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Albanian Land Force
Albanian Land Force
Forca Tokësore
Founded	2000; 24 years ago
Country	Albania
Type	Army
Role	National Defense
Size	8,500 Personnel
Motto(s)	Fatherland, Honor, And Duty
Commanders
President of Albania	Bajram Begaj
Minister of Defense	Niko Peleshi
Chief of the Albanian General Staff	Lt. Gen. Arben Kingji
Commander of the Land Forces	Maj. Gen. Ilir Xhebexhia
Insignia
Identification symbol

The Albanian Land Force (Albanian: Forca Tokësore të Republikës së Shqipërisë) is the land force branch of the Albanian Armed Forces.

Mission

The Albanian Land Force's main mission is the defense of the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Albania, participation in humanitarian, combat, non-combat and peace support operations.^[1]

History

Land Force is a priority unit in the structure of the Armed Forces. Land Force was established on August 29, 2000, and included military units with traditions and rich multi-year activity, spread across the territory of the Republic of Albania. In 2000 the Land Force included five infantry divisions with 55 brigades and 300 battalions deployed in 167 different regions of the country. During its continuous reform, the Land Force underwent new changes. In 2006 it was dissolved and the Joint Force Command was established. In the context of the ongoing transformation of the Armed Forces, based on the concept of an army small in number, operational and professional, on 9 December 2009 the Land Force was re-established on the basis of Rapid Reaction Brigade and Commando Regiment. Based on the constitutional mission, the Land Force was involved in a process of profound transformation according to Western military concepts, and with the transition of the entire force from a conscript military service into a professional army, its operational level has increased. The structures of Land Force have been engaged in Peace Support Operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iraq, Chad, Herat and Kandahar, Afghanistan. Land Force has the major share in peacekeeping operations in the framework of NATO, UN and EU. The Land Force is managed by young qualified leaders educated in military schools of NATO countries, as in the United States, Italy, Turkey, Germany, United Kingdom, Austria, etc., based on cooperation projects with these countries.

Land Force is engaged in civil emergency operations to help the community in cases of natural disasters, such as floods and blocked roads, and aid in distribution in cases of heavy snowfalls, fire suppression operations etc.etc.

Since its establishment the Land Force has been led by experienced commanders. From 2000 to 2006 it was headed by Maj. Gen. Kostaq Karoli; from 2006 to 2008 it was led by Brig. Gen. Shpëtim Spahiu; from 2008-August 2012 by Brig. Gen. Viktor Berdo. From August 2012 to November 2013 it has been commanded by Maj. Gen. Zyber Dushku. Since 11 November 2013, Maj. Gen. Jeronim Bazo has been Chief of Staff.

Structure

Organizational divisions of the land force include:

Land Force, in Zall-Herr^[2]
- Command and Staff, in Zall-Herr
- Staff Support Company, in Zall-Herr
- Northern Infantry Regiment, in Vau i Dejës^[3]
- Group Light Infantry Battalion, in Zall-Herr (assigned to NATO Response Force)
- Southern Infantry Regiment, in Poshnjë^[4]
- Commando Battalion (Albania), in Zall-Herr
- Special Operations Battalion, in Zall-Herr
- Combat Support Regiment, in Zall-Herr^[5]
- "Zall-Herr" Garrison, in Zall-Herr
- Training Centre, in Zall-Herr

Officer ranks

NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1
Albanian Land Force^[6] v t e
Albanian Land Force^[6] v t e					Gjeneral lejtant		Gjeneral major		Gjeneral brigade		Kolonel		Nënkolonel		Major		Kapiten		Toger			Nëntoger

Other ranks

NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
Albanian Land Force^[6] v t e
Albanian Land Force^[6] v t e	Kryekapter						Kapter		Rreshter		Tetar						Nëntetar						Ushtar IV				Ushtar III		Ushtar II						Ushtar I