Territorial Troops Militia The Territorial Troops Militia ( Milicias de Tropas Territoriales - MTT ) , is a Cuban paramilitary militia composed exclusively of civilian volunteers ( enforced ) , was established on May 1 , 1980 , and placed under the command of the MINFAR . Its creation is recognized as having marked the beginning of Cuba ' s official embrace of the military doctrine of the War of All the People , which has remained in force since then . Like the MNR ( National Revolutionary Militia ) of the early 1960s , the MTT ' s formation reinforced the notion of the popular will to defend the Revolution . In general , the militia is a part - time force with only light arms which are issued to them only on occasion . They are not capable of sustained combat , but are effective for controlling and coercing the general public . In addition , some selected units of the militia are specially armed and trained and are , in effect , army units specially dedicated to Fidel Castro . Manning . Most members of the MTT are women , the elderly , or retirees . Male teenagers who are too young or have not yet been called for military service are also eligible to join the MTT , as are men who are not obligated to serve as reservists . The MTT expanded from 500 , 000 members in 1982 to 1 . 2 million by mid - 1984 . The size of the force has remained at about 1 million , despite the economic crisis . The MTT ' s mission during a crisis would be to fight alongside , and provide replacements for , the personnel of the regular armed force ; to help protect such strategic infrastructure as bridges , highways , and railroads ; and to carry out any other measures that might be needed to immobilize , wear down , or ultimately destroy the enemy . By the beginning of the 1980s , MTT members were extensively involved in the construction of tunnels throughout the island , which would be used as shelter for the population in the event of an attack . As a result of Cuba ' s continuing economic difficulties during the 1990s , the time that MTT members have spent in training and preparing for their various defense - related activities has been reduced . The reduction includes a decrease in the time that MTT members have spent in carrying out joint exercises and maneuvers with regular FAR troops . Financing . The MTT is supported through the MINFAR ' s budget as well as through " voluntary " donations made by citizens . Most of these donations come from workplace contributions , which are paid through weekly deductions from workers ' salaries . According to the MINFAR , between 1981 and 1995 , the expenses incurred for the MTT ' s training averaged approximately 35 million Cuban peso s per year . During this same period , popular contributions toward the force averaged about 30 million pesos per year . Just over half of the training expenditures went toward the purchase of study supplies and other training materials ; just over one - third were dedicated for the purchase of weapons , communication equipment , uniforms , and spare parts . Other organizations also set annual funding goals with respect to their own MTT contributions . Among such organizations were the CDR ( Committee for the Defense of the Revolution ) , the Federation of Cuban Women ( Federaci6n de Mujeres Cubanas - FMC ) , the National Association of Small Farmers ( Asociacian Nacional de Agricultores Pequenos - ANAP ) , and even the Organization of Jose Marti Pioneers ( Organizacian de PionerosJose MartiOPJM ) . According to reforms for allocating MTT funds made in the system in 1995 , the funds collected for the MTT are no longer sent to a central government account but remain within each municipality to support local MTT activities . Despite the country ' s economic hardships , the amount of funds collected through popular contributions to the MTT continued to increase after the beginning of the Special Period in the early 1990s . As of 1995 , the MINFAR was paying only 14 percent of the MTT ' s total expenditures .