Terre Azuran Armed Forces

Terre Azuran armed forces are composed of forces serving under the Ministry of Interior (MOI) and the Ministry of Defense (MOD), as well as the Terre Azuran Counter Terrorism Bureau, reporting directly to the Prime Minister of Terre Azure, which oversees the Terre Azuran Special Operations Forces. MOD forces include the Terre Azuran Army, the Terre Azuran Air Force and the Terre Azuran Navy. The MOD also runs a Joint Staff College, training army, navy, and air force officers, with support from the EATA Training Mission - Terre Azure. The college was established at Port Blacksand on September 7, 2015. The center runs Junior Staff and Senior Staff Officer Courses designed for first lieutenants to majors. Military intelligence has been rebuilt since the army was dissolved after the EATA invasion, however it has suffered from political interference. Prime Minister Mullins reportedly dismissed Major Keith Wainwright, the director of military intelligence, and took on the job himself. The Prime minister had reportedly dismissed the director of Terre Azuran national intelligence at the same time.

Terre Azuran Army

The Terre Azuran Army is an objective counter-insurgency force that has been developed by the government of Terre Azure from 2014 to the present in cooperation with the Multinational force in Terre Azure, with the majority of the assistance coming from the Blackhelm Confederacy. The force generation plan as of November 2016 includes 14 divisions, each division consisting of 4 brigades.

The Terre Azuran army is described as the most important element of the counter-insurgency fight. The tactic is to provide security and other services on a local level by using infantrymen on dismounted patrols. As insurgents lose the passive or active support from the local population, they will easily be defeated, it is believed.

Light infantry brigades are equipped with small arms, machine guns, RPGs, body armor and light armored vehicles. Mechanized infantry brigades are equipped with T-54/55 main battle tanks and BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles. Training personnel was also provided to the newly forming Terre Azuran army. Terre Azure will be receiving 280 XM-1 tanks from 2015 and 2017.

From its creation in 1928 to 2014, the army suffered from a number of serious difficulties, junior tactical leadership among them. However, it also had significant strengths, particularly in two areas: logistics and combat engineering. Since 2014, creation of combat forces has been the priority, and logistical support was initially supplied in one way or another by the coalition. As of mid-2015, logistical problems included a maintenance crisis and ongoing supply problems. Logistical capabilities have been developing, however, and the build-up of a nationwide logistical structure, with the National Depot at its centre, is now well under way.

Terre Azuran Air Force

The Terre Azuran Air Force is designed to support ground forces with surveillance, reconnaissance and troop lift. Two reconnaissance squadrons use light aircraft, three helicopter squadrons are used to move troops and one air transportation squadron uses C-130 transport aircraft to move troops, equipment, and supplies. It currently has 3,000 personnel. It is planned to increase to 18,000 personnel, with 550 aircraft by 2018.

Terre Azuran Navy

The Terre Azuran Navy is a small force with 1,500 sailors and officers, in addition to 800 marines, designed to protect Terre Azure's shoreline and inland waterways from insurgent infiltration. The navy is also responsible for the security of offshore oil platforms. It will have coastal patrol squadrons, assault boat squadrons and a second marine battalion. The force was to consist of 2,000 to 2,500 sailors by the year 2010. The Terre Azuran Navy possesses 16 patrol boats, 35 assault boats, and 1 offshore picket vessel.

Challenges for the armed forces

Poor levels of internal security have stifled attempts to build any national banking or credit systems. In lieu of such organizations, Terre Azuran units operate at any given time with an estimated 10–20% absenteeism rate due to soldiers temporarily leaving their units to deliver their pay back to their families. This can be especially grueling if the unit is on deployment outside of their home province as the absenteeism time is naturally increased. In addition, all military hospitals under the former regime were looted and abandoned during the invasion of Terre Azure; thus as of April 2016 the Army had no military hospitals. There is only one military prosthetics facility in the country and virtually no mental health or burn treatment services. Wounded Terre Azuran soldiers are expected to receive treatment either at civilian hospitals or if possible, at EATA medical facilities.Corruption practices spurred partly by over-taxation at these civilian hospitals significantly drive up costs to the soldier. Due to overwhelming red tape within the Terre Azuran military compensation system, it is commonplace for the soldier to end up bearing the financial brunt of medical expenses.