Kazakhstan marks Defender of Fatherland Day

Kazakhstan is marking the Defender of the Fatherland Day. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev set the day in October 2012.

The bill on formation of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan was signed on May 7, 1992. Order N1085 was signed to improve the Armed Forces, separating the ground Forces, Air Forces and Navy. Aeromobile Forces were formed later.

Kazakhstan has four command centers: Astana, East, West and South.

Kazakhstan had no Navy until May 2003, because coastal guards were part of the State Border Guards Service. The Navy is currently based in Aktau and Atyrau.

The country has over 70,000 people serving in the Armed Forces.