Albanian Armed Forces
Forcat e Armatosura të Shqipërisë
Minister of Defence	Mr. Fatmir Mediu
Military age	18 years of age required for military service (2006)
Major international suppliers	USA, Italy, Switzerland and Turkey
Availability	age 18-49: 78,800 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures
Dollar figure	$235 million (2007 est.)
Percent of GDP	2.6% [1](by 2008)

The Albanian Armed Forces (AAF) {Albanian: Forcat e Armatosura të Shqipërisë (FASH)} is made up of the General Staff Headquarters and consists of the Albanian Joint Forces Command, the Albanian Support Command and the Albanian Training and Doctrine Command. Image File history File links Aaf. ... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... 2008 (MMVIII) will be a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (common) era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... A General Staff is a group of professional military officers who act in a staff or administrative role under the command of a general officer. ... The Albanian Joint Forces Command, consists in the branch of the Albanian military charged with protecting the territorial integrity of Albania. ... Structure of the Albanian Joint Forces The Albanian Support Command of the Albanian Military provides operational,logistical and support functions for the Albanian Land Forces, the Albanian Air Force and the Albanian Naval Defense Forces. ...

The Albanian Joint Forces Command Headquarter is situated in Durres. This Command includes all the Operational Forces of the Albanian Navy Brigade, the Albanian Air Brigade, an Infantry Rapid Reaction Brigade plus a Commando Regiment, and the Area Support Brigade. The present Comanding General of JFC is Major General Shpëtim Spahiu. The Albanian Joint Forces Command, consists in the branch of the Albanian military charged with protecting the territorial integrity of Albania. ... Durrës (Photo by Marc Morell) Durrës (Albanian: Durrës or Durrësi) is the most ancient city of Albania and one of the most economically important as the biggest port city. ... The Albanian Air Force (Forcat Ajrore Shqiptare, FASH) is the national Air Force of the Albanian military. ... Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I Infantry or footmen are very highly disciplined and trained soldiers who fight primarily with small arms(rifles), but are trained to use everything from their bare hands to missle systems in order to neutralize...

The Albanian Army is mostly supported by the United States, Germany, The Netherlands, Italy, United Kingdom, Turkey, Switzerland and Belgium. Motto: Je Maintiendrai (Dutch: Ik zal handhaven, English: I Shall Uphold) Anthem: Wilhelmus van Nassouwe Capital Amsterdam1 Largest city Amsterdam Official language(s) Dutch2 Government Parliamentary democracy Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Beatrix  - Prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende Independence Eighty Years War   - Declared July 26, 1581   - Recognised January 30, 1648 (by Spain...

Since the last years and after several major reequipment programs, the Albanian Armed Forces launched a 10-year reform program sponsored and supervised by the U.S. Defence Department to become technologically advanced and fully professional by 2010. Department of Defense redirects here. ... 2010 (MMX) will be a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Albanian participation in Peacekeeping Operations/Missions

• Southeast European Brigade SEEBRIG - [2] created in 1998 and consisting of Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia, Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Romania, Turkey and the United States. NATO has already declared the force fully operational.
• EU Mission "ALTHEA" in Bosnia and Herzegovina under German Command.
• NATO/PfP led Mission ISAF in Afghanistan under Italian and Turkish Command.
• Coalition Forces led - Iraqi Freedom under American Command.
• NATO Operation in the Mediterranean Sea "Active Endeavour" - [3].

Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... For an explanation of terms related to Macedonia, see Macedonia (terminology). ... This article is about the military alliance. ... Wikiquote has a collection of quotations by or about: European Union The European Union On-Line Official EU website, europa. ... This article is about the military alliance. ... ISAF can stand for: International Sailing Federation International Security Assistance Force This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The 2003 Invasion of Iraq was the first military act of the Iraq War, and was launched by the United States and the United Kingdom on March 20, 2003, with support from some other governments, making up what was described as the coalition of the willing. After about three weeks... This article is about the military alliance. ... Mediterranean redirects here. ...

Post World War II history

After World War II, Albania became part of the Eastern Block and a satellite country of the Soviet Union. The ranks and the structure of the Albanian Armed Forces were organized based on the Soviet concepts, thus increasing the political control of the State-Party over the Armed Forces. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... During the Cold War, the Eastern Bloc (or Soviet Bloc) comprised the following Central and Eastern European countries: Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, East Germany, Poland, Albania (until the early 1960s, see below), the Soviet Union, and Czechoslovakia. ... Soviet redirects here. ... Alternate cover US 1979 and 2002 reissue cover, also known as paint spatter cover For the military meaning, see Armed forces. ...

