Algieristani Army
The Algieristani Army is the land forces component of the Algieristani National Defense Force (ANDF) and is under the command of the Army Central Command located at Camp Mohammad outside of Ridaab. With 104,500 personnel the Algieristani Army is the the largest of the ANDF's branches. Like the other branches of the ANDF the army is mostly conscripted, however in recent years there has been an increase in the number of professional soldiers. Owing to the country's past as a part of the Soviet Union the bulk of the army's equipment is soviet, however in recent years equipment from China and the United States has also been adopted in increasingly large quantities. The army's main mission is the defense of the nation from external threats and to provide disaster relief. The army is divided into four regional commands and the national strategic missile command all under the command of the Army Central Command. Despite efforts to modernize the army much of its equipment is elderly and many of its formations are under strength.
Training for army personnel is carried out at a number of camps throughout the country and lasts between six to eight weeks. Training for officers takes place at the Mohammad Military and Technical School in Ridaab.
In addition to the army's regular ground forces, also under the command of the army is the National Military Police and National Boarder Service.
The army is organized as fallows
Northern Command
-3 Motorized Infantry Divisions
-1 Tank Regiment
-1 Air Defense Regiment
-2 Supply Battalions
-1 Engineering Company
-1 Internal Security Battalion
Eastern Command
-2 Motorized Infantry Divisions
-1 Mechanized Infantry Division
-1 Tank Regiment
-1 Air Defense Regiment
-2 Supply Battalions
-1 Internal Security Battalion
Southern Command*
-3 Motorized Infantry Divisions
-2 Mechanized Infantry Divisions
-2 Tank Regiments
-1 Air Defense Regiment
-3 Supply Battalions
-2 Internal Security Battalions
-1 Engineering Battalion
Western Command
-1 Motorized Infantry Division
-1 Tank Battalion
-1 Air Defense Company
-1 Supply Battalion
*Several of the units currently under the command of the Southern Command are from other commands and are temporarily deployed as a result of internal violence between the regions Buddhist and Muslim populations.
The main combat formations of the army are its motorized and mechanized infantry units and their supporting tank units. The combat formations of each military command are under the direct command of that military command's chief, normally a 3 star or senior general. Most of the army's ground equipment is severely outdated Soviet equipment, even if in recent years there has been a drive to acquire modern equipment, that despite its age has been well maintained or is in the processes of being re-built or repaired. Despite Algieristan's mountainous terrain the armies equipment is still mostly designed for a cold war style open confrontation. One area the army is severely lacking in terms of equipment is in regards to helicopters, however recently negotiations have been under way to acquire several Mi-24 and Mi-17 helicopters to rectify this issue.
Supply within the Algieristani Army is handled by the Army Central Supply Command (ACSC) which distributes supplies out to the army through its network of supply bases and depots. The army's main supply depot is located at camp Qasim outside of Bahjika. Each command has a centrally located supply depot to which supply's are shipped from camp Qasim and from which supplies are distributed out to the commands various bases. Also under the command of the ACSC are several ammunition and spare parts workshops located around the capital Ridaab and along the Lahui River Valley. Ammunition and spare parts produced at this workshops is sent to camp Qasim for further distribution. The ACSC operates a large number of semi trucks in addition to a wide range of 4x4 and 6x6 cargo trucks.
In addition to the Algiristani Air Force (AAA) the nation's air space is also defended by ground based air defense systems operated by the army's various air defense units under the command of each military command's Regional Air Defense Command. Most of the air defense systems operated by the army are outdated soviet systems, S-75 and S-125 missiles located at fixed sites primarily, however as of 2012 the capital is now defended by a company of advanced S-300 missiles. Most army units posses their own air defense units integrated into the parent unit. Air defense is coordinated between the air force and the RADCs by each military commands Chief Air Defense Officer.
Army engineering, outside of what is handled by the engineering units integrated into combat units, is the responsibility of each military commands Regional Engineering Directorate. Each Regional Engineering Directorate or RED posses a mix of engineering equipment ranging from bulldozers to mobile pontoon bridges and can generally handle any engineering task to advanced for the military commands combat units. Each RED is subservient to its military command. The army's engineering corps are mostly involved in civilian road building and disaster relief projects, given how comprehensive the engineering units within the soviet style divisions the army's combat forces are comprised of are.
Outside of the four military commands and subservient directly to the Army Central Command the National Strategic Missile Command is responsible for operating the army's IRBMs and other long range rocket systems. Unlike the other sub commands of the army like the Regional Engineering Commands the NSMC is directly under the authority of the ACC. The majority of the NSMC's missiles are of the SCUD and FROG types and are fitted with a wide range of conventional warheads. The NSMC is intended to act in support of the various military commands's ground forces and to provide a deterrent against the other nations in the region. The NSMC is also responsible for missile defense in conjunction with the RADCs. Limited production of SCUD type missiles takes place in the country at the Bandahara Technical Institute outside of Ridaab.
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