Astela: Difference between revisions

The Astelan Defense Forces are the official armed forces of the Republic of Astela. Often described as a garrison state, Astela maintains a strict system of compulsory military service where all men and women must serve for a minimum of two years in the armed forces. Refusal to serve can result in lengthy prison sentences of up to a decade in harsh labor conditions. In reality, conscription can often be extended indefinitely, with some escapees reporting an average service period of up to 6.5 years, or even some instances of conscription lasting over a decade. As a result, on paper the ADF has an outsized number of personnel, with 200,000 actively serving and another 500,000 reservists. In practice however, many conscripts are effectively used as forced labor on various government projects for the duration of their service. Much of the ADF's actual combat capability is thought to rest in its elite professional forces which consist of some 20,000-25,000 personnel. The official military budget is set at 1.6 billion SHD, however due to how entwined the military is with various economic ventures, it is difficult to determine its precise level of funding.