricular plans and instructional programs for retraining of staff of the Reserve of the Armed Forces during periods of field drills.
 * 7. Logistically support all the processes that must be met in the organization of the Armed Forces Reserve
 * 8. Planning, procuring and implementing the annual budget required for the operation and maintenance of reserve units.
 * 9. Ensure the employment of staff that makes up the Armed Forces Reserve in the different scenarios of action foreseen in the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
 * 10. Incentives to seek the staff of the Reserve of the Armed Forces for their recruitment.

Women in the Armed Forces
The integration of Venezuelan women in the NBAF has been completed; for the year 2013 all the service academies have the female students as well as the military high schools that previously been co-educational since the 1980s and 1990s, and today there are already women pilots and aircrews, lady crew members of ships, and lady personnel in combat duty in the Army, and they have reached the highest military ranks as well. President Hugo Chavez said on July 2012 about it: "not only is the promotion to a hierarchy, but the promotion that gives Venezuelan people. All women say that they feel proud to be in a country that promotes the inclusion of women". Currently the 4 components that make up the NBAF: the Army, Navy, Air Force and the National Guard, plus the National Militia as well, have courageous women who choose a military career for their professional development part of their ranks as either enlisted personnel, non-commissioned officers and officers. Within these service branches, the Venezuelan military woman has achieved important positions.

Boys and girls also join together as students of the various educational institutions jointly operated by the service branches of the National Armed Forces and the Ministry of Education from pre-school to the secondary level.

In an opinion article published in the year 2010, it is stated that: "Macho culture does not exist within the National Bolivarian Armed Forces"

Historical dates of the achievements of the Venezuelan women in the National Bolivarian Armed Forces:


 * July 1977: first contingent of women to enter a school of training of officers of the armed forces of Venezuela, specifically to the aviation school in Maracay.
 * June 2007: first woman pilot certified to fly the Mi-26 helicopter, the world's biggest helicopter.
 * July 4, 2007: first woman promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral.
 * December 28, 2008: A woman Brigadier General founded the Military Technical School of the NBAF (today the Military Technical Academy and formerly the Armed Forces Basic School) as Directress, the first ever woman to hold the directorian post in a Venezuelan service academy.
 * July 5, 2010: the Venezuelan Government conferred Manuela Sáenz (also called the "Libertadora del Libertador"), the grade of brigadier general of the Bolivarian army of Venezuela posthumously, as the "posthumous recognition of the virtues of heroine of American independence" due to her outstanding contributions in the Spanish American wars of independence.
 * November 27, 2009: first female pilot of fighter aircraft.
 * January 23, 2012: first woman to complete a flight on a Venezuelan Air Force Super King Air B200
 * July 3, 2012: first woman promoted to Admiral.
 * May 28, 2013: The Venezuelan National Guard's Air Command welcomed its first lady pilot in history.

During the national Independence Day Armed Forces Promotions ceremony at Fort Montana in Caracas on July 5, 2013, also marking 4 months after the death of Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro shocked everyone by making an historic announcement that Admiral Carmen Teresa Meléndez Rivas, the first ever Venezuelan lady admiral in history and the current Presidential Secretary, would be appointed as the first ever lady Minister of Defense in the nation's history as well as in its military history.

Military Ranks
The most important reform in more than one century, was in 2008, with the enactment of the reform of the Organic Law of the National Armed Forces, which established, among many innovations, the transformation of the non-commissioned officer level "technical officer" to commissioned officer status. As part of the same reform, the rank of major General, intermediate rank that comes after Divisional General and before the rank of General in Chief, was officially created. In the case of the Navy, Admiral in Chief is now equivalent to General in Chief.

Article 62 of the Organic Law of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces has the full order of ranks of military officers, and their equivalents in the Navy, while Article 63 of the Organic Law provides the full military hierarchy of professional troops. Article 69 of the Organic Law provides the military hierarchy of the enlisted personnel and ratings of the National Armed Forces.

