Military Forces of Colombia

The Military Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Militares de Colombia) are the armed forces of the Republic of Colombia.

Services
The Military of Colombia consists of:
 * National Army of Colombia (Ejército Nacional de Colombia)
 * Colombian National Armada (Armada Nacional de Colombia) - Marines, Navy and Coast Guard attached
 * Colombian Naval Infantry (Infanteria de Marina) - A branch of the Colombian Navy for amphibious operations


 * Colombian Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Colombiana)
 * National Police of Colombia (Policía Nacional de Colombia)

The Specific Command of San Andres y Providencia was created on March 5, 1983 by the Ministry of Defense of Colombia. The Command is stationed in the islands of San Andres y Providencia which are located in the Caribbean sea northeast of Colombia between 10°49'00N y 16°10'10N and 76°15'00W y 82°00'00W.

Dependencies

 * Military Medical Corps (Sanidad Militar) - Medical and Nurse Corps
 * Indumil (Industrias Militares INDUMIL) - Military Industry Depot
 * Military Sports Federation (Federación Deportiva Militar FEDECODEMIL)
 * Military Printing (Imprenta Militar)
 * Military Museum (Museo Militar) - History of the Armed Forces of Colombia
 * War Superior College (Escuela Superior de Guerra (Colombia) ESDEGUE)

Funding
In 1999, Colombia assigned 3.6% of its GDP to defense, according to the National Planning Department. By 2007 this figure had risen to 6.1% of GDP, one of the highest rates in the world. The armed forces number about 250,000 uniformed personnel: 145,000 military and 105,000 police. These figures do not include assistance personnel such as cooks, medics, mechanics, and so on. This makes the Colombian military one of the largest and most well-equipped in Latin America. Many Colombian military personnel have received military training assistance directly in Colombia and also in the United States. The United States has provided equipment and financing to the Colombian military and police through the military assistance program, foreign military sales, and the international narcotics control program, all currently united under the auspices of Plan Colombia.

World factbook statistics

 * Military branches:
 * Colombian Army (Ejercito Nacional)
 * Colombian Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Marines and Coast Guard)
 * Colombian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Colombiana)


 * Military manpower - military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 24 months (2004)


 * Military manpower - availability:
 * males age 18-49: 10,212,456
 * females age 18-49: 10,561,562 (2005 estimate)


 * Military manpower - fit for military service:
 * males age 18-49: 6,986,228
 * females age 18-49: 8,794,465 (2005 estimate)


 * Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
 * males age 18-49: 389,735
 * females age 18-49: 383,146 (2005 estimate)

Expenditures

 * Military expenditures - dollar figure: $11.0229 billion (FY09)
 * Military expenditures - percent of GDP:6.5% (FY08)

Other Links

 * Colombian Military expenditure

Armée nationale colombienne