Watanese National Army

The Watanese National Army, (Watanese: Exército Nacional Vataonês, sometimes abbreviated as WNA) or simply the Watanese Army, founded in 1038 and established in its current form in 1861, is the land force of Watan. The Watanese National Army is the largest of the three branches of the Watanese Armed Forces, also constituted by the Watanese National Airforce (WNAF) and the Watanese National Navy (WNN). The army is under the command of the Watanese Army General Staff (WAGS) which is in turn commanded by the Watanese National Defense General Staff (WNDGS)

The motto of the Watanese National Army is "Valor stems from freedom" or "O valor decorre da liberdade". The Watanese National Army's emblem is a white palm and sabre symbol from the Watanese flag on a navy blue field.

The Watanese army is a key member of the Compact for Abayadi Security, a combined mutual defense group composed of Arkulusia, Watan, Ventora, Esharat, and Haksarad. Soldiers training for the Watanese army may train abroad in one of these nations, equipment can be shared, and vice versa. The Watanese National Army is ranked 29th in the world in terms of strength.

History
The Watanese National Army has existed through numerous iterations since the foundation of the Duchy of Watan, initially being composed mostly by Ventoran or Vidalic conscripts dedicated to protecting the duchy from outside invasion by Arkulusia; the conscripts also being tasked with internal disputes between different cultures and uniquely to supply smaller, more remote villages with food and farming supplies. Because Watan was one with Ventora at this time, some Ventoran militants were exchanged in and out of Watan.

When Watan was declared independent from Ventora, the army suffered in terms of manpower, with many Ventoran conscripts leaving the nation for their home in Ventora. This would not last long though, as Watan's first king, King Fábio, increased Watanese manpower significantly throughout his reign, largely composed of Vidalic and Matanic peoples.

During the Grand Qualm and subsequent Morre Trials, the Watanese National Army - then the Watanese King's Army - was not in charge of the arrests of non-Sortists, though was involved in the later Caminhante Wars during the conversion of Cecia. The troops would take heavy losses because of their inadequate equipment and unfamiliarity with the intense Cecian terrain, therefore losing the war.

The Watanese King's Army saw a drastic split in manpower after the assassination of Watan's king and subsequent Queluz Revolution, where nearly ⅗ of the army decided to defend the Republic of Watan instead of the Kingdom. The resulting civil war would see the Republican's victory and ended in the Watanese King's Army being disestablished and replaced with the Watanese National Army.

During the Second World War, Watanese dictator Jacinto Álvares decided to send Watanese National Army forces en masse to Esharat following the Western Scare in which mass panic across the nation was caused by Ventora and Haksarad's involvement in the Second World War. Watanese troops, being under-trained, faced some of the heaviest losses per capita in the war in Esharat. Meanwhile in mainland Watan, artillery weapons operated by Watanese National Armymen downed up to 18 Velorenkan planes which frequently performed bombing runs over major Watanese cities.

In 2004, the Watanese National Army were the main conductors of the 2004 Watanese coup d'état which saw the deposition and arrest of Saldé Ramos. Olavo Maciel disbanded the Watanese Armed Forces compulsory conscription in 2012. In 2016, the Watanese National Army - along with the other component forces of the Watanese Armed Forces - attempted and succeeded to repel Red Summer Pact extremists - most being members of the Watanese Armed Forces themselves - during the 2016 Watanese coup d'état attempt which was the most bloodshed seen on Watanese soil since the Second World War. Loyal Watanese National Army forces were on the frontlines of the defense, with Watanese National Airforce planes providing air support from above.

Mission
The main missions of the Watanese National Army are the defense of the state's independence and integrity, the safeguarding of national territory, and the decisive contribution to the achievement of the country's policy objectives.

During peacetime, the Army has the following main objectives:


 * The maintenance of high operational readiness for the prevention and effective confrontation of dangers and threats, as well as the ensuring of rapid response capability.
 * The contribution to international security and peace.
 * The contribution to activities of social aid and the support of state services for the confrontation of emergency situations.

Engagements
The Watanese National Army has engaged in the following conflicts:


 * Caminhante Wars
 * Queluz Revolution (1861-1862)
 * First World War (1914)
 * Second World War (1939-1945)
 * Eshar War
 * Ordrish Revolution (peacekeeping) (1972)
 * Brotherly Wars (peacekeeping)
 * 2014 Watanese coup d'état
 * 2016 Watanese coup d'état attempt (2016)
 * Agar Civil War (peacekeeping) (ongoing)

General Staff

 * Watanese National Defence General Staff
 * Watanese Army General Staff Tenda Geral do Exército Vataonese (TGEV)
 * Chief-of-Staff of the Army Chefe de Estado-Maior do Exército
 * Inspector General of the Army Inspetor Geral do Exército
 * 1st Deputy Chief-of-Staff of the Army 1st Vice-Chefe do Estado-Maior do Exército
 * 2nd Deputy Chief-of-Staff of the Army 2nd Vice-Chefe do Estado-Maior do Exército

Combat and support arms

 * Most combat arms are called "Arm". This term denotes army elements that, more or less, have direct participation in combat.


 * Most support branches are called "Corps", with some exceptions.

Army units and formations
After a major reorganization which occurred in the last decade, which included the transformation of most Infantry formations into Mechanized Brigades and a parallel reduction of personnel, the Watanese Army's higher command is the Watanese National Army General Staff.

There are four major military commands which supervise all army units,


 * 1st Army, based at Telava, that includes the IV Army Corps, responsible for the defence of the northern and eastern borders.
 * Supreme Military Command of the Islands, based at Tradine with the mission to provide cover for the Coval Islands
 * Supreme Military Support Command undertaking various logistics and organizational tasks.
 * CSA Deployable Corps, based at Albugo, Barroso

Although divisions still exist, having the role of forward theater commands, the Army is mainly organized in brigades, that follow typical standards consisting of five battalions, three manoeuvre, one combat support including artillery and command, and one logistics support including medical and transport. According to the latest developments, up to 2015, all active divisions will dissolve, but all brigades will acquire one more manoeuvre battalion, largely eliminating the distinction between mechanized and armoured formations and creating Brigade Combat Teams.

Personnel
There are two classes of personnel in the Watanese National Army, namely professional and volunteer. As of 2021, there are 120,000 personnel on active duty, 5,000 of those being conscripted before 2012. Those discharged from active service are normally placed in the Reserve and are subject to periodic recall of 1–10 days at irregular intervals. Watanese males between the age of 18 and 60 who live in strategically sensitive areas may also be required to serve part-time in the National Guard.

Most professional officers graduate from the Vasconcelos Military Academy in Alhadas (Academia Militar Vasconcelos) and the Corps Officers Military Academy in Porto Cesel (Academia Militar de Oficiais do Corpo), while the rest graduate from various Military Schools according to their specialization. In the chain of command, graduates of the two military academies in Alhadas and Porto Cesel are considered higher in seniority compared to professional officers of the same rank who graduate from specialized military schools. The latter officers are followed in seniority by volunteer and finally conscript staff.

During war, the Watanese army battalions are commanded by either a ranking major or leiutenant colonel or if in a combat mission by another state which in agreement with the Watanese state will be commanded by a ranking officer of their own.

Equipment
The heavy equipment and weaponry of the Watanese Army is mostly of foreign manufacture, from Ventoran, Velorenkan, Haksar, Riyudic, Ordrish, and Myrish. A notable exception is the indigenous Leoa armoured personnel carrier which was built by the Watanese Vehicles Manufacturer Industry JAKAO.

Equipment runs the gamut from state-of-the art to obsolete 1970s inventories; the latter are gradually being retired.