Three-sun ranking
The rank of Major General, a rank immediately below the General in Chief and above Divisional General, and their respective equivalence was established in the year 2008 in the aftermath of the Armed Forces Organic Law amendments and in the Navy, Admiral (three-suns) and Admiral in Chief (four-suns) are the equivalent today. These officers are assigned mostly to the leadership of military regions (REDI), Commander General of Components, General Inspectorate, vice-ministers, and temporarily as Chief of the CEOFANB, if the Minister of Defence is an official asset, with the rank of General in Chief.

One must not confuse this rank with the General staff rank in most of the armed forces of the world, which is equivalent to the second rank of general officers.

Four-sun ranking
Since the age of the independence war in Venezuela the most senior officer is designated as general-in-chief (general en jefe). From its creation the rank was represented by three mythical suns (equivalent to three star rank), but with the creation in 2008 of the rank of Major General, four mythical suns (equivalent to four star rank) are used. If used in the Navy, it is called as admiral in chief (almirante en jefe).

Since 2001, fourteen (14) officers were promoted to this rank:

Commander-in-Chief ranking
The office of the Venezuelan military supreme commander in chief has always been held by the President of Venezuela as per constitutional requirements, however with the new law sanctioned in 2008, the “Comandante en Jefe” rank is not only a function attributed to the executive branch but a full military rank given to the President upon taking office. Upon assumption he receives a saber, epaulette, shoulder knot, shoulder board and sleeve insignia and full military uniform to be used in military events while performing the duties as President.

Berets
Berets are worn by some units in the National Armed Forces, with distinctive colors for some units or functions. The beret colors are as follows:

Extensive modernization program
The Venezuelan government has embarked on a massive military purchase programme. This has included negotiations for German submarines and transport aircraft, several agreements with Russia (outlined below), transport aircraft and naval vessels from Spain, radars from China, home-made and designed armored light vehicles and rocket launchers, studies for Russian main battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, amongst many others. Most if not all European military hardware have not been delivered to Venezuela due to the U.S. embargo.

Surveillance radars, AK-103s and helicopters: Mi-17, Mi-26 and Mi-35
Venezuela in 2005 acquired 3 JYL-1 long range 3D surveillance radars from China at a cost of $150 million. The 3 JYL-1s, which are truck mounted, were all delivered by 2007.

Also that year, Venezuela bought 51 military helicopters from Russia, by 2008 all 51 had been delivered to the Venezuelan armed forces, the helicopters acquired were: 40 Mi-17, 3 Mi-26 and 8 Mi-35. Then in 2006 the country purchased 100,000 Russian AK-103 assault rifles, all delivered in that same year. Chavez also claimed to have acquired a license to manufacture Kalashnikovs in Venezuela, but the factory hasn't yet been built.

Su-30s and missiles
In 2006 Venezuela purchased 24 Su-30MK jet fighters also from Russia, all delivered by 2008. In order to equip those fighters the country bought a large assortment of missiles, it is estimated that Venezuela acquired: 200 laser-guided bombs types KAB-500 and KAB-1500, 50 Kh-29 air-to-surface missiles, 50 Kh-31A1 anti-ship missiles, 50 Kh-59ME TV-guided cruise missiles, 100 Vympel R-27 medium-range air-to-air missiles and 150 Vympel R-73 short-range air-to-air missiles.

Night vision equipment, sniper rifles and submarines
In 2007, the Belarussian military optics industry agreed to supply the Venezuelan army with night vision devices, and install on, as Hugo Chavez described, "every single rifle in the Venezuelan army." The deal is valued at $3–$24 million. Later that year, Chavez announced plans to purchase of 5,000 Dragunov sniper rifles from the Russian Rosoboronexport, adding that Venezuela must ready itself for a "possible U.S. invasion." It is not clear whether that deal was completed. In all, from 2005 to 2007 Venezuela purchased more than $4.4 billion in weapons from Russia.

After signing an "initial contract", Venezuela was expected in June 2007 to finalize the acquisition of five diesel Project 636 Kilo class submarines, and at a later date finalize the acquisition of four diesel Project 677 Amur class submarines. In spite of the expectations, Chavez didn't sign the deal. Ten months later in April 2008, Venezuela decided to negotiate with Russia a loan of about $800 million for the acquisition of 4 diesel Project 636 Kilo class submarines. During that time Venezuela was also considering the purchase of 12 Il-76 transport aircraft. The submarines plus the aircraft were going to cost a total of $1.5 billion. However, this acquisition deal wasn't completed either. The negotiations for the purchase of the submarines broke down and 6 submarines that were once planned for Venezuela are now being offered to Vietnam.

