Kazakh Ground Forces

The Kazakh Ground Forces is the army service branch of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

History
The First Army Corps was created on November 1, 1992 from units of the Soviet Union's 40th Army, based in the Turkestan Military District. It is headquartered in Semipalatinsk.

The Kazakh Army was founded on April 9, 1993 by order of the Defense Minister Sagadat Nurmagambetov following the adoption of the law, "On Defense and Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan," - the legal basis for Kazakh military structures.

The Kazakh Army was made up of the Soviet 32nd Army, which had been serving in the KSSR (Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic) for many years before it went under Kazakh government control in May 1992. The ground forces included Artillery and Missile Brigades until they formed separate branches on May 7, 2003.

Tasks
The main tasks of the Ground Forces include:
 * Maintaining the readiness of troops to repel aggression.
 * Armed defense of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
 * Protection and defense of state and military facilities.
 * Defense of the state border by land and air.
 * Perform peacekeeping missions.

Regional Commands
Currently the Ground Forces include four regional commands:


 * Regional Command "Astana" (HQ Karaganda)
 * Regional Command "East" (HQ Semipalatinsk)
 * Regional Command "West" (HQ Atyrau)
 * Regional Command "South" (HQ Taraz)

Military Institute


The Military Institute of the Kazakh Ground Forces (Qurlyq a’skerlerinin’ a’skeri’ i’nsti’ty’ty / Құрлық әскерлерінің әскери институты) is the main educational institute of the Ground Forces, and one of the leading Kazakh military academies affiliated with the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan. It has many notable alumni, including Lieutenant General Murat Maikeyev, Colonel General Saken Zhasuzakov, and Major General Abibilla Kudayberdiev.