Arsytian Workers' Army

The Arsytian Workers' Army (Arsytian: Arsyten Työväen Armeija), more commonly known as simply the Workers' Army, is the military force of Arsytia. With almost 2.5 million active uniformed personnel, the Workers' Army is the largest military in the Tavaric Treaty Organization, and the second-largest in the world, second to the Vermilion Banner Armies of Fengjiang. The Workers' Army is overseen by the Chairman of the Revolutionary War Council, with day-to-day authority exercised through the War Office and the War Commissar. The General Staff exercises operational command of all branches and carries out the orders of the Chairman and the War Commissar.

Originating as a group of loosely-organized revolutionary militias, the Workers' Army is mandated by the Arsytian Constitution to "defend the Arsytian socialist revolution". The Workers' Army consists of, in their official order of importance, the Land Forces, the Air Forces, the Fleet, and the Atomic Forces.

The Workers' Army has traditionally been a major influence on Arsytian politics—it controls a large delegation in the Workers' General Council, and its power has been reinforced by Arsytia's participation in two Great Wars as well as the pressures of the Cold War against Phoenicia and its allies in the GOCE. Accordingly, military industries have historically been accorded high priority in Arsytian economic planning and Arsytia's military strength has been consistently enhanced and maintained with a steady arms buildup and conscription.

Conscription
The Arsytian Constitution enshrines military service as a "sacred duty" of all citizens of Arsytia. The military training of Arsytian citizens begins long before their induction during the annual call-up at the age of 18. Starting with the paramilitary Young Pioneers and stories of revolutionary heroism in grade school, Arsytians are further prepared through training programs offered by VAPALAK, mandatory military education classes in secondary school, and the annual Salamanisku (Lightning Strike) mock war games in summer.

Although the Constitution calls for universal military service to be applied to both men and women, in practice, it is only applied to men. Arsytian citizens take annual mental and physical exams during their secondary school years prior to their final pre-induction examination. Exam results are cross-referenced with academic and extracurricular records to determine an individual's suitability for service, as well as which branch would most suit them. Since the 1990s, Arsytia has practiced a form of selective conscription, owing to several factors: Arsytia's growing population making selective conscription sufficient to fulfill manpower requirements, increased retention rates, the growth of a professional NCO corps, and a need to lessen the impact of conscription on Arsytia's human capital. In a given year, only some 40 to 50 percent of men called up are actually inducted. Accordingly, Arsytia's conscription laws were amended—exemptions and deferments were expanded, especially for university students.

Conscripts are called up annually, with each new class reporting to their training center on June 1st. Upon their induction, conscripts take the Workers' Army oath: "I, son of the laboring people, citizen of the Arsytian Socialist Workers’ Republic, assume the title of warrior in the Workers’ Army.

Before the laboring classes of Arsytia and the entire world, I accept the obligation to carry this title with honor, to study the art of war conscientiously, and to resolutely guard national and military property from spoil and plunder.

I accept the obligation to observe revolutionary discipline and unquestioningly carry out all orders of my commanders, who have been invested with their rank by the power of the Workers’ government.

I accept the obligation to restrain myself and my comrades from all conduct that might debase the dignity of citizens of the Workers’ Republic, and to direct all my thoughts and actions to the great cause of liberating the laboring masses.

I accept the obligation to answer every summons of the Workers’ government to defend the Workers’ Republic from all danger and the threats of all enemies, and to spare neither my strength nor my very life in the battle for the Workers’ Republic, for the cause of socialism and the brotherhood of peoples.

If I should, with malicious intent, go back on this, my solemn vow, then let my fate be universal contempt and let the righteous hand of Revolutionary law fall upon me." Basic training lasts for four months, and conscripts report to their operational units on November 1st, where they will carry out the rest of their service. Traditionally, some conscripts are selected for further advanced training in technical or NCO roles. However, this has become less common as the proportion of professional soldiers in the Land Forces has increased. In total, Arsytian conscripts serve for two years in active units, in addition to their four months of basic training and two months of demobilization and reserve unit familiarization.