Russian loans and the Chinese K-8W light jet
In September 2008, Russia provided Venezuela with a $1 billion loan to buy Russian weapons. A Kremlin source said "The Russian side has made the decision to extend to Venezuela a $1 billion loan for a military cooperation program." There is a lot of speculation about which weapons will be bought with that loan. Venezuela has shown interest on the following weapons: TOR-M1 SAM systems, T-72 tanks, Su-35 jet fighters and Il-76 military cargo aircraft. Despite of the interest and the Russian credit line, no deal has been finalized. In October 2008 Rosoboronexport informed that Venezuela was close to buying among other things a "large shipment of BMP-3" infantry fighting vehicles, however that deal too wasn't finalized.

Also in September Chavez confirmed that Venezuela purchased 24 K-8 Karakorum trainer jets from China. The deal, which is estimated to be worth between $72–$84 million, was the biggest Venezuelan arms deal of 2008.

On the 21 of July 2010, one Chinese K-8 light jet went down. Pilot and assistant ejected.

Venezuela has acquired an undisclosed number of SA-24 Igla-S man-portable surface to air missiles. The SA-24 Igla-S is the most advanced version built in Russia. This acquisition was only confirmed after 50 SA-24 Igla-S were paraded by soldiers in Caracas in April 2009. In reaction to the acquisition the US State Department declared: "We are concerned about Venezuelan arms purchases that exceed its needs and are therefore potentially destabilizing".

In September 2009 Russia agreed to loan Venezuela over $2 billion to finance the purchase of weapons including tanks and advanced anti-aircraft missiles. It was stated that because of lower crude prices, the country needed to borrow the money for defence spending to avoid cuts in education and health. The deal includes orders for 92 T-72 tanks and the Buk-M2, S-125 Neva/Pechora missile system and S-300 air-defence systems and also the BM-30 Smerch rocket artillery system. President Hugo Chavez stated that "Venezuela has no plans to invade anybody, or to be aggressive towards anybody," and "with these rockets it's going to be very difficult for foreign planes to come and bomb us". Chavez repeated Venezuela's commitment to developing nuclear power for peaceful purposes with the help of Russia and reiterated his strong opposition to nuclear weapons.

Signed contract with China for 500 million dollars, to provide Venezuelan Marine Corps
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says his government will buy amphibious tanks from China for its military. Chavez isn't saying how many of the armored vehicles Venezuela intends to buy, but says the deal signed Tuesday calls for a Chinese company to begin delivering the tanks next year. He announced the deal in a speech to troops, saying the $500 million cost will be financed through loans that China has offered Venezuela in exchange for oil shipments.

The Russian Federation gives new credit and Venezuelan Government shows interest in the Su-35
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said he is interested in buying Sukhoi Su-35 Flanker-E multirole fighter jets from Russia to enhance his country’s defense capabilities. “I have already sent a statement to the government of Russia that we are ready to consider buying in the next few years Su-35 fighters to modernize and enhance our defense powers” Venezuela’s national radio quoted Chavez as saying.

Russia and Venezuela have signed an agreement on a $4 billion loan for the oil-rich Latin American partner to buy Russian weaponry. “Two billion will be provided next year and another two billion in 2013” Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said.

Controversy with the United States
These acquisitions and other projects have been greeted with criticism from the United States, which opposes the government of President Hugo Chávez. The U.S. accuses Venezuela of starting an arms race, which they claim will destabilize the military equilibrium in South America. Venezuela is also accused of supplying small arms to neighboring Colombian guerrilla organizations including FARC, which is sympathetic to Chávez.

United States criticism is met with skepticism by Venezuelan authorities, who claim the weapons are needed to update the basic equipment in the armed forces. In some cases, Venezuelan armaments like the FN FAL have been in service more than 50 years. The government also claims that the U.S. has been the one to initiate arms races and de-stabilize countries by supplying subversive groups in Latin America throughout the past century (referring to the 1954 Guatemalan coup d'état during the Cold War, and the contra affair, among numerous other incidents).