Albania People's Army

60's. Albanian militaries of the People's communist army train with a SG-43 Goryunov maschine gun

Late 70's. An Forward Artillery Observer in the Albanian People's Army

One of the defining characteristics of civilian-military relations during this period was the effort of the civilian leadership to ensure the loyalty of the military to the communist system’s values and institutions. Like all other branches of the state, the military was subjugated to Communist Party control. All high-ranking military officers and most of the lower and middle ranks were members of the Communist Party - and had loyalties to it. The system was re-enforced by the establishment of Party cells within the military and extensive communist political education alongside soldiers’ military training, by the Commissars. To further increase its political control, the Albanian Communist Party enlarged the conscription system, thus enlisting in the Armed Forces personnel dedicated to the military career from the Albanian rural areas, a category of people easily manipulated and subjected to political brainwashing. Centuries: 1st century BC - 1st century - 2nd century Decades: 10s - 20s - 30s - 40s - 50s - 60s - 70s - 80s - 90s - 100s - 110s 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 Note: Sometimes the 60s is used as shorthand for the 1960s, the 1860s, or other such decades in various centuries... The SG-43 Goryunov was a Soviet medium machine gun that was introduced during the Second World War and is chambered for the 7. ... Centuries: 1st century BC - 1st century - 2nd century Decades: 20s - 30s - 40s - 50s - 60s - 70s - 80s - 90s - 100s - 110s - 120s 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 Note: Sometimes the 70s is used as shorthand for the 1970s, the 1870s, or other such decades in other centuries... For other uses, see Artillery (disambiguation). ... In modern usage, the term communist party is generally used to identify any political party which has adopted communist ideology. ... In modern usage, the term communist party is generally used to identify any political party which has adopted communist ideology. ... Commissar is the English transliteration of an official title (комисса́р) used in Russia after the Bolshevik revolution and in the Soviet Union, as well as some other Communist countries. ... Sign in a rural area in Dalarna, Sweden Qichun, a rural town in Hubei province, China Rural areas (also referred to as the country, countryside) are settled places outside towns and cities. ...

The State-Party went even further, starting from the 1st of May 1966, the military ranks were abolished following the example of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, heavily influenced by Maoism during the years of the cultural revolution, and thus adopting strategic concepts related to forms of guerilla war (Vietnam War doctrine). The military were still organized during this period into their basic structure forms, but the role of the military commander was insignificant with respect to the commanding role of the political commissars. Year 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Peoples Liberation Army redirects here. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article is about the Peoples Republic of China. ... are you looking for the political definition of guerilla war? Guerilla War is a video game by SNK. It is an overhead shooter. ... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000... Commissar is the English transliteration of an official title (комисса́р) used in Russia after the Bolshevik revolution and in the Soviet Union, as well as some other Communist countries. ...

During all these years, the Sigurimi which was the Albanian secret service during that period and was formed upon the KGB structure, was responsible for the execution, the imprisonment and deportation of more than 600 Officers from the Armed Forces, by completely neutralizing the Armed Forces future approach to a possible future democratic system. Initially the communist purge concentrated on the military personnel gratuated by the Western Military Academies (mainly from Italy 1927-1939), extended later on to the officers graduated in Soviet Union (after the Albanian abandon of the Warsaw Pact in 1961). As the communist regime collapsed in Albania during 1990, there was a real fear that the armed forces might intervene to halt the collapse of communism by force. In the event, the armed forces stood by as the regime of which they had been a part disintegrated. Further, during the civilian riots in 1997, the political attempts by the government to use the Armed Forces to crush the rebellion were soon demonstrated to be a failure, following a total disintegration of the Armed Forces and the looting of the military facilities by the civilian population [4]. The Directorate of State Security, or Sigurimi (Full name:Drejtorija e Sigurimit të Shtetit) was Albanias secret police agency during the communist regime. ... This article is about the KGB of the Soviet Union. ... Year 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Not to be confused with the Warsaw Convention, which is an agreement about airlines financial liability and the Treaty of Warsaw (1970) between West Germany and the Peoples Republic of Poland. ... Year 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about a form of government in which the state operates under the control of a Communist Party. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ...

The long communist purge, the elimination of the professional military leadership in years, and the dominion of a rural mentality in the Armed Forces were the corrosive factors which leaded to the disintegration of the Albanian Armed Forces in 1997 [5]. For the band, see 1997 (band). ...

Post 1991 history

Politically, since the fall of the communism in Albania in 1991, the country has played a constructive role in resolving several of the inter-ethnic conflicts in Southern East Europe, promoting peaceful dispute resolution and discouraging ethnic Albanian extremists. Albania sheltered many thousands of Kosovar refugees during the 1999 conflict, and provided through a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Operational HQ in Durres (operational until 2006, see NATO Headquarter Tirana), logistical assistance for Kosovo Force, KFOR troops. Albania was part of the International Stabilization Force (SFOR) serving in Bosnia (than EU mission ALTHEA), and Albanian peacekeepers are part of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, ISAF and the international stabilization force in Iraq. Albania has been a steadfast supporter of U.S. policy in Iraq, and one of only four nations to contribute troops to the combat phase of Operation Enduring Freedom.^[1] Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... This article is about the year. ... NATO 2002 Summit The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), sometimes called North Atlantic Alliance, Atlantic Alliance or the Western Alliance, is an international organisation for defence collaboration established in 1949, in support of the North Atlantic Treaty signed in Washington, DC, on April 4, 1949. ... Durrës (Photo by Marc Morell) Durrës (Albanian: Durrës or Durrësi) is the most ancient city of Albania and one of the most economically important as the biggest port city. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see KFOR (disambiguation). ... Pocket badge of the KFOR Ukrainian soldier on foot patrolling in Serbian village near Brezovica KFOR vehicle of the French Army The Kosovo Force (KFOR) is a NATO-led international force responsible for establishing and maintaining security in Kosovo. ... Members of the Dutch, French, German and U.S. military watch as an Italian honour guard hoists the new Stabilisation Force flag during the Stabilisation Force (SFOR) activation ceremony in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the 20 of December 1996 Pocket badge of the SFOR The Stabilisation Force (SFOR) was... This article is about the country of Bosnia and Herzegovina. ... Wikiquote has a collection of quotations by or about: European Union The European Union On-Line Official EU website, europa. ... ISAF can stand for: International Sailing Federation International Security Assistance Force This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) is the military response to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States . ...

Modernization

Since 1999, Albania has spent approximately $108 million annually on military expenditures, roughly 1.35% of its GDP. One of the most important conditions to fulfill due to NATO integration, was the increasing of the military budget. According to Government of Albania plans, military expenditure will reach 2% of GDP in 2008 (already approved by the parliament on the budget of 2008 - for the defense 2.01% of GDP). This article is about the year. ... GDP is an acronym which can stand for more than one thing: (in economics) an abbreviation for Gross Domestic Product. ... 2008 (MMVIII) will be a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (common) era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) will be a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (common) era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... GDP is an acronym which can stand for more than one thing: (in economics) an abbreviation for Gross Domestic Product. ...

In 2002, Albania's armed forces,^[2] launched a 10-year reform program sponsored and supervised by the U.S. Defense Department in order to trim down and thoroughly modernize the standing force of the time of more than 30,000 troops. The same radical reform is being implemented on surplus equipment, including airplanes, tanks, helicopters, artillery pieces, navy vessels, SALW and ammunition. Albania started an ambitious destruction program. Department of Defense redirects here. ... This article refers to the tool of travel. ... The US M1A1 Abrams tank is a typical modern main battle tank. ... A helicopter is an aircraft which is lifted and propelled by one or more large horizontal rotors (propellers). ... For other uses, see Artillery (disambiguation). ... The AK-47, the most ubiquitous automatic weapon in the world SALW is an acronym, meaning Small Arms, Light Weapons, a term used in arms control protocols to refer to two main classes of weapons: Small arms - hand-held small caliber firearms, usually consisting of handguns, rifles, shotguns, manual, semi... Ammunition, often referred to as ammo, is a generic term meaning (the assembly of) a projectile and its propellant. ...

Scraping old AAF equipment.

SALW destruction in Albania. The AK-47, the most ubiquitous automatic weapon in the world SALW is an acronym, meaning Small Arms, Light Weapons, a term used in arms control protocols to refer to two main classes of weapons: Small arms - hand-held small caliber firearms, usually consisting of handguns, rifles, shotguns, manual, semi...

SALW Ammunition destruction at Mjekes Military Factory. The AK-47, the most ubiquitous automatic weapon in the world SALW is an acronym, meaning Small Arms, Light Weapons, a term used in arms control protocols to refer to two main classes of weapons: Small arms - hand-held small caliber firearms, usually consisting of handguns, rifles, shotguns, manual, semi...

Sea Mines destruction programme managed by the US company SAIC. United States may refer to: Places: United States of America SS United States, the fastest ocean liner ever built. ... The acronym SAIC can stand for: Science Applications International Corporation School of the Art Institute of Chicago Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation Special Agent in Charge, acronym used by some U.S. Federal agencies (F.B.I., etc. ...

However, Albania is still dealing with a huge amount of surplus and obsolete ammunition, a direct result of the country's long isolation and ethnic tensions in the area. The Albanian Ministry of Defense estimates such quantity up to 111,000 Tons, but it is expected to increase up to 150,000 Tons due to the on-going downsizing process of the AAF. It is worth noting that Albania's notoriously fractious politics have not obstructed any of the reforms undertaken by the Armed Forces. AAF may stand for: Advanced Authoring Format, an industry standard for high-end exchange of video project data. ... Alternate cover US 1979 and 2002 reissue cover, also known as paint spatter cover For the military meaning, see Armed forces. ...

In May 2003, Albania, Croatia, and the Republic of Macedonia with the direct support of the USA, created the Adriatic Charter, modeled on the Baltic Charter, as a mechanism for promoting regional cooperation to advance each country's NATO candidacy. In spite of strong European Union (EU) objections, Albania also signed in May 2003 a bilateral agreement with the USA on non-extradition of US citizens to the EU, based on Article 98 of the statute of International Criminal Court. 2003 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December - → A timeline of events in the news for May, 2003. ... For an explanation of terms related to Macedonia, see Macedonia (terminology). ... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... The three Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. ... This article is about the military alliance. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... Wikiquote has a collection of quotations by or about: European Union The European Union On-Line Official EU website, europa. ... The official logo of the ICC The International Criminal Court (ICC or ICCt)[1] was established in 2002 as a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression, although it cannot currently exercise jurisdiction over the crime of aggression. ...

In 2004 US President George W. Bush authorized the use of Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction program funds for projects in Albania, marking the first time such funds are used outside the former Soviet Union. With this funding the US assisted the Government of Albania within the destruction of a stockpile of war chemical agents left over from the communist regime (Category 1 [6], Total amount 16,7 Tons). The final cost of the project was US$48 million . The project was officially completed on 10 July 2007. Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... United States may refer to: Places: United States of America SS United States, the fastest ocean liner ever built. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the forty-third and current President of the United States of America, originally inaugurated on January 20, 2001. ... The Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Program is a 1991 U.S. law sponsored by Senators Richard Lugar and Sam Nunn. ... The word ton or tonne is derived from the Old English tunne, and ultimately from the Old French tonne, and referred originally to a large cask with a capacity of 252 wine gallons, which holds approximately 2100 pounds of water. ... is the 191st day of the year (192nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

Structure of the Albanian Military Joint Forces

On April 3, 2006, the final contract for the delivery of 12 Bölkow-Blom MBB BO-105 lightweight twin-engine multi-role helicopters to the Republic of Albania was signed in Tirana between the Albanian Ministry of Defense and Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH. According to the Albanian Government^[3], six of the BO-105 helicopters are designated for the Albanian Air Brigade, four for the Ministry of Interior and the remaining two for the Albanian Ministry of Health. is the 93rd day of the year (94th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Canadian Coast Guard BO-105 helicopters The german BO 105 is a light twin engine multi purpose utility helicopter initially developed by Bölkow, and then build by Messerschmidt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) which is now belonging to the Eurocopter Group. ... A helicopter is an aircraft which is lifted and propelled by one or more large horizontal rotors (propellers). ... Nickname: Coordinates: , Country Albania Founded 1614 Elevation 295 ft (90 m) Population (2005 est)[1]  - City 585,756  - Metro 700,000 Tirana (Albanian: Tiranë or Tirana) is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Albania. ... The Eurocopter Group is a global helicopter manufacturing and support company formed in 1992 from the merger of the helicopter divisions of French Aérospatiale and German DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG (DASA). ... Canadian Coast Guard BO-105 helicopters The german BO 105 is a light twin engine multi purpose utility helicopter initially developed by Bölkow, and then build by Messerschmidt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) which is now belonging to the Eurocopter Group. ... The Albanian Air Force (Forcat Ajrore Shqiptare, FASH) is the national Air Force of the Albanian military. ... The Interior Minister is a member of a Cabinet in a Government. ...

On 14 November 2006, the new structure of the Albanian Armed Forces was officially introduced with the sign of the President of the Republic. The new structure, based on the "Joint" concept, has three main Commands. The AL JFC (Albanian Joint Forces Command) includes the RRB Rapid Reaction Brigade (the RRB is basically a Mechanized Infantry Brigade), the Commando Regiment, the Albanian Navy Brigade, the Albanian Air Brigade and the Albanian Area Support Brigade. The Support Command which provides support and logistical functions for the whole army units and TRADOC (Training and Doctrine) which is the main educational and training provider for the Albanian Armed Forces. The final number of personnel will be 13,800 (including 2,000 civilians). is the 318th day of the year (319th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Albanian Armed Forces (AAF) (Albanian: Forcat e Armatosura të Shqipërisë (FASH), is made up of the General Staff Headquarters and consists of the Albanian Joint Forces Command, the Albanian Support Command and AL-TRADOC (Albanian Training and Doctrine Command). ... The Albanian Joint Forces Command, consists in the branch of the Albanian military charged with protecting the territorial integrity of Albania. ... The Albanian Air Force (Forcat Ajrore Shqiptare, FASH) is the national Air Force of the Albanian military. ... TRADOC shoulder sleeve patch. ...

