Watanese Armed Forces

The Watanese Armed Forces (Watanese: Exército Nacional Vatãonês) are the combined ground, air, and naval forces of Watan. They consist of the Watanese National Army, the Watanese National Airforce, and the Watanese National Navy respectively.

The civilian authority overlooking the Watanese Armed Forces is the Ministry of National Defense.

Watanese National Army
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.

Watanese National Airforce
The Watanese National Airforce was founded in 1943 and was originally composed of just 10 aircraft, though this number soon increased dramatically as more technological innovations were introduced in the aviation field and Watan's strengthening of its armed forces.

In the Second World War, Watanese fighter planes frequented Esharat to battle against Velorenkans, providing air support from above. The airforce was also tasked with defending Watan's skies from enemy planes on one of their frequent bombing runs of the nation. Many Velorenkan fighter planes were shot down this way, saving major cities from several bombings they would have experienced otherwise.

During the Third World War and the neighborly War of the Three Capitals, the Watanese National Airforce was put on special duty to monitor these bordering nations from above in case of an infliction in airspace or conflict spilling over into Watanese territory.

During the 2004 and 2016 Watanese coups, the airforce provided a crucial role in the military takeovers, being especially useful during the 2016 coup attempt; managing to maintain air superiority during the entire conflict and providing key support on hotspots with armed helicopters and fighter jets.

Since 2008, the Watanese National Airforce has practiced international training abroad with allied nations Ventora, Arkulusia, Gladomyr, and Ordrey, with their airforces training in Watan in turn; Watan's unique terrain providing a welcomed challenge.

Watanese National Navy
The Watanese National Navy, originally the Watanese Royal Navy, has existed since Watan's independence in 1328 - composed primarily of wooden ships and protecting its international waters and transporting supplies and food to the Watanese-owned Coval Islands.

The Watanese Royal Navy transitioned into the modern Watanese National Navy alongside the Watanese National Army in 1861 after the Queluz Revolution.

With Watan's Coval Islands being a key location within the Abayadi Sea, the navy is frequently on standby in and around the islands. In case of an international crisis or incident happening along or on the Abayadi Sea, the Watanese National Navy holds a unique role of being ready to assist in case of any event, their central location being crucial.

During the 2016 Watanese coup attempt, 3 Watanese National Navy warships were captured by RSP forces - one of which being struck by a loyal harpoon, damaging it.

General Information
Watan is ranked 29 out of [#] countries reviewed for an annual global firepower ranking score, that uses a modified power index formulated after evaluating 50 individual, but subjective factors. In 2021 it holds an index rating of 0.4954, with 0.0000 considered a "perfect" score.

Conscription
Up until 2012, Watan employed a general conscription system for males older than 18, in which under Watanese law, all males 18 and older must serve at least 10 months in armed forces in a component of their choice. Women older than 18 had a conscription which forced them to work for the military, but could choose whether to work in the field or not. In 2012, president Olavo Maciel disbanded the conscription as he and the parliament deemed it no longer necessary or important to Watan's political standing.

Budget
According to domestic sources in 2008, Watan spent 1.4% of GDP on its military, which translated to approximately 12 billion. In 2008, Watan was the largest importer of conventional weapons in West Alutra.

Notably, Watan spends lower than the >2% GDP budget that a majority of nations employs for a fruitful military. While this limits the strength of the Watanese Armed Forces, the Ministry of National Defense has stated on multiple occasions that they have "no intentions of raising [the budget]".

Military personnel
Military personnel was estimated at approximately 112,000 for 2017 and 113,000 for 2018, with an approximate growth rate of +1,000 a year.

According to a national survey in 2022, 90.1% of the armed forces were of Watanese descent, 4.2% Ventoran, 2% Haksar, and 1.9% Arkulusian. This makes the Watanese Armed Forces among the most homogenous forces in Alutra.

International operations
Watan is a key member in World Forum military operations, and is largely involved in peacekeeping forces when it is called. The Watanese Armed Forces works hand-in-hand with the World Forum in this way, supplying aid to Ordrey during the Ordrish Revolution, the Serpentines during the Brotherly Wars, and Agarad during the ongoing Agar Civil War.

Watan is also a crucial member of the Compact for Abayadi Security, and sends troops-in-training to train abroad in Ventora, Arkulusia, and Esharat. The Compact for Abayadi Security enforces a mutual defense pact, which obligates Watan to activate its troops in case of an attack on a fellow member and vice versa.

Watanese National Defense General Staff
The Watanese National Defense General Staff has the operational command of the Joint Armed Forces Headquarters and the units that operate under them. It is also responsible for organizing and implementing routine operations and exercises of the Joint Armed Forces, coordinating and implementing operations during the management of wartime and peacetime crises and overseeing operations of the Watanese Armed Forces outside Watanese national territory.

Watanese National Army
The basic components of the Watanese National Army are Arms and Corps. The former is responsible for combat missions and the latter for logistical support. It is organized in Commands, Formations, and Units with the main being brigade, division and corps. Its main mission is to guarantee the territorial integrity and independence of the country.

Watanese National Airforce
The Watanese National Air Force incorporates a modern aircraft fleet and congruent structure, combined with a comprehensive air defense system that consists of a widespread network of anti-aircraft weapons. The structure, which is overseen by the Air Force General Staff, includes the Tactical Air Force Command, the Air Force Support Command, the Air Force Training Command and a number of other independent defense units and services. Its main mission is to defend Watanese airspace and to provide combat support to the Watanese Army and the Watanese Navy.

Watanese National Navy
The Watanese Navy incorporates a modern fleet consisting of strike units, such as frigates, gunboats, submarines and fast attack guided missile vessels and multiple types of support vessels, in order to be able to conduct naval operations that protect Watanese national interests and guarantee the integrity of Watanese territorial waters, the mainland and the islands.