Armed Forces of El Salvador The Armed Forces of El Salvador , in Spanish Fuerza Armada de El Salvador is the official name of the combined armed forces of El Salvador . It has been in existence since the dissolution of the United Provinces of Central America in 1840 . It consists of three branches : History . During the Salvadoran Civil War the Armed Forces of El Salvador waged war against counter - insurgents organized under the FMLN . Following the end of the war , AFES personnel were implicated in many human rights abuses , including the November 1989 murder of Jesuit priests and others . The constitution was amended to prohibit the military from playing an internal security role except under extraordinary circumstances . Demobilization of Salvadoran military forces generally proceeded on schedule throughout the process . By 1993 — nine months ahead of schedule — the military had cut personnel from a war - time high of 63 , 000 to the level of 32 , 000 required by the peace accords . By 1999 , ESAF strength stood at less than 15 , 000 , including uniformed and non - uniformed personnel , consisting of personnel in the army , navy , and air force . A purge of military officers accused of human rights abuses and corruption was completed in 1993 in compliance with the Ad Hoc Commission ' s recommendations . El Salvador was part of the Multi - National Force – Iraq from 2003 — 2009 . The last Salvadoran troops left Iraq on January 2009 with 5 soldiers lost in their 5 and a half year involvement . El Salvador became the last and longest serving Latin American nation in the Iraq War . The Brigada Especial de Seguridad Militar ( BESM ) is a unit of the armed forces that replaced the National Guard ( El Salvador ) in accordance with the peace accords of January 1992 . Composition and organization Higher Organisms It is exercised by the President of the Republic , in his capacity as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces . Among its constitutional functions include : 2 Other powers : Also , the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces exercised political and military leadership of the institution , through the Minister of National Defence , and is assisted by a Presidential . Main article : Ministry of National Defense of El Salvador . The Ministry of National Defense is composed of the Minister and Deputy Minister of Defense , and the Directorates Administrative and Department Headquarters with his junior staff . Advice directly to the Secretariat of State , the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other entities to specify in its mission , such as Especiales . 4 Staffs The staff ' s mission is the conduct of permanent branches and support units of the Armed Forces , and advise the rest of the High Command in all matters relating to the use and administration of the institution . The Chief of Joint Staff of the Armed Forces is the authority and operational management consulting Armada . 5 Force Some functions of the Joint Chiefs are : 6 Advisory Body The Advisory Body consists of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , and is the advisory body of the Minister of Defense Nacional . 7 The mission of the Board is to provide technical advice to the Minister of National Defense , for military policy making and the use of military power in national defense , formulating and proposing for approval the Strategic Plan of the Armed Forces , determining the final goal of the misma . 8 The body is composed of the Chief of Joint Staff of the Armed Forces , the Chief of General Staff of the Army , the Chief of General Staff of the Air Force , the Chief of General Staff of the Navy and the advisers as may necesarios . 9 Assistant Agency The Agency consists of the Assistant Inspector General of the Armed Forces . Have supervisory and oversight functions of the institution , and depends on the Ministry of National Defense and operationally of the Chief of Staff Joint Force Armada . 10 Permanent Branches of the Armed Forces [ edit ] Permanent Branches of the Armed Forces are the different steps of framing , preparation and use of the units required for the fulfillment of a misión . 11 Main article : Military of El Salvador . The Army of El Salvador is composed of the Headquarters , Brigades , Commands , Military Regiments and Detachments of the various arms and services , made with combat troops , combat support and combat service support necessary for the execution of missions terrestrial character . The control is exercised by the Chief of General Staff of Ejército . 12 Main article : Air Force of El Salvador . The Air Force of El Salvador consists of the headquarters , air bases and facilities with the facilities and services required for the execution of the aerial missions . The control is exercised by the Chief of General Staff of the Air Force . Main article : Naval Force of El Salvador . Naval Force of El Salvador is composed of the Headquarters , Fleet , Naval Bases , Harbormaster , Detachments Naval and Marine Corps units , necessary for the execution of missions naval character . The control is exercised by the Chief of the General Staff Naval . 14 Force Institutional Support Units Support units provide the means to fulfill the missions Armed Forces in charge . Report directly to the General Staff Conjunto . 15 This unit is responsible for organizing , planning , directing and implementing policies , strategies , plans , projects doctrine , education and training of the Armed Forces , in accordance with the directives issued by the Joint Chiefs . It is responsible for training , improvement and specialization of military personnel and coordination of academic activities of the armed forces necessary to achieve an adequate degree of education at all levels enseñanza . 16 This unit is responsible for providing livelihoods and combating the armed forces and is responsible for the management and administration of the resources needed to fulfill its mission . They are components of the Command Logistics Support Units and Facilities Logistics necessary for the fulfillment of its mission . This unit is responsible for providing Combat Service Support of the Armed Forces Health , is responsible for the management and implementation of health care programs , supply and maintenance of specific materials and the management and administration of resources made available . They are components of the Command of Military Health Units , Hospital Centers and Schools own nature , the latter under the coordination of the Doctrine and Education Command Militar . 18 This unit is responsible for fulfilling the functions of protecting borders and Military Police . The latter function is performed as a subsidiary organ of the administration of military justice . They are integral elements of the Special Security Brigade Military Battalions Border Protection , the Military Police battalions and support units necessary for the fulfillment of his misión . 19 This unit ' s mission is to obtain and provide the necessary human resources for the armed forces to fulfill its constitutional mission reclutamiento . 20 Operating Units , Tactical Units and Command Advisory Bodies [ edit ] Operating Units are those that by their organization are trained to independently develop an operation , that is , a phase or stage of a military campaign . In peacetime level have Brigades operating units , commands , regiments and units equivalent Air Force and Navy . In wartime organization , assignment and the territorial division of the operating units will be established in the plans managers and executives . The overall mission is to operating units within their respective areas or areas of responsibility , the activities necessary to implement the tasks that the Army , Air Force and Navy are Organic Law Armada . 21 Force The Army tactical units are detachments , Training Centres and Battalions ; Tactics Units are Air Force Combat Groups of Recognition and Transport , and the tactical units of the Navy Fleet Combat is , Transport and Hydrographic . The overall mission of the Tactical Units comprising the completion of the activities necessary to achieve a high level of efficiency in peacetime and to fulfill their respective missions panning step , in time of war . The Advisory Bodies Command in the Army , Air Force and Navy , are the respective General Staffs . The Advisory Bodies Command Operating Units are the respective staffs , and the Advisory Bodies Command Units Planas Tactics are the respective majors . Hierarchies and Military Grade According to the Constitution of El Salvador , the President of the Republic Military confer Degrees and order the destination , cargo , or the decline in Official misma . 24 Meanwhile , the Military Career Law establishes Organizations Advisory advising the High Command on the exercise of the Military Career , which are : the Selection for promotion to Brigadier General , the Court of Assessment and Selection , and the Court of Honor . 25 The Military Career in El Salvador starts when is given the rank of lieutenant or its equivalent Salvadoran citizen who enters as Cadet at the Military Academy " General Gerardo Barrios " , to the Military Aviation School " Captain PA William Reynaldo Cortez " or other training schools of the Armed Forces who creasen . 26 For employees reaching military service established by the Constitution of the Republic , N . One ' s military career started when the element gets the troop sergeant in the hierarchy of NCOs and is enrolled in the respective ranks under the Rules of the Military Career Law . Military grade is acquired and stored personal property and life , without being able to deprive him but by judicial sentence that involves the military dismissal , or voluntary resignation . The hierarchical structure of the Armed Forces consists of military ranks , according to the order and following equivalences : Military Grades Army Air Force Sea power General Officers Major General General Aviation Vice Admiral Senior Officers Colonel Colonel Captain Junior Officers Captain Captain Lieutenant NCO Sergeant Major of Brigade Air Brigade Sergeant Major Master Mayor Troop Deputy Sergeant Deputy Sergeant TA Deputy Sergeant Master TA = Aviation Technical Military Decorations Medals of the Armed Forces according to the Law of Military Decorations : 29 Award Merits Gold Cross of War Heroism in Action Military Units , Public Security Forces or members of these and civilians , the risk of his life and sacrifice exceptional run heroic acts of courage in war action . Silver Cross of Heroism Military Units , Public Security Forces or members of these and civilian disaster or public calamity beyond the call of duty . Gold Medal for Courage in Action War Military Units , Public Security Forces or members of these and civilians in the line of duty in war action exposed his life exceptional acting boldly . Silver Medal of Valor Military Units , Public Security Forces or members of these and civilians in the line of duty in cases of disaster or public , exposing his life performing with exceptional courage . Gold Medal for Field Service Military Units and Public Security Forces who distinguish themselves in combat . Silver Plate Field Service Individuals providing efficient services to the Military Units and Public Security Forces in wartime . Gold Medal for Distinguished Service Members of the Salvadoran armed forces that give prestige within or outside the Republic , in the fields : Trade , Educational or Military diplomatic and friendly nations , when their services have contributed to closer relations with the armed forces of their country of origin or efficiently , the cultural development of the Institution Navy . Gold Medal for Merit Officers of the Armed Forces and Public Security Forces , who in the line of duty in the technical , educational and academic , is performing in an outstanding manner , thereby giving prestige to the institution Armada . Silver Medal of Merit Individuals of troops and civilians in the service of the Armed Forces or the Public Security Forces , that of duty is an outstanding play in giving prestige to the institution . Gold Medal Perseverance Military to persevere in the service of the Armed Forces for a period of twenty - five or in teaching at military for a period not less than fifteen . Silver Medal at the Perseverance Military to persevere in the service of the Armed Forces for a period of twenty years in teaching at military for a period not less than ten . It is up to the Legislature to grant , at the initiative of the Executive Branch in the Field of Defense , the Military Decorations following : Golden Cross of War Heroism in Action ; Silver Cross of Heroism ; Gold Medal for Courage in Action War ; Medal Value Silver , Gold Medal for Field Service , and Silver Plate Campaña . 30 Service Meanwhile , the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces , Military Decorations corresponds grant the following : Gold Medal for Distinguished Service ; Merit Gold Medal , Silver Medal of Merit , Gold Medal Perseverance , and Medal Silver at the Perseverance , a proposal of the Ministry of Defense and after the Court of Decorations rating . The awards , Golden Cross of Heroism in War Action and Gold Medal for Courage in Action War , when given to members of the Armed Forces or Public Security Forces , as a reward will complement the Montepío Military or Military Pension , that when it is conferred posthumously as the decorated become incapacitated as a result of the action for which he was decorated , this latter comes when the winner is not entitled to military pension in accordance with the Law respectiva . 32 On the other hand , when the award is imposed on a military unit to be displayed at their respective flag or banner . Current status . The military ' s new doctrine , professionalism , and complete withdrawal from political and economic affairs has left it one of the most respected institutions in El Salvador . All the Salvadoran Armed forces branches use the pixel and woodland uniforms . The Salvadoran air force uses a blue uniform with pixels and woodland patterns . In addition , to the modern pixel uniform , women have begun to serve in the military . In 2011 , an all female soldiers battalion was formed consisting of 62 female soldiers . Additionally , there are also female helicopter pilots and female aircraft pilots . The government is currently promoting gender inclusion regardibg women as valuable and fundamental for national security . For example , the Salvadoran army allowed women in the Army infantry units with many accepting this opportunity . Another notable component of the Salvadorean military is Evangelicanism . During the Salvadoran civil war , many Christian evangelicals served in the whole three branches of the Salvadoran armed forces . Many soldiers and officers accepted Jesus Christ and converted to Christianity . According to Julio Mentes , a Salvadoran - American former US army sergeant and expert on Central American military topics . The Salvadoran Armed forces have the best , major and most impressive combat experience in Central America .