The Albanian Land Force ( sq, Forca Tokësore të Republikës së Shqipërisë) is the land force branch of the
Albanian Armed Forces.
Mission
The Albanian Land Force's main mission is the defense of the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the
Republic of Albania
Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and shares l ...
, participation in humanitarian, combat, non-combat and peace support operations.
History
Land Force is a priority unit in the structure of the Armed Forces. Land Force was established on August 29, 2000, and included military units with traditions and rich multi-year activity, spread across the territory of the
Republic of Albania
Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and shares l ...
. In 2000 the Land Force included five infantry divisions with 55 brigades and 300 battalions deployed in 167 different regions of the country. During its continuous reform, the Land Force underwent new changes. In 2006 it was dissolved and the Joint Force Command was established. In the context of the ongoing transformation of the Armed Forces, based on the concept of an army small in number, operational and professional, on 9 December 2009 the Land Force was re-established on the basis of
Rapid Reaction Brigade and Commando Regiment.
Based on the constitutional mission, the Land Force was involved in a process of profound transformation according to Western military concepts, and with the transition of the entire force from a conscript military service into a professional army, its operational level has increased. The structures of Land Force have been engaged in Peace Support Operations in
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh, / , ), abbreviated BiH () or B&H, sometimes called Bosnia–Herzegovina and Pars pro toto#Geography, often known informally as Bosnia, is a country at the crossroads of Southern Europe, south and southeast Euro ...
,
Iraq
Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq ...
,
Chad
Chad (; ar, تشاد , ; french: Tchad, ), officially the Republic of Chad, '; ) is a landlocked country at the crossroads of North and Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic ...
and currently in
Herat
Herāt (; Persian: ) is an oasis city and the third-largest city of Afghanistan. In 2020, it had an estimated population of 574,276, and serves as the capital of Herat Province, situated south of the Paropamisus Mountains (''Selseleh-ye Safēd ...
and
Kandahar
Kandahar (; Kandahār, , Qandahār) is a List of cities in Afghanistan, city in Afghanistan, located in the south of the country on the Arghandab River, at an elevation of . It is Afghanistan's second largest city after Kabul, with a population ...
,
Afghanistan
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...
. Land Force has the major share in peacekeeping operations in the framework of
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two No ...
,
UN and
EU. The Land Force is managed by young qualified leaders educated in military schools of
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two No ...
countries, as in the United States, Italy,
Turkey
Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...
, Germany, United Kingdom, Austria, etc., based on cooperation projects with these countries.
Land Force is engaged in civil emergency operations to help the community in cases of natural disasters, such as floods and blocked roads, and aid in distribution in cases of heavy snowfalls, fire suppression operations, etc.
Since its establishment the Land Force has been led by experienced commanders. From 2000 to 2006 it was headed by Maj. Gen. Kostaq Karoli; from 2006 to 2008 it was led by Brig. Gen. Shpëtim Spahiu; from 2008-August 2012 by Brig. Gen. Viktor Berdo. From August 2012 to November 2013 it has been commanded by Maj. Gen. Zyber Dushku. Since 11 November 2013, Maj. Gen.
Jeronim Bazo has been Chief of Staff.
Structure
Organizational divisions of the land force include:
*
Land Force, in
Zall-Herr
Zall-Herr () is a village and administrative unit in the municipality of Tirana, central Albania
Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeast ...
** Command and Staff, in Zall-Herr
** Staff Support Company, in Zall-Herr
**
1st Infantry Battalion, in
Vau i Dejës
Vau i Dejës (), English: Deja's Ford, is a town and a municipality in Shkodër County, northwestern Albania. It was formed at the 2015 local government reform by the merger of the former municipalities Bushat, Hajmel, Shllak, Temal, Vau i Dejës, ...
**
2nd Infantry Battalion, in Zall-Herr (assigned to
NATO Response Force
The NATO Response Force (NRF) is a high-readiness force comprising land, air, sea and special forces units capable of being deployed quickly. Until February 2022, when NATO activated it in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine,JAMES KITFIEL(1 ...
)
**
3rd Infantry Battalion, in
Poshnjë
Poshnjë is a village and a former municipality in Berat County, central Albania
Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is ...
