e" volunteer professionals; women were allowed to serve
in the armed forces beginning in early 1980s when the Brazilian Army
became the first army in South America to accept women into career
ranks; women serve in Navy and Air Force only in Women's Reserve
Corps (2001)

Brunei
18 years of age (est.) (2004)

Bulgaria
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; conscript service obligation - 9 months; as of May 2006,
67% of the Bulgarian Army comprised of professional soldiers;
conscription into the Army to end as of 1 January 2008; Air and Air
Defense Forces and Naval Forces will become fully professional by
end of 2006 (2006)

Burkina Faso
18 years of age for compulsory military service; 20
years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Burma
18 years of age for voluntary military service for both sexes
(2004)

Burundi
16 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service (2001)

Cambodia
conscription law made effective in October 2006 requires
all males between 18-30 to register for military service; service
obligation is 18 months (2006)

Cameroon
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (1999)

Canada
16 years of age for voluntary military service; women
comprise approximately 11% of Canada's armed forces (2001)

Central African Republic
18 years of age for voluntary and
compulsory military service; conscript service obligation is two
years (2005)

Chad
20 years of age for conscripts, with three-year service
obligation; 18 years of age for volunteers; no minimum age
restriction for volunteers with consent from a guardian; women are
subject to one year of compulsory military or civic service at age
of 21 (2004)

Chile
all male citizens 18-45 are obligated to perform military
service; conscript service obligation - 12 months for Army, 24
months for Navy and Air Force (2004)

China
18-22 years of age for compulsory military service, with
24-month service obligation; no minimum age for voluntary service
(all officers are volunteers); 18-22 years of age for women who meet
requirements for specific military jobs (2006)

Colombia
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; conscript service obligation - 24 months (2004)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
18-45 years of age for military
service

Congo, Republic of the
18 years of