Myanmar Army

The Myanmar Army (Burmese: တပ်မတော်(ကြည်း); pronounced [taʔmədɔ̀ tɕí]) is the largest branch of the Tatmadaw, the armed forces of Myanmar. It is responsible for land-based military operations. The Myanmar Army is the second largest active military force in Southeast Asia after the People's Army of Vietnam. Since 1948, it has fought against ethnic and political insurgents in Myanmar.

The army is led by the Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar Army, currently Vice-Senior General Soe Win. The overall head of the armed forces is Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who holds the rank of Senior General, which is similar to a field marshal. Major General Zaw Min Tun is the official spokesperson for the army.

In 2011, the Myanmar Army introduced a military draft. All men aged 18–35 and women aged 18–27 can serve two years as enlisted soldiers during national emergencies. Professionals may serve up to three years as officers, with age limits of 45 for men and 35 for women. Military spending in 2011 was about 1.8 trillion kyat (US$2 billion), or 23.6% of the national budget.

 History 
 British and Japanese rule 

In the 1930s, several Burmese organizations, including Dobama Asiayone, wanted independence from British rule. Thakin Aung San and 29 others, known as the “30 Comrades”, trained under the Japanese army. They formed the Burmese Independence Army (BIA), which later became the Burmese Defense Army (BDA). After World War II, they briefly became the Patriotic Burmese Force (PBF) under British control.

 Post-Independence Era 

When Myanmar gained independence in 1948, the army was small and divided. It was reorganized by merging the British Burma Army and Patriotic Burmese Forces. Early units were often based on ethnicity, including battalions for Bamar, Karen, Kachin, Chin, and Gurkha soldiers.

 Organisation 
The Myanmar Army is the largest branch of the military and receives most of the defense budget. Its basic unit is the battalion (Tat Yinn), which includes:

• Headquarters company (medical, transport, logistics, signals)

• Four rifle companies (Tat Khwe), each with three platoons (Tat Su)

•Heavy weapons company (mortars, machine guns, recoilless guns)

Battalions are led by lieutenant colonels, with majors as deputies. Light infantry battalions are smaller, usually around 500 soldiers.

 Expansion and Modernisation 
Since 1988, the army has increased its personnel, weapons, and mobility. It added armoured and artillery units, including T-69II tanks and armoured personnel carriers. The army became stronger in conventional warfare and jungle operations.

 Bureaus of Special Operations (BSO) 

The BSO are high-level army units like field armies. They coordinate multiple regional commands. The first BSO was formed in 1978. Currently, there are six BSOs overseeing different regions of Myanmar.

 Regional Military Commands 
The army is organized into Regional Military Commands (RMCs), similar to corps in Western armies. Each RMC manages infantry, light infantry, artillery, and armoured units. Examples of RMCs in 2010 include:

 Regional Military Command (RMC) Badge States & Regions Headquarters StrengthNotes Northern Command
() 50px Kachin State Myitkyina 46 Infantry Battalions plus an additional 3 Battalions as Border Guard Force units Northeastern Command
() 50px Northern Shan State Lashio 45 Infantry BattalionsCaptured by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army on 3 August 2024. With ceasefire deal brokered by China, MNDAA forces retreated and Tatmadaw forces re-entered into city in 17 April. Eastern Command
() 50px Southern Shan State and Kayah State Taunggyi 35 Infantry Battalionsplus an additional 2 Battalions as Border Guard Force units Southeastern Command
() 50px Mon State and Kayin State Mawlamyine 56 Infantry Battalions plus an additional 13 Battalions as Border Guard Force units Southern Command
() 50px Bago and Magwe Regions Toungoo 32 Infantry Battalions Western Command
()50px Rakhine State and Chin State Ann 43 Infantry BattalionsCaptured by the Arakan Army on 20 December 2024. 33 Battalions have been captured by the National Resistance by the end of 2024 Southwestern Command
() 50px Ayeyarwady Region  Pathein  11 Infantry Battalions Northwestern Command
() 50px Sagaing Region Monywa 49 Infantry Battalions Yangon Command
() 50px Yangon Region Mayangone Township-Kone-Myint-Thar 41 Infantry Battalions Coastal Region Command
() 50px Tanintharyi Region  Myeik  45 Infantry Battalions Triangle Region Command
()50px Eastern Shan State Kyaingtong (Kengtung) 40 Infantry Battalions plus an additional 4 Battalions as Border Guard Force units Central Command
()50px Mandalay Region Mandalay 25 Infantry Battalions Naypyidaw Command
()50px Naypyidaw Pyinmana Formed in 2006 – 18 Infantry Battalions Eastern Central Command
()50px Middle Shan State Kholam Formed in 2011 – 31 Infantry Battalions

