Volkian Defense Forces: Difference between revisions

| caption2 = Volkian {{wp|Warnaval flagjack}} and Naval Ensign of Volkia

| founded = April 17,{{Start date|1888 |08|6}}

| commander-in-chief_title = Supreme Commander-in-Chief

| conscription = Volunteer; Draft can be instituted through the [[Emergency Draft System]]

| active = 277323,965018

| reserve = 203247,789199

| amount = $6171.8 billion (FY 20202021)

| percent_GDP = 1.565% (FY 20202021)

The '''Volkian Defense Forces''' ('''VDF'''; [[Volkian language|Volkian]]: Волкские силы обороны) are the military forces of the [[Volkia|Volkian Federative Republic]], established after the ratification of the [[Constitution of Volkia]]. Thewent Constitutioninto was ratifiedeffect on AprilAugust 176, 1888 and created the Volkian Defense Forces, which now fell under the jurisdiction of the newly formed [[Ministry of National Defense (Volkia)|Ministry of National Defense]]. The VDF are the direct successor to the ImperialRoyal Volkian Armed Forces. Although the VDF were formed in 1888, it traces its roots back to the times of the Grand Duchy of Volkgoroda.

All branches of the VDF answer to a single [[General DefenseStaff (Volkia)|General Staff]]. The General Defense Staff is headed by the [[Chief of the General DefenseStaff (Volkia)|Chief of the General Staff]], who is the highest ranking military officer of the VDF by law. The Chief of the General Staff is the principle military adviser to the [[President of Volkia]] and [[Minister of National Defense]]. Though the Chief of the General Staff outranks all other commissioned officers, they are prohibited by law from having operational command authority over the Defense Forces. Chiefs of the General Staff are nominated by the President and are approved by the [[Federal Council]], serving for up to two consecutive four year terms. The current Chief of the General Staff is [[Ivan Alyev]].

*Chief of the General Defense Staff: General Ivan Alyev

*Vice Chief of the General Defense Staff: General Lukyan Zhzhyonov

The [[Volkian Army]] is Volkia's military land force. It is principally a {{wp|mechanized infantry}} force, allowing the Army to quickly deploy troops in the Volkian frontier and keep up with armor units during an advance.

The Volkian Army is made up of three components: the active component, the Regular Army; and two reserve components, the Army NationalHome Guard and the Army Reserve. Both reserve components are primarily composed of part-time soldiers who train once a month, known as battle assemblies or unit training assemblies, and conduct two to three weeks of annual training each year. The Volkian Army's main combat forces are grouped in brigades which are further grouped into divisions. Each division falls under a geographically based unified defensive commands. The Army's main tactical formations are combined arms task forces made up of elements drawn from different units.

The [[Volkian Navy]] is the {{wp|naval branch}} of the VDF. The Volkian Navy operates just over 150 {{wp|Ship_commissioning|commissioned warships}}. Primary assets include 2 {{wp|aircraft carrier|nuclear aircraft carriers}}, 83 {{wp|amphibious assault ships}}, 610 {{wp|air-defense}} destroyers, 98 {{wp|anti-submarine}} destroyers, 1610 fleetnuclear attack submarines, 127 ballistic missilesmissile submarines, 13 multi-role frigates, and 1619 lightgeneral surveillancepurpose frigates. The Navy also maintains a number of non-commissioned vessels. In addition, the Navy maintains a force of combat, logistics, and training helicopters.

The [[Volkian Air Force]] (VAF) is the air force branch of the VDF. The VAF has modern {{wp|military aircraft|combat}} and {{wp|cargo aircraft|transport aircraft}} and a network of bases in strategic locations across Volkia.

The VDF has been an {{wp|all-volunteer force}} since the abolition of {{wp|conscription}} in 19501972. Both men and women can enlist in the VDF, and there are no restrictions on the positions that women may fill. Because of this, women can also serve in combat roles. Generally only Volkian citizens can enlist in the VDF though permanent residents are accepted in "exceptional circumstances." The minimum age for recruits is 18. The retirement age is 60 for active personnel and 65 for reservists. Discipline of defense personnel is guided by the ''Defense Forces Discipline Act'' (1990).

Over the 2014-15 financial year theThe VDF had an average strength of 277323,965018 active and 203247,789199 reserve personnel in 2020. The Army is the largest service, followed by the Air ForceNavy and NavyAir Force. The average distribution between the services and categories of service over the 2014-15 financialin year2020 was as follows:

| Army || 145162,209802 || 126132,892910 || '''272295,101712''' || 166195,797815 || 10599,304897

| Navy || 6578,045855 || 3452,102162 || '''104143,147488''' || 6496,394997 || 3946,753491

| Air Force || 6781,711361 || 4262,795127 || '''105131,506017''' || 6684,711725 || 3846,795292

| Total || '''277323,965018''' || '''203247,789199''' || '''481570,754217''' || '''297377,902537''' || '''183192,852680'''

At first, servicewomen were barred from combat positions and other "dangerous" jobs. In 1984 these restrictions began to be lifted, and by late 1985 all positions in the VDF were available to women. Despite this open policy, women still only make up 3834% of active, reserve, and nationalhome guard positions. In comparison, women make up nearly 52% of the Volkian population as a whole. Even though this number is not totally representative, the VDF today currently has more female members than any point in its history.

There are still concerns over incidents of gender-based discrimination and sexual abuse in the VDF. In 2013 the Defense Abuse Response Task Force estimated that around 2,200 currently-serving personnel had abused other members of the military, and recommended that a presidential commission be conducted to investigate long-running allegations of sexual abuse and assault of servicewomen at the Volkgoroda Military College. In 2014, GeneralArmy Chief of theStaff ArmyGeneral [[Erik Balashov]] warned against sexual abuse and gender discrimination, stating that he would dismiss any member of the Army that engaged in such activity. Both sexual abuse and gender discrimination are grounds for being dishonorably discharged from the VDF, and the former often results in criminal prosecution.

Volkia allows gay men and lesbians to serve openly. Openly gay and lesbian personnel were banned from the VDF until July 1987 when the Volkian government decided to remove this prohibition following the legalization of gaysame-sex marriagecivil unions. The heads of the services and most military personnel opposed this change at the time, and it caused considerable public debate. Opponents of lifting the ban on gay and lesbian personnel argued that doing so would greatly harm the VDF's cohesiveness and cause large numbers of resignations. This did not eventuate, and the reform caused relatively few problems. A 1997 study found that lifting the ban on gay service did not have any negative effects on the VDF's morale, effectiveness or recruitment and retention, and may have led to increased productivity and improved working environments.

''Main article: [[EquipmentList of equipment of the Volkian Defense Forces]]''

| {{wp|Main Battle Tanks}}|| <center>9011,002</center>