Military branches:
Royal Barbados Defense Force: Troops Command, Barbados Coast Guard (2011)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service, or earlier with parental consent; no conscription (2013)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49:
73,820
females age 16-49:
73,835 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49:
58,125
females age 16-49:
58,016 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male:
1,842
female:
1,849 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
the Royal Barbados Defense Force includes a land-based Troop Command and a small Coast Guard; the primary role of the land element is island defense against external aggression; the Command consists of a single, part-time battalion with a small regular cadre deployed throughout the island; the cadre increasingly supports the police in patrolling the coastline for smuggling and other illicit activities (2007)