In the 1990s Venezuela requested a batch of F-16C/Ds to update its F-16 fighter fleet, but the U.S. government blocked the request. In October 1997 the U.S. government approved the sale of the two crash replacement F-16s, but subsequently halted the sale. In 2005 a contract with Israel Aircraft Industries to upgrade Venezuela's F-16s was frozen following U.S. pressure. Chavez subsequently accused the U.S. of delaying the sale of spare parts to maintain Venezuela’s F-16s. After remarks by Chavez that he would sell or lend the 'unused' F-16's to any country that wanted them, including Iran, the U.S. Government agreed to supply the spare parts; however, the shipment was detained at the Customs Office in Maiquetia International Airport due to security concerns.

U.S. military embargo
In May 2006, the government of the United States announced an embargo of military material and equipment to Venezuela; no American-made weapons or technology can be sold to Venezuela by any country or company. This embargo has harmed several Venezuelan purchases, as not only are U.S. technology goods unavailable, but other nations friendly to the U.S. have been pressured to block sales of arms to Venezuela, as well. This is also considered one of the reasons Venezuela has turned to Russia and China for arms, in a move reminiscent of the Cold War.

In 2005 Venezuela signed agreements with Spain to procure 12 naval transport and reconnaissance aircraft and eight naval patrol vessels. The deal is worth $1.5-2 billion dollars to the Spanish defense industry, as well as an estimated 900 new jobs, but was cancelled due to the U.S. embargo. The cancellation does not affect the eight naval patrol vessels.

Below is a list of acquisitions frustrated directly or indirectly by the U.S. embargo:
 * 🇨🇿 Aero L-159 Alca Jets from the Czech Republic: the Czech government forbade Aero Vodochody, the manufacturer, from creating a variant with French avionics and Ukrainian engines, specially requested by Venezuela.
 * 🇸🇪 Saab AB, a Swedish arms company announced it would honor the U.S. embargo, and would not sell arms to Venezuela. Carl Gustav recoilless rifles, AT4 AT weapons, as well as RBS-70 AA systems are in service in the Venezuelan military.
 * 🇪🇸 Spanish company EADS CASA halted the sale of several transport planes that contained extensive U.S. technology.
 * 🇧🇷 Brazil was forced to cancel the sale of Embraer Super Tucano airplanes to the Venezuelan Air Force due to its use of Pratt & Whitney engines. Embraer was also forced to cancel the sale of AEW&C equipped planes.
 * 🇫🇷 France decided to block the sale of Scorpène class submarines to Venezuela.
 * 🇷🇺 Russian companies Rosoboronexport and Sukhoi have been sanctioned by the U.S. government for procuring arms for Venezuela.

The Russian Federation has broken the U.S. embargo
However, the Russian Federation has continued sending arms to Venezuela despite the US embargo. Russia has agreed to sell more than $4 billion (£2 billion) worth of armaments to Venezuela since 2005 and disclosed that Mr Chávez wanted new antiaircraft systems and more fighter jets.

Caracas acknowledges problems with Iran by U.S. embargo
The Venezuela President, Hugo Chávez, acknowledged that the joint production between his country and Iran cars, has been affected by the embargo that United States keeps on the Islamic country.

Spanish Defense Minister, defends arms sales to Venezuela
Minister of the Defence of the Kingdom of Spain, defends himself against the Spanish Parliament, the sale of weapons to Venezuela. The Minister of defense, Pedro Morenes, has defended the sale of military equipment to Venezuela, and reported that a delegation from the public company Navantia has traveled to the capital of the country, Caracas, to try to sell new products to the Government of Hugo Chávez. Morenes has made these statements during his speech at the plenary session of the Congress to reply to an interpellation by the spokesman for Izquierda Unida, Jose Luis Centella, on the Ministry of defence plans for the coming years and the Spanish missions abroad.

Role of the military in Venezuelan politics
"“Venezuela was born in a bivouac[.]” Simón Bolívar"

The armed forces has a leading role in Venezuelan politics, since the creation of the Gran Colombia. Once the Republican stage, occurred mostly Governments autocratic, military all; until the middle of the 20th century.

Currently, this influence is maintained, because the President and much of the Ministers and senior public officials, come from the military ranks. Today, Venezuelan society perceives that the military are good stewards, although there is criticism on their participation in political affairs.

