Tunisia - Ministry of National Defence

The Ministry of National Defense is responsible for transmitting policy decisions to the uