In the country's armed forces system, the army and the armed police are two branches of the armed forces with different functions and tasks. They each shoulder the important responsibility of safeguarding national security and maintaining social stability, but there are obvious differences in many aspects. This article will make a comparative analysis of the organizational structure, main functions, equipment characteristics, and training priorities of the army and the armed police, and reveal the main differences between the two.
Let's start with the organizational structure. As the main body of the country's conventional armed forces, the army has a strict organizational structure and clear hierarchies. It is usually composed of a number of group armies, with a number of divisions, brigades, regiments, and other units under its jurisdiction, forming a complete set of operational command systems. The armed police force is an armed organization of an internal security nature, and its composition includes a force that is responsible for various functions such as public security, border defense, fire rescue, and security guards, and pays more attention to flexibility and multi-functionality in its organizational structure.
Then there are the main functions. The basic function of the Army is to defend the territorial integrity, sovereign independence and security interests of the country, and it is responsible for participating in the country's war operations and carrying out strategic deterrence and defense tasks. In contrast, the main function of the armed police is to assist the public security organs in maintaining public order and participating in non-war military operations such as emergency rescue and disaster relief, counter-terrorism and stability maintenance. The armed police have more contact with the people in their daily work and directly serve social and public safety.
The characteristics of the equipment are another significant difference between the army and the armed police. The Army's equipment is mainly heavy weapons, such as tanks, armored vehicles, large-caliber artillery and various missile systems, which are designed to conduct large-scale ground operations. The armed police are equipped with more light equipment and non-lethal weapons, such as riot shields, rubber bullets, tear gas, etc., which are suitable for stability maintenance operations in urban environments and crowded areas.
The focus of training is also a reflection of the difference between the two. The Army's training focuses on improving the combat skills of officers and soldiers, including traditional military subjects such as shooting, tactical sports, and wilderness survival. At the same time, with the development of information-based warfare, the cultivation of new combat capabilities, such as electronic warfare and network warfare, has also been incorporated into the training system. The training of the armed police puts more emphasis on legal knowledge, police skills and the ability to deal with emergencies, and the training content is closer to the actual work needs, such as counter-terrorism and disaster rescue.
In addition to the above-mentioned aspects, the army and the armed police also differ in terms of the source of soldiers and the service system. The army usually recruits volunteers and implements a compulsory military service system or a volunteer military service system, while the armed police force selects more personnel from the public security system and implements a professional military system. This different source of soldiers and service system also reflects the different positioning of the two in the national armed forces system.
Finally, there are also differences between the army and the armed police in terms of cultural inheritance. The Army has a long history, and its cultural connotations are rich, emphasizing a sense of honor and the spirit of collectivism. The armed police, on the other hand, pay more attention to the spirit of the rule of law and the sense of service, emphasizing discipline and responsibility. These cultural differences further deepen the differences in the nature and function of the two.
To sum up, there are obvious differences between the army and the armed police in many aspects, such as organizational structure, main functions, equipment characteristics, and training priorities. The army takes traditional warfare operations as its main task, and its equipment is heavier and its training is more combative, while the armed police force takes the maintenance of domestic security and stability as the core, and its equipment is lighter and its training is practical. These differences have enabled the two to perform their respective roles in the national armed forces and jointly maintain the security of the country and the stability of society.