One of the advances achieved in the new Bolivarian Constitution of 1999 was to allow the right to vote in the elections, without major troubles, to alll service personnel of the armed forces. This is the right enshrined in article 64 of the said Constitution.

Venezuelan military coup d'états
Multiple coups d ' état ensued until the recent past.


 * June 1835 Venezuelan coup d'état attempt (Revolución de las Reformas)
 * March 1858 Venezuelan coup d'état (Revolución de Marzo)
 * May 1899 Venezuelan coup d'état (Revolución Liberal Restauradora)
 * December 1908 Venezuelan coup d'état
 * October 1945 Venezuelan coup d'état
 * November 1948 Venezuelan coup d'état
 * January 1958 Venezuelan coup d'état
 * May 1962 Venezuelan coup d'état attempt (El Carupanazo)
 * June 1962 Venezuelan coup d'état attempt (El Porteñazo)
 * February 1992 Venezuelan coup d'état attempt (Army's movement)
 * November 1992 Venezuelan coup d'état attempt (Air Force's movement)
 * November 1993 Venezuelan coup d'état attempts (Navy's movement)
 * April 2002 Venezuelan coup d'état attempt

However, President Hugo Chávez, believes that it has passed the stage of coups d' état and new uprisings are unlikely. Likewise the President asserted the popular nature of the coup d ' état of February 4, 1992: “''As Simon Bolivar said: Venezuela was born in a bivouac; that is to say, Venezuela was born among soldiers. Nineteen years ago Venezuela was dying, but we can say today that on February 4 it resurrected, it was brought back to life among soldiers and will stay alive in the barracks and streets''” Chavez said. Vice-President Elias Jaua, pointed out that the NBAF have proven their essence, joining the people in the most difficult situations, such as the coups d' état of April 2002.

Political ideology
Today the National Bolivarian Armed Forces' political ideology is considered openly anti-imperialist, anti-capitalist, and defends their status as socialist and Bolivarian in the legacy of the heroes of the nation's wars of independence.

Criticism
Some organizations (national and international) have questioned the level of politicism and influence of the armed forces in national political affairs.

Role in Venezuelan society
"“The people are like water and the army is like fish” Mao Zedong"

The President has used this quote from Mao Zedong to explain and justify the participation of the FANB, in the work of national development. While the former armed force of Venezuela, always collaborated with the development of the country, also is true that from year 1999 here, that contribution and interaction with the country, has been carried very high levels. In fact, was created a national development program, using the capacities of the FANB: the Plan Bolívar 2000; and who directs the one called: Gran Misión “Vivienda Venezuela” the Defense Minister of the day, this program consists of the mass manufacture of housing. The Minister of defence, general-in-chief Rangel Silva, confirmed the commitment of the FANB as an institution that is convinced that support for the national development is critical in each of the missions. President Hugo Chavez justified the participation of the FANB in national development efforts. An element associated with this interaction with the Venezuelan society that has the FANB, is that Venezuelan society is considered to be the most patriotic second in the world, second only to US.

Humanitarian relief
The tragedy of Vargas in December 1999, brought with it several lessons, that the Government knew how to assimilate, one of them was the quick action of the FANB to assist populations in danger, and the reconstruction of devastated areas. Since then, Venezuela through the FANB, participated in numerous actions of humanitarian assistance, in several countries of the world.


 * Humanitarian International Brigade "Simón Bolívar"

It is a unit created in order to attend immediately to populations affected by natural calamities, both nationally and internationally. Task forces of this unit have provided support to countries like Nicaragua, Bolivia, Ecuador, Cuba, Haiti,   Mali, among others.


 * Battalion 51 "Dra. Migledys Campos Goatache"

It is a unit of civilian and military doctors who assists medical in remote areas of national and international geography. Between international actions that this unit has had civic-military, this medical assistance to the people of Haiti.