The Albanian Navy Brigade performs mainly Coast Guard duties, and recently the Albanian parliament has approved some amendments to the articles of the actual Law on the Coast Guard in Albania, in order to improve the necessary legal framework due to efforts at European Union-NATO integration.

Since February 2008, Albania participates officially in NATO"Active Endeavour"[7] Operation in the Mediterranean Sea . 2008 (MMVIII) will be a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (common) era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the military alliance. ... Mediterranean redirects here. ...

Working towards NATO membership, the Adriatic Charter countries -- Albania, Croatia and the Republic of Macedonia -- are expected to join the alliance in 2008.^[4] This article is about the military alliance. ... For an explanation of terms related to Macedonia, see Macedonia (terminology). ...

Note The AAF has no reserve units, although it does maintain a reserve personnel roster of up to 10,000 personnel that can be called in if required to augment or fill active units.

Gallery

Young Officers at a ceremony at the Skanderbeg Military Academy. A military academy is a military educational institution. ...	Military personnel from the 1st Infantry Company of the Rapid Reaction Brigade Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I Infantry or footmen are very highly disciplined and trained soldiers who fight primarily with small arms(rifles), but are trained to use everything from their bare hands to missle systems in order to neutralize...	Albanian military personnel exchange experience with US soldiers during exercise Longbow Lancer on the use of portable radios. United States may refer to: Places: United States of America SS United States, the fastest ocean liner ever built. ...	Joint teams perform urban combat training at NATO Exercise in Albania Longbow Lancer 2007 MOUT/FIBUA simulated in US Army exercise Urban warfare is warfare conducted in populated urban areas such as towns and cities. ... This article is about the military alliance. ...
‎The Rapid Reaction Brigade was the last Albanian military unit to include a Tank Battalion. In here Type 59's tanks during military exercises. The Battalion was deactivated with the new AAF structure. Tank Battalion is an arcade game that was released by Namco in 1980. ... The Chinese Type 59 Main Battle Tank is a copy of the ubiquitous Russian T-55/54 medium tank. ... Symbol of the Austrian 14th Armoured Battalion in NATO military graphic symbols This article is about the military unit. ... AAF may stand for: Advanced Authoring Format, an industry standard for high-end exchange of video project data. ...	The Soviet built Albanian minesweeper M-111 in use with the Albanian Navy Brigade Soviet redirects here. ... USS Pivot (AM 276) World War II United States Admirable Class Minesweeper shown in the Gulf of Mexico on sea trials 12 July 1944 Image:Hameln Class. ...	One of the last flights of one Shenyang J-6C of the Albanian Air Force back in 2003. Firing the 57mm rocket pod. The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19 (NATO reporting name Farmer) is a third-generation Soviet, single-seater jet engined fighter aircraft. ... The Albanian Air Force (Forcat Ajrore Shqiptare, FASH) is the national Air Force of the Albanian military. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...	HN-5 MANPAD in use with Albanian Air Defence Battalion The HN-5 (or Hong Ying-5), is a family of first generation Chinese MANPAD based on Soviet technology. ... MANPADS stands for Human-Portable Air-Defence System and typically refers to shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles such as the FIM-92 Stinger, 9K32M Strela-2 (SA-7), RBS-70, 9K36 Strela-3 (SA-14), 9K38 Igla (SA-18) and 9K310 Igla-M (SA-16). ...
Basic Infantry Training. Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I Infantry or footmen are very highly disciplined and trained soldiers who fight primarily with small arms(rifles), but are trained to use everything from their bare hands to missle systems in order to neutralize...	Commando members training in Special Operations tactics. For other uses, see Commando (disambiguation). ... Special forces or special operations forces is a term used to describe relatively small military units raised and trained for reconnaissance, unconventional warfare and special operations. ...	Combat patrol training.

See also

• Albanian Air Force
• Albanian Naval Defense Forces
• Albanian Joint Forces Command
• Albanian Logistic Support Command

The Albanian Air Force (Forcat Ajrore Shqiptare, FASH) is the national Air Force of the Albanian military. ... - The naval ensign of the Albanian Navy. ... The Albanian Joint Forces Command, consists in the branch of the Albanian military charged with protecting the territorial integrity of Albania. ... Structure of the Albanian Logistic Support Command The Logistic Support Command of the Albanian Military provides logistical support for the Albanian Land Forces, the Albanian Air Force and the Albanian Naval Defense Forces. ...

