Austrian Armed Forces (Österreichisches Bundesheer)
The Austrian Armed Forces form the armed power of the Republic of Austria. The primary objective of the Bundesheer is the military defence and granting the souvereignity of Austria. Furthermore, the Forces protect the constitutionally established institutions and the populations's democratic freedoms, maintain order and security inside the country and render assistance in the case of natural catastrophes and disasters of exceptional magnitude. Because of Austria's membership in the United Nations, the European Union and the Partnership for Peace (PfP) Program, foreign assignments notably increased in importance. In 1955 Austria declared its Everlasting Neutrality and made neutrality a constitutional law.
Visit the Austrian Armed Forces online.
Military Authority
The Commander-in-Chief is the Austrian Federal President, while the Minister of Defense exercises his power of supreme command by way of his offices and subordinated commanders.
Organization
The Ministry of Defense is organized in:
- Joint Forces Command
- Joint Command Support Command
- Joint Mission Support Command
- Agencies, academies and schools
The Joint Forces Command trains, manages and deploys troops within Austria and abroad. The main branches are:
Air Forces
Land Forces
Special Forces
Being a landlocked country Austria does not maintain a
Navy or other marine branch.
The Joint Command Support Command covers all aspects of information technology and communication technology requirements of the Armed Forces.
The Joint Mission Support Command's responsibilities include all logistical and maintenance support requirements of the military. Additionally, the command runs the Force's medical centers and the Military Sports Center, which successfully trains all kinds of military and also civil athletes.
Strength
In times of peace the military comprises professional soldiers, further employees and conscripts. After having reached its final overhauled structure in 2010, personnel strength is 21,000 oficials and 24,000 militia soldiers (Joint Forces Command + Joint Mission Support Command).
In addition to these employees of the Ministry of Defense, of further agencies, academies and schools contribute to total troop strength of 55,000, including a pool  of experts drawn of militia.
Since 1970 the Austrian Armed Forces have gained 45 years of experience in crisis response operations, peace support operations and peace operations with a participation of more than 70,000 Austrian troops in numerous missions all over the world. The army's main focus within enhanced Partnership for Peace is the achievement of interoperability, primarily for crisis response operations. The Armed Forces have long term experience within multinational forces on battalion level. They participate in international NATO, UN, EU and OSCE operations.
International Role of Austria's Armed Forces
(Photos: www.bmlv.gv.at)
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