Military industry
Venezuela currently shows an industrial development in the defence, that sector still far from compared to countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Cuba, Colombia or Mexico in the region, if it has meant a noticeable advance respect to the last decade of the 20th century Venezuelan. In the opinion of Francisco Arias Cardenas (ex - presidential candidate; ex - Deputy; and current candidate for the governorship of Zulia State, by the ruling party PSUV): "in the 13 years of management of the current Government, has been to force armed, having the autonomy that lacked in the Fourth Republic, when transnational corporations controlled the military sector of the country (...)" "This advance of the Venezuelan military industry gives us a range of greater encouragement, that is what we need, and the possibility of applying our inventiveness to the development of technologies that give us genuine autonomy to defend our territory."

Today Venezuela manufactures all-terrain vehicles, trucks, ammunition, rifles, aircraft without crew, grenades, assembled ships of small and medium-sized ports among other items.

IBIDIFANB
IBIDIFANB (Instituto Bolivariano de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación de la Fuerza Armada Nacional Bolivariana), shall develop all projects that have much impact in what is maintain operational sizing in the FANB, maintain equipment and also has the possibility of supporting the national development with the generation of some research projects, some technological lines can do good for the people of Venezuela

CAVIM
CAVIM (C.A. Venezolana de Industrias Militares), company dependent of the Ministry of the defence of Venezuela, with more than 35 years of experience, dedicated to the production of weapons, explosive munitions as well as also various products that are of interest to the defense of our country. Currently demonstrated capabilities in the development and production of rifles, grenades, shotguns, unmanned aircraft, explosives for industrial use, ammunition, bulletproof vests, helmets kevlar, among other products, weapons, logistics various utensils. CAVIM It puts forward a project for the identification of munitions delivered to the defence and the country's security agency. On January 2011, an explosion of unidentified causes and the subsequent fire scorched five CAVIM arms and ammunition depots in the state of Aragua, leading to one official fatality and nearly 10,000 people being evacuated. On February 12, 2013, the United States Government sanctioned Venezuela's Military Industries Company (CAVIM), as well as other 12 foreign companies, including four Chinese firms, for the sale of arms and military technology to Iran, North Korea or Syria.

DIANCA
DIANCA (Diques y Astilleros Nacionales C.A.), is the state shipyard of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. It was created in 1905 in the city of Puerto Cabello, Carabobo state.

UCOCAR
UCOCAR (Unidad Naval Coordinadora de los Servicios de Carenado de la Armada), It is responsible for the repair, maintenance and construction of ships, equipment, systems, helmet and structures up to 1,000 tonnes, in support of the Bolivarian national army force, public bodies and private. Several boats have been designed, and have an agreement with the Dutch shipyards Damen, to assemble some ships to the Venezuelan Navy.

CIDAE
CIDAE (Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Aeronáutico). This scientific Center is making helmets for pilots, There have been upgrades of radar, and is involved with CAVIM, in the development of unmanned aircraft among other developments. Also this research center this trying time of short-range, solid fuel rockets. Likewise, the CIDAE has designed and built a Flight Simulator for the T-27 Tucano aircraft, as well as a simulator of flight to aircraft Cessna 208 Caravan, shooting simulators, and the recovery of the test benches of PT6 engines, with 80% of Venezuelan technology, not only in the design but in the software installation and the use of materials. CIDAE participa en el proyecto del satélite Simón Bolívar con China.

ASTIMARCA
ASTIMARCA (Astilleros de Maracaibo y el Caribe S.A.). As part of the agreements between the Governments of Cuba and Venezuela, there is this joint venture. It's a shipyard overhaul, for small and medium-size vessels.

CENARECA
CENARECA (Centro Nacional de Repotenciación C.A.), is the manufacturer of the vehicle family all-terrain and high mobility (HMMWV) Tiuna, manufactured in serious to the Venezuelan armed forces, and donated in small quantities to Governments of the ALBA  as Ecuador, Nicaragua and Bolivia.

MAZVEN
MAZVEN C.A., it is a factory of heavy trucks, under the figure of a joint venture with the Belarusian company MAZ. It manufactures five models of trucks including trucks for military use.

G&F Tecnología
G&F Tecnología, It is a Venezuelan company that develops an endogenous model of architecture technology oriented solutions derived from the design, development, implementation and operation of projects of telecommunications, information, aeronautics and electronics with increasing added value of applied knowledge. Specifically is a company manufacturer of unmanned aircraft, as well as communication equipment, and other electronic product.