The
President of Brazil is the Commander-in-Chief of the
Brazilian armed forces. The National Defence Council,
which includes the Vice President, the President of
the Chamber and the Senate, and the Minister of Defense,
Justice, Foreign Affairs and Planning, advises the
President on all issues related to national sovereignty
and the defence of the Brazil. The Brazilian Ministry
of Defence further coordinate defense policies. The
total active manpower of Brazilian armed forces is
around 260,000 personnel. There is also a Para military
forces with around 243,000 personnel. Conscription
is 12 months.
The Land forces of the Brazilian army is around 180,000
soldiers with the structure:
- 1 frontier brigade with 6 army battalions
- 1 Armoured cavalry brigade with 1 artillery battalion,
1 armoured battalion 2 armoured cavalry battalions
- 4 mechanised brigades each with 1 armoured cavalry
battalion, 1 artillery battalion, 2 mechanised cavalry
battalions
- 3 armoured infantry brigades each with 1 armoured
cavalry battalion, 1 artillery battalion, 2 armoured
infantry battalions
- 1 Special Forces brigade with 1 Special Forces battalion
and 1 Commando battalion
- 26 motorised infantry battalions,
- 1 Light infantry brigade with 3 light infantry battalions,
6 jungle battalions
- 6 medium group’s artillery, 4 groups of self-propelled
artillery, 1 air defense battalion, 2 engineer battalions,
2 groups with 9 engineer battalions, 2 helicopter
squadrons