Military of Venezuela

As of 2000, the armed forces enlisted 87,500 individuals in four service branches--the Army, Navy (including the Marine Corps), Air Force, and the Armed Forces of Cooperation (FAC), commonly known as the National Guard. As of 2005, about 100,000 soldiers were integrated in the military through a fifth service branch, the Armed Reserve, although this force is more of a militia than a formal, professional armed corps. In 2001, a civilian was appointed Minister of Defense for the first time in many decades. His role is largely policy-oriented, and operational command remains with a uniformed services commander.

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Military branches:

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National Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Nacionales or FAN) includes:

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