**
Commando Battalion (Albania)
Royal Marines from 40 Commando on patrol in the Sangin">40_Commando.html" ;"title="Royal Marines from 40 Commando">Royal Marines from 40 Commando on patrol in the Sangin area of Afghanistan are pictured
A commando is a combatant, or operativ ...
, in Zall-Herr
**
Special Operations Battalion
The Special Operations Battalion ( hr, Bojna za specijalna djelovanja), or popularly BSD was founded on 8 September 2000 when the Special Combat Skills Center from Šepurine and the 1st Croatian Guards Brigade ( hr, 1. hrvatski gardijski zdrug, a ...
, in Zall-Herr
** Combat Support Battalion, in Zall-Herr
** "Zall-Herr" Garrison, in Zall-Herr
** Training Centre, in Zall-Herr
Officer ranks
Other ranks
Specific tasks
*Maintaining and developing capacities to provide a high level of readiness.
*Continuous and sufficient training to deal with the tasks that might be assigned to it.
*Assisting the community in cases of humanitarian emergencies; supporting search and rescue operations.
*Cooperating with other national institutions in preventing illegal trafficking, smuggling of people and conventional weapons in
Albania
Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and shares ...
.
*Training and participating with troops in peace support missions in the framework of
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two No ...
,
EU and
UN.
Equipment
Gallery
Looking for the opposing forces (7288568672).jpg, Albanian soldiers with VHS rifles
Albanian, U.S. and Romanian soldiers with an operational mentor and liaison team (OMLT) point out a possible improvised explosive device during training at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels 120117-A-BM069-001.jpg, Albanian, U.S. and Romanian soldiers in a joint drill
File:Albanian soldiers react to rioters, role played by U.S. Soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, during the Kosovo Force (KFOR) 18 Mission Rehearsal Exercise (MRE) at the Hohenfels Training Area 140119-A-EM978-014.jpg, Albanian soldiers react to rioters, roleplayed by US forces, during KFOR
Albanian soldiers conduct a convoy patrol during a military adviser team (MAT) and police adviser team (PAT) training exercise at the Hohenfels Training Area, a part of the Joint Multinational Readiness Center 131213-A-LO967-002.jpg, Albanian army convoy on patrol
Albanian, U.S. forces at Combined Resolve II (14222514625).jpg, Albanian and US soldiers dismounting a M2 Bradley during Combined Resolve II
Combined Resolve III, 2014 141027-A-HE359-103.jpg, Albanian Land Force in Combined Resolve III
See also
*
Royal Albanian Army
The Royal Albanian Army () was the army of the Albanian Kingdom and King Zog I of the Albanians from 1928 until 1939. Its commander-in-chief was King Zog; its commander General Xhemal Aranitasi; its Chief of Staff was General Gustav von Myrdacz ...
*
Albanian Air Force
The Albanian Air Force ( sq, Forca Ajrore e Republikës së Shqipërisë - Air Force of the Republic of Albania) is the air force of Albania and one of the branches of the Albanian Armed Forces.
History
Early history
In 1914 the government ...
*
Albanian Navy
The Albanian Naval Force ( sq, Forca Detare të Republikës së Shqipërisë) is the naval branch of the Albanian military. Their name was changed from the Albanian Naval Defense Forces in 2010. The Naval Force is headquartered in Durrës, and ...
References
External links
Ministry of Defence of AlbaniaAlbanian Armed Forces*http://www.aaf.mil.al/english/index.php/land-force Mission of Albanian land forces
*http://www.aaf.mil.al/english/index.php/land-force Specific tasks of Albanian land forces
*http://www.aaf.mil.al/english/index.php/land-force/126-historiku-i-forces-tokesore History of Albanian land forces
*http://www.armyrecognition.com/world-army-equipment-topmenu-993/east-europe-topmenu-85/albania-topmenu-742?task=view&id=2576 Heavy armoured and tanks
Albanian Armed Forces
*http://www.armyrecognition.com/world-army-equipment-topmenu-993/east-europe-topmenu-85/albania-topmenu-742?task=view&id=2576 Mortar
{{Armies in Europe
2000 establishments in Albania
Military units and formations of Albania
Military units and formations established in 2000