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secretariat, and three numbered sections. The secretariat handles various miscellaneous and administrative matters, including legal and financial; the First Section is responsible for preparing and coordinating strategic defense plans; the Second Section, coordinates technical and economic activities and research and development programs of the three services; and the Third Section produces political, economic, and military intelligence.

B. Joint activities

1. Military manpower (C)

The projected military manpower potential of males between the ages of 15 and 49 as of 1 January 1974 is estimated in total about 8,544,000, approximately 77% being physically fit for military service. Distribution by 5-year age groups is expected to be as followed:

The average number reaching military age (20) annually, 1974-78, is expected to be about 275,000.

Every male citizen is liable for compulsory military service and is required to register at age 18; however, he is not inducted until the year in which he reaches age 20. Of the annual conscript class, the army inducts approximately 150,000 to 165,000; the navy, about 48,000 to serve in the navy and naval infantry (marines); and the air force, approximately 4,600. The three services enroll short-term volunteers along with the conscripts. The army accepts about 25,000 short-term volunteers each year; the navy, 4,000; the air force, approximately 6,500. Conscripts and short-term volunteers comprise approximately 69% and 22%, respectively, of the enlisted strength of the army; about 86% and 8% respectively of the navy enlisted strength; and about 44% and 43%, respectively, of the air force enlisted strength.

The origin of compulsory military service in Spain dates back to 1496. The principle was established in the constitution of 1812 and has been contained in subsequent constitutions. The current basic military service law, passed in 1968, reduced the term of obligation for military service from 24 years (established under the military service law of 8 August 1940) to 18. The legal term of compulsory service is 15 to 18 months; personnel are maintained on inactive lists for the remainder of the compulsory obligation and thereafter on reserve lists until age 38. Deferments are granted for professional, economic, and other special reasons, such as having a brother on active duty. Deferments are reviewed periodically and may be canceled. Students are deferred up to 27 years of age, but deferment will cease immediately for civil disobedience or failure to meet scholastic standards. Exemptions are given for physical reasons and to men serving prison sentences that will not end before the prisoners are age 38.

The High General Staff controls distribution to the services of the annual conscript class. This class is called up in three equal increments in January, May, and September. If available personnel are greater than the total needs, those in excess are placed in a category called "in excess of the contingency." A system of drawing lots is used to select the personnel requirements of the armed forces and those "in excess" of requirements. Deferred personnel who become available for service after their 30th birthday are automatically placed in the "in excess" category. All of the men "in excess of the contingency" are inducted for 3 months of basic training; they are then carried on the inactive lists for 21 months and then carried on the reserve lists until age 38.

Volunteers are accepted by the three service for short-term periods of service. The minimum age for volunteers is 16. The initial enlistment term is 24 months, although short-term volunteers are usually released early, along with the conscripts, unless they request additional service. Conscripts and the short-term volunteers may enlist or reenlist in accordance with regulations of the individual services. The High General Staff determines the total duration of successive reenlistments. Reenlistment procedures are similar to those of the United States, but qualification requirements are much more stringent. Most of the graduates of technical or specialist schools are required to serve additional tours of duty of varying lengths.

There is no organized reserve system, but all men who have completed their terms of active military service have a reserve obligation until they are 38 years old. No reserve personnel are recalled for refresher training. The army has a total of approximately 1.3 million reservists available for mobilization as needed. Of these, approximately 220,000 of the most recently discharged conscript classes have mobilization

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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200090014-1