Picture gallery of AAF equipment and vehicles

An ex-US Army Chevrolet in use with the AAF. AAF may stand for: Advanced Authoring Format, an industry standard for high-end exchange of video project data. ... The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces which has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... Chevrolet (IPA: - French origin) (colloquially Chevy) is a brand of automobile, produced by General Motors (GM). ...	A Turkish made Land Rover 110 TdI in use with the AAF. Land Rover was the name of one of the first British civilian all-terrain utility vehicles, first produced by Rover in 1947. ...	Mercedes G class in use with the AAF. Mercedes may refer to: Things Mercedes-Benz, a German brand of automobiles and trucks Mercedes-Benz (song), by Janis Joplin Mercedes (calculator), an early 20th-century computing device Mercedes College, South Australia Places Mercedes, Buenos Aires, Argentina Mercedes, Paraná, Brazil Mercedes, Camarines Norte, Philippines Mercedes, Eastern Samar, Philippines Mercedes, Texas...	A Swiss Pinzgauer 72. Still some remain in service with the Albanian Air Force Swiss may be: Related to Switzerland: the Swiss Confederation Swiss people Swiss cheese Swiss corporations Switzerland-related topics Named Swiss: Swiss, Missouri Swiss, North Carolina Swiss, West Virginia Swiss, Wisconsin Swiss International Air Lines Swiss Re SWiSS is also used as a disparaging nickname for the Socialist Workers Student Society. ... Pinzgauer is a (male) inhabitant of the Pinzgau, an Alpine region in the west of the state of Salzburg, Austria the name of a breed of horse, as well as a breed of cattle A High Mobility All-Terrain Vehicle designed by Steyr-Daimler-Puch ... The Albanian Air Force (Forcat Ajrore Shqiptare, FASH) is the national Air Force of the Albanian military. ...
Swiss built FBW fuel transporters trucks donated to AAF. Swiss may be: Related to Switzerland: the Swiss Confederation Swiss people Swiss cheese Swiss corporations Switzerland-related topics Named Swiss: Swiss, Missouri Swiss, North Carolina Swiss, West Virginia Swiss, Wisconsin Swiss International Air Lines Swiss Re SWiSS is also used as a disparaging nickname for the Socialist Workers Student Society. ... A flight control system consists of the flight control surfaces, the respective cockpit controls, connecting linkage, and necessary operating mechanisms to control aircraft in flight The fundamentals of aircraft controls have been explained in aeronautics. ...	Italian Iveco VM 90 Pick-up in use with the AAF. Iveco is a European truck, bus, and diesel engine manufacturer, based in Turin, Italy. ...	An Italian Iveco VM 90 40.10 in use with the Military Police Battalion Iveco is a European truck, bus, and diesel engine manufacturer, based in Turin, Italy. ...	The Honda 4x4 is used by the Albanian Military Police Battalion for VIP escorts. This article is about the Japanese motor corporation. ... The Singapore Armed Forces Military Police Command providing security coverage at the Padang in Singapore during the National Day Parade in 2000. ... Symbol of the Austrian 14th Armoured Battalion in NATO military graphic symbols This article is about the military unit. ... A Very Important Person, or VIP is a person who is accorded special privileges due to his or her status or importance. ...
An Italian Astra truck in use by the AAF. // Astra may refer to: Astra (Marvel), Marvel comics character Astra missile, missile developed by India Astra (album), a 1985 album by Asia Astra (manga), by Jerry Robinson. ...	A Dutch DAF truck in use with the AAF. The word daf and similar can mean: The word daff is a colloquial short form of daffodil. ...	The DDR classic military truck IFA still in use with the AAF. IFA may refer to: Ifá, a system of divination that originated in West Africa Immunofluorescent antibody analysis Independent Financial Adviser, an UK Financial Services professional India Foundation for the Arts, a philanthropic grant-giving organisation Indian Football Association, the organisation that administers association football in the state of West Bengal...	An Italian Fiat TM 69, in use with the Albanian Artillery Battalion For other uses, see Fiat (disambiguation). ...
Iveco ACP 90 for heavy transport in use by the AAF. Iveco is a European truck, bus, and diesel engine manufacturer, based in Turin, Italy. ...	A Magirus truck in use with the AAF. Iveco-Magirus fire truck. ...	MAN 7 Tons medium transporter truck in use with the AAF. Photograph of a nude man by Wilhelm von Gloeden, ca. ...	German trucks MAN in use with the AAF. The trucks were part of the Desert Storm Operation in Iraq and than donated from the US Army to the AAF. Photograph of a nude man by Wilhelm von Gloeden, ca. ... See also: 2003 invasion of Iraq and Gulf War (disambiguation) C Company, 1st Battalion, The Staffordshire Regiment, 1st UK Armoured Division The Persian Gulf War was a conflict between Iraq and a coalition force of 34 nations led by the United States. ... The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces which has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ...
Mercedes trucks in use with the AAF. Mercedes may refer to: Things Mercedes-Benz, a German brand of automobiles and trucks Mercedes-Benz (song), by Janis Joplin Mercedes (calculator), an early 20th-century computing device Mercedes College, South Australia Places Mercedes, Buenos Aires, Argentina Mercedes, Paraná, Brazil Mercedes, Camarines Norte, Philippines Mercedes, Eastern Samar, Philippines Mercedes, Texas...	Berna/Saurer 2DM in use with the AAF. Donation of the Swiss Army, are used mainly to transport amunition for destruction. Military of Switzerland On May 18, 2003, Swiss voters approved the military reform project Army XXI that will drastically reduce the size of the Swiss Army. ...	Steyr A680 Light Transporter (3T) in use with the AAF. Used for the transport of ammunition planned for destruction. Quayside at Enns river. ... Ammunition, often referred to as ammo, is a generic term meaning (the assembly of) a projectile and its propellant. ...	Scania trucks used as Tank and APC's transporters. Scania (SkÃ¥ne in Swedish  ) is a geographical region of Sweden on the southernmost tip of the Scandinavian peninsula, a historical province (landskap)[1] of the Kingdom of Sweden, since 1997 a county (Län) of Sweden, before 1658 part of the Kingdom of Denmark. ... APC is an abbreviation of: General A Perfect Circle, rock band Advanced process control Air Pollution Control in municipal solid waste incineration plants Angled Physical Contact Fiber Optic Connector Antipop Consortium, an alternative hip-hop group Armoured personnel carrier Armour-piercing capped shot and shell Automatic Passenger Counter Automatic Performance...
An Italian Fiat AR 75 used as auto-school by the AAF. For other uses, see Fiat (disambiguation). ...	A US M35A2 used as an Auto-school truck by the AAF. United States may refer to: Places: United States of America SS United States, the fastest ocean liner ever built. ...	Fiat Ducato ambulances in use with the AAF. The Fiat Ducato is a large van produced by Fiat. ...	Mercedes ambulances in use with the Rapid Reaction Brigade. Mercedes may refer to: Things Mercedes-Benz, a German brand of automobiles and trucks Mercedes-Benz (song), by Janis Joplin Mercedes (calculator), an early 20th-century computing device Mercedes College, South Australia Places Mercedes, Buenos Aires, Argentina Mercedes, Paraná, Brazil Mercedes, Camarines Norte, Philippines Mercedes, Eastern Samar, Philippines Mercedes, Texas...
The Italian Iveco 370 is the standard bus used by the AAF. Iveco is a European truck, bus, and diesel engine manufacturer, based in Turin, Italy. ...

Picture gallery of retired AAF equipment and weaponry

A Chinese BJ 2121. Retired from service. AAF may stand for: Advanced Authoring Format, an industry standard for high-end exchange of video project data. ...	A Rumenian Aro Jeep used massively during the 80's by the AAF. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1024x392, 89 KB) Panorama shot of Arobindo Bhavan. ... Rumenian is a Benassi Bros. ... Events By place Roman Empire The Emperor Titus inaugurates the Flavian Amphitheatre with 100 days of games. ...	An old Soviet GAZ-69. Retired from service in the early 90's Soviet redirects here. ... GAZ-69 is a four wheel drive vehicle produced by GAZ (ГАЗ, or Gorkovskij Awtomobilnyj Zavod) between 1953 and 1972. ... Centuries: 1st century BC - 1st century - 2nd century Decades: 40s - 50s - 60s - 70s - 80s - 90s - 100s - 110s - 120s - 130s - 140s 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 Sometimes the 90s is used as shorthand for the 1990s, the 1890s, or other such decades in various centuries. ...	Close up details of the Soviet GAZ 69 Soviet redirects here. ... GAZ-69 is a four wheel drive vehicle produced by GAZ (ГАЗ, or Gorkovskij Awtomobilnyj Zavod) between 1953 and 1972. ...
Once used masively from the AAF. The Soviet M-72 Motorcycle sidecar. AAF may stand for: Advanced Authoring Format, an industry standard for high-end exchange of video project data. ... Soviet redirects here. ... The M-72 motorcycle was built in several factories in the Soviet Union. ...	Two Soviet old vehicles in use with the AAF until the early 90's, the GAZ 69 and the M-72 Motorcycle Soviet redirects here. ... AAF may stand for: Advanced Authoring Format, an industry standard for high-end exchange of video project data. ... Centuries: 1st century BC - 1st century - 2nd century Decades: 40s - 50s - 60s - 70s - 80s - 90s - 100s - 110s - 120s - 130s - 140s 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 Sometimes the 90s is used as shorthand for the 1990s, the 1890s, or other such decades in various centuries. ... GAZ-69 is a four wheel drive vehicle produced by GAZ (ГАЗ, or Gorkovskij Awtomobilnyj Zavod) between 1953 and 1972. ... The M-72 motorcycle was built in several factories in the Soviet Union. ...	An old Chinese Multiple Rocket Launcher Type 63 107 mm mounted in a Jueczin 134. This weaponry was in use with the AAF until 1996. BM-13 Katyusha RM-70 of the Polish Army A multiple rocket launcher is a type of unguided rocket artillery system, in use since the Second World War. ... AAF may stand for: Advanced Authoring Format, an industry standard for high-end exchange of video project data. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ...	The trucks used once in large number on the AAF Logistics. Soviet Zil's and respective Chinese copies. All retired from service. AAF may stand for: Advanced Authoring Format, an industry standard for high-end exchange of video project data. ... Look up Logistics in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Soviet redirects here. ... ZIL is a three-letter abbreviation with multiple meanings, as described below: Zork Implementation Language (ZIL) is the language which Infocom used to produce their works of interactive fiction. ...
Chinese Jiefang CA-30, copy of the Soviet Zil 157 Soviet redirects here. ...	Close up of a Jiefang CA-30 with old AAF plates. AAF may stand for: Advanced Authoring Format, an industry standard for high-end exchange of video project data. ...	An old Soviet ZiS-151 base with P-3 radio-location station. Soviet redirects here. ...	A Chinese Jiefang CA 30, used as a mobile mechanical supporter. Retired.
A Czechoslovakian Tatra 813. Used by the AAF as a tank mover. Will be retired. Czechoslovakia (Czech: Československo, Slovak: Česko-Slovensko/before 1990 Československo) was a country in Central Europe that existed from 1918 until 1992 (except for the World War II period). ... Tatra mountains - a mountain range, part of the Carpathian Mountains, between Poland and Slovakia. ... AAF may stand for: Advanced Authoring Format, an industry standard for high-end exchange of video project data. ...	Chinese Jiefang CA-30, copy of the Soviet Zil-157 used for WMD threats. Will be retired. Soviet redirects here. ... Weapons of Mass Destruction is also the name of rapper Xzibits 2004 album. ...	An ex-US Army M35A2 truck in use with AAF. Will be retired. The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces which has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... AAF may stand for: Advanced Authoring Format, an industry standard for high-end exchange of video project data. ...	A classic Albanian ammunition tunnel. There are more than 150 tunnels left all over the country, built during the communist regime as part of a wider conflict propaganda ideology. Albanian MoD plans to close most part of them thanks to ambitious ammunition destruction programmes. Ammunition, often referred to as ammo, is a generic term meaning (the assembly of) a projectile and its propellant. ... A disused railway tunnel now converted to pedestrian and bicycle use, near Houyet, Belgium A tunnel is an underground passage. ... This article is about communism as a form of society and as a political movement. ...

External links

• Ministry of Defence of Albania (official site)
• Albanian Armed Forces (official site)
• BBC Article about the Albanian Bunker System
• Centre for SouthEast European Studies: Albanias Armed Forces
• Video of Albanian army in Iraq
• Video footage of Albanian Comandos

Ranks and insignia

• http://uniforminsignia.net/index.php?p=state&id=80

References

1. ^ Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs/May 2007.
2. ^ http://www.mod.gov.al/eng/
3. ^ Germany will supply Albania with 12 BO-105 Helicopters
4. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Membership_Action_Plan

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Dependencies, autonomies, other territories	Abkhazia2, x · Adjara1 · Akrotiri and Dhekelia · Åland · Azores · Crimea · Faroe Islands · Gagauzia · Gibraltar · Greenland4 · Guernsey · Jan Mayen · Jersey · Kosovox · Isle of Man · Madeira5 · Nagorno-Karabakh1, x · Nakhchivan1 · Northern Cyprus1 x · South Ossetia2, x · Svalbard · Republika Srpska · Transnistriax
Included because of cultural, political and historical association with Europe: 1 Entirely in Southwest Asia. 2 Partially or entirely in Asia, depending on the definition of the border. 3 Mostly in Asia. 4 Entirely in the North American Plate. 5 Entirely on the African Plate. x Unrecognised country.