Military and Security Forces
Army (Tatmadaw Kyi), Navy (Tatmadaw Yay), Air Force (Tatmadaw Lay), Directorate of People’s Militia and Border Guard Forces
(2019)
Military Service Age and Obligation
18-35 years of age (men) and 18-27 years of age (women) for voluntary military service; no conscription (a 2010 law reintroducing conscription has not yet entered into force); 2-year service obligation; male (ages 18-45) and female (ages 18-35) professionals (including doctors, engineers, mechanics) serve up to 3 years; service terms may be stretched to 5 years in an officially declared emergency; Burma signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child on 15 August 1991; on 27 June 2012, the regime signed a Joint Action Plan on prevention of child recruitment; in February 2013, the military formed a new task force to address forced child conscription
(2013)
Military and Security Service Personnel Strengths
estimates of the Burmese Defense Service (Tatmadaw) vary widely; approximately 380,000 total active troops (est. 340,000 Army; 20,000 Navy; 20,000 Air Force); est. 35,000 People’s Militia
(2019 est.)