People's Army of Vietnam
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The People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) is the term used by the Vietnamese for their armed forces. During the Vietnam War (1957–1975), the U.S. referred to it as the North Vietnamese Army (NVA), or Army of North Vietnam. The name in Vietnamese is Quân Đội Nhân Dân Việt Nam, and has always been officially known as such since its initial formation in 1944. The PAVN was not the Viet Cong (although certain elements disguised as such occasionally), nor the Viet Minh. The PAVN now includes Ground Forces (including PAVN Strategic Rear Forces and Border Defence Forces), PAVN Navy (including PAVN Naval infantry), PAVN Air Force, and PAVN Coast Guard.
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History
The predecessor of the PAVN was the Armed Propaganda Unit for National Liberation, an organization that was formed by Ho Chi Minh on December 22, 1944 to drive the French colonialists and Japanese occupiers from Vietnam. http://indochine54.free.fr/vm/vietminh.html#top
General Vo Nguyen Giap was the first Commander-in-Chief of PAVN and the fourth Minister of National Defence (after Chu Van Tan, Phan Anh, Ta Quang Buu).
During peaceful periods, the PAVN has actively been involved in Vietnam's workforce to develop the economy of Vietnam, in order to coordinate national defense and the economy. The PAVN is involved in such areas as industry, agriculture, forestry, fishery and telecommunications.
The Vietnamese People’s Army today
Organization
The President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is the Commander-in-Chief, while the Minister of National Defense oversees operations of the PAVN. The Minister of National Defense oversees such agencies as the General Staff and the General Logistics Department. However, military policy is ultimately directed by the Central Military Commission of the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam.
The PAVN is composed of a main force and local forces. As with most countries' armed forces, the PAVN consists of standing, or regular, forces as well as reserve forces. During peacetime, the standing forces are minimized in number, and kept combat-ready by regular physical and weapons training, and stock maintenance.
Branches
The People's Army of Vietnam is comprised of various units of the main forces (Chủ lực), local forces (Địa phương) and the People's Defence Forces (Dân quân-Tự vệ).
It is subdivided into the following branches and sub-branches:
- Lục quân (Ground Force)
- Biên phòng (Border Defence Force)
- Quân cơ động (Strategic Rear Force)
- Hải quân (Naval Force)
- (Naval Infantry or Marines)
- Hải phòng (Coast Guard)
- Phòng không-Không quân (Air Defence and Air Force).
As mentioned above, reserves exist in all branches and are organized in the same way as the standing forces, with the same chain of command, and with officers and non-commissioned officers.
See Vietnamese military ranks and insignia.
International presence
The Foreign Relations Department of the Ministry of National Defense organizes international operations of the PAVN.
Apart from its occupation of half of the disputed Spratly Islands, which have been claimed as Vietnamese territory since the 17th century, Vietnam has not had forces stationed internationally since its withdrawal from Cambodia and Laos in early 1990.
Components
Main Force
The main force of the PAVN consists of combat ready troops, as well as educational institutions for logistics, officer training, and technical training.
Local Forces
Local forces are an entity of the PAVN that, together with the militia and "self-defense forces," act on the local level in protection of people and local authorities. While the local forces are regular PAVN forces, the militia consists of rural civilians, and the self-defense forces consist of civilians who live in urban areas and/or work in large groups, such as at construction sites or farms.
Manpower
The People's Army of Vietnam consists of:
- Military manpower - military age: age for compulsory service: 18-27 years old; conscript service obligation - 18 months
- Military manpower - availability:
- males age 15-49: 21,341,813 (2005 est.)
- Military manpower - fit for military service:
- males age 15-49: 16,032,358 (2005 est.)
- Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
- males: 915,572 (2005 est.)
- Military expenditures: $1 billion (FY2002)
- Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 0.5% (FY2002)fr:Armée Populaire Vietnamienne
de:Vietnamesische Volksarmee no:Vietnams folkehær vi:Quân đội Nhân dân Việt Nam