User:Pixy/Afthonian Military Forces
| Afthonian Military Forces | |
|---|---|
| Αφθονίακές Στρατιωτικές Δυνάμεις Afthoníakés Stratiotikés Dynámeis | |
| Founded | 1 February 1899 |
| Current form | 12 December 1912 |
| Service branches |
|
| Headquarters | Sierra 5, Ilus, Stratos |
| Leadership | |
| Commander-in-chief |  Apollon Lamprelis |
| Chief of the Security Council | ADM Tavros Niadis |
| Deputy Chief of the Security Council | ACM Irgia Savas |
| Personnel | |
| Conscription | 18 - 24 years
|
| Active personnel | 610,000 |
| Reserve personnel | 1,300,000 |
| Expenditure | |
| Budget | $101.2 Billion |
| Percent of GDP | 3.9 |
| Related articles | |
| History | |
The Afthonian Military Forces (Gionan: Αφθονίακές Στρατιωτικές Δυνάμεις; script: Afthoníakés Stratiotikés Dynámeis), abbreviated as the AMF, is the combined military organization of Afthonia and is comprised of four service branches: the Army (AMFA), the Navy (AMFN), the Air Force (AMFAF) and the Marine Corps (AMFMC). The National Guard is an organized militia component of the nation whose soldiers serve on a part time basis and are part of the reserve components of the AMF and are based on each prefecture of Afthonia. The Maritime Security Agency is the nation's coast guard unity and though officially categorized as a civilian organization, is nominally considered as a law enforcement agency tasked with providing maritime security and border protection with paramilitary capabilities. Normally under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of XXX, during times of war or national emergencies the Coast Guard can be placed under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defense to coordinate its efforts with the AMF. Tensions with Maroudia has prompted the Afthonian government to allocate $101 billion (3.9% of its GDP) annually for military expenditure. It has a reported strength of 610,000 active personnel and 1,300,000 reservists making it one of the largest armed forces in the world. The High Couuncilor serves as the Commander-in-Chief and is armed forces itself is administered and managed by the Ministry of Defense. The Afthonian Armed Forces is charged to protect Afthonia and its overseas territories from enemies both foreign & domestic, as well as defending its allies abroad. Afthonia has frequently deployed its personnel on international peacekeeping missions abroad. The nation maintains long-standing military relations with XXX, XXX and XXX and has frequently been involved in joint military exercises and drills with one another. Conscription is provided by law though the nation has been able to maintain sufficient numbers without the need to resort to a draft. This is largely due to the strong military ethos enshrined within Afthonian society, as its citizens consider serving the armed forces as a form of rite of passage with many joining to serve at the National Guard.
Afthonia has a well established military industrial complex producing many of its own indigenous equipment such as small arms, missiles, jet fighters and warships. Among the best known military products of Afthonian origin includes the ST-9 Skimmer, the Javelin anti-ship missile and T-1 mammoth main battle tank. Aircraft carriers & amphibious assault ships form the center piece of the Afthonian Navy and are critical tools of power projection for the government, allowing it to project power across the Megale Ocean as well as abroad. Since 2010 the AMF has sought to modernize its assets and initiated a project to coordinate the development and/or the procurement of new equipment. The newly introduced ST-11 Kestrel multirole fighter, Davos-class aircraft carriers, XXX-class guided missile destroyer & XXX-class guided missile frigate are among the results of this project. The military has historically possessed a strong political influence since before the establishment of the Unitary State of Afthonia and its predecessor the Afthonian Confederation. Ancient Afthonian polities such as the Elpis, Kingdom of Kastoria and Kastoria Empire were all governed as authoritarian stratocracies. A majority of the multiple Afthonian states that were formed after the collapse of the Afthonian Empire also possessed elements of a stratocracy within its government structure. The province of Stratos in particular had strong military traditions. When the Afthonian Confederation was on the brink of collapse after two of its largest members (Kastoria and Athos) seceded and took with them a significant number of smaller states, it was Stratos's military leaders who gradually usurped the failing civilian government, establishing an emergency military government in its place to preserve what was left of the confederation. Under the confederation the AFM was known as the Confederate Defense Forces (CDF) however after its reorganization into the Unitary State of Afthonia in 1972 the CDF was reconstituted as the AMF. The AMF has been involved in a number of conflicts since its establishment in 1960 ranging from minor border skirmishes and regional conflicts. The island of Drometia has been a significant point of contention between the Afthonian and Maroudian governments, with the Afthonian government's commitment to defend the State of East Drometia resulting in Afthonia supplying not only arms but also the deployment of active duty personnel on the island.