Commanders of Regional Military Commands

 Regional Military Command (RMC) Established First Commander Current Commander Notes Eastern Command  1961 Brigadier General San Yu  Major General Zaw Min LattInitially in 1961, San Yu was appointed as Commander of Eastern Command but was moved to NW Command and replaced with Col. Maung Shwe then. Southeastern Command  1961 Brigadier General Sein Win Brigadier General Soe Min In 1961 when SE Command was formed, Sein Win was transferred from former Southern Command but was moved to Central Command and replaced with Thaung Kyi then. Central Command  1961  Colonel Thaung Kyi  Major General Kyi Khaing  Original NW Command based at Mandalay was renamed Central Command in March 1990 and original Central Command was renamed Southern Command Northwestern Command 1961  Brigadier General Kyaw Min Major General Than Htike Southern part of original Northwestern Command in Mandalay was renamed Central Command in March 1990 and northern part of original NW Command was renamed NW Command in 1990. Southwestern Command  1961  Colonel Kyi MaungBrigadier General Wai LinnKyi Maung was sacked in 1963 and was imprisoned a few times. He became Deputy Chairman of NLD in the 1990s. Yangon Command  1969  Colonel Thura Kyaw HtinMajor General Zaw Hein Formed as Naypyidaw Command in 1963 with deputy commander and some staff officers from Central Command. Reformed and renamed Yangon Command on 1 June 1969. Western Command 1969 Colonel Hla Tun  Brigadier General Kyaw Swar Oo  Northeastern Command 1972  Colonel Aye KoMajor General Soe Tint Northern Command  1947  Brigadier Ne Win Brigadier General Aung Zaw HtweOriginal Northern Command was divided into Eastern Command and NW Command in 1961. Current Northern Command was formed in 1969 as a part of reorganisation and is formed northern part of previous NW Command Southern Command  1947 Brigadier Saw Kya Doe Brigadier General  Kyi Theik Original Southern Command in Mandalay was renamed Central Command in March 1990 Triangle Region Command  1996  Brigadier General Thein Sein Major General Aung Khaing Win  Thein Sein later became Prime Minister and elected as president in 2011 Coastal Region Command  1996  Brigadier General Thiha Thura Thura Sit Maung Major General Soe Min Naypyidaw Command  2005 Brigadier Wei Lwin Major General Saw Than Hlaing  Eastern Central Command  2011 Brigadier Mya Tun Oo Major General Myo Min Tun 

Each RMC reports to a Bureau of Special Operations for coordination.

 Training 
 Defence academies & colleges 
 Academies Locations National Defence College – NDC  Naypyidaw () Defence Services Command and General Staff College – DSCGSC  Kalaw () Defence Services Academy – DSA  Pyin U Lwin () Defence Services Technological Academy – DSTA Pyin U Lwin () Defence Services Medical Academy – DSMA  Yangon () Military Institute of Nursing and Paramedical Science – MINP  Yangon () Military Computer And Technological Institute – MCTI (Former Military Technological College-MTC, Pyin Oo Lwin) Hopong ()

Training schools
 Training Schools Locations Officer Training School (OTS)  Bahtoo Station Basic Army Combat Training School  Bahtoo Station 1st Army Combat Forces School  Bahtoo Station 2nd Army Combat Forces School  Fort Bayinnaung Artillery Training School  Mone Tai Armour Training School  Maing Maw Electronic Warfare School  Pyin U Lwin Engineer School  Pyin U Lwin Information Warfare School  Yangon Air, Land and Paratroops Training School  Hmawbi Special Forces School  Fort Ye Mon

 Order of battle 
 14 × Regional Military Commands (RMC) organised in 6 Bureau of Special Operations (BSO)
 6 × Regional Operations Commands (ROC)
 20 × Military Operations Commands (MOC) including 1 × Airborne Infantry Division
 10 × Light Infantry Divisions (LID)
 5 × Armoured Operation Commands (AOC) (Each with 6 Tank Battalions and 4 Armoured Infantry Battalions (IFVs/APCs).)
 10 × Artillery Operation Commands (AOC) (with of 113 Field Artillery Battalions)
 9 × Air Defence Operation Commands
 1 × Missile Operation Commands
 40+ × Military Affairs Security Companies (MAS Units replaces former Military Intelligence Units after the disbandment of the Directorate of Defence Service Intelligence (DDSI))
 45 × Advanced Signal Battalions
 54 × Field Engineer Battalions
 4 × Armoured Engineer Battalions
 14 × Medical Battalions

Related pages
 Ne Win
 Than Shwe
 Min Aung Hlaing
 Khin Nyunt
 Aung San
 Zaw Min Tun (general)
 Tatmadaw

 Notes 

 References 

 Further reading 
 Samuel Blythe, 'Army conditions leave Myanmar under strength,' Jane's Defence Weekly, Vol. 43, Issue 14, 5 April 2006, 12.


 Other websites 
 Role of officers in Burmese Army (Part 1)  Bo Htet Min, Mizzima, 23 January 2010

Category:Military of Myanmar
Category:Armies by country
Category:1945 establishments in Burma
Category:Military units and formations established in 1945