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Brazil - Military (Facts)

Military branches: Brazilian Army, Brazilian Navy (Marinha do Brasil (MB), includes Naval Air and Marine Corps (Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais)), Brazilian Air Force (Forca Aerea Brasileira, FAB) (2007) Military service age and obligation: 21-45 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 9 to 12 months; 17-45 years of age for voluntary service; an increasing percentage of the ranks are 'long-service' volunteer professionals; women were allowed to serve in the armed forces beginning in early 1980s when the Brazilian Army became the first army in South America to accept women into career ranks; women serve in Navy and Air Force only in Women's Reserve Corps (2001) Manpower available for military service: males age 19-49: 45,586,036 females age 19-49: 45,728,704 (2005 est.) Manpower fit for military service: males age 19-49: 33,119,098 females age 19-49: 38,079,722 (2005 est.) Manpower reaching military service age annually: males age 18-49: 1,785,930 females age 19-49: 1,731,648 (2005 est.)