His Majesty's Armed Forces (Tonga)
His Majesty's Armed Forces (HMAF) is the military of Tonga. It is composed of three operational components and two support elements (logistics and training groups).
His Majesty's Armed Forces
Terra Marique (Latin)
("Land and Sea")
1939
2013
Tongan Land Component
Maritime Force
Tongan Air Wing
Tongan Training Command
Tongan Support Unit
Vilai Barracks, Nuku'alofa
HM King Tupou VI
Brigadier General Lord Fielakepa
18
None
34,254 males, age 16-49 (2010 est.),
32,974 females, age 16-49 (2010 est.)
27,404 males, age 16-49 (2010 est.),
28,509 females, age 16-49 (2010 est.)
1,448 males (2010 est.),
1,392 females (2010 est.)
500[1]
0.9% GDP (2006 est.)
The mission of HMAF is to: "Defend the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Tonga".
The HMAF is partially supported by defence co-operation agreements with Australia, the United States, China, India, and New Zealand. The co-operation aims at capacity development through training of HMAF personnel in leadership, academic and trades while support for infrastructure development is another part of the security co-operation.
In recent years, members of HMAF have supported Coalition of the Willing in Operation Iraqi Freedom, the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, and the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands.
The HMAF is a member of the following international defence organisations:
Tonga has an agreement to share "disaster response knowledge" with the United States Nevada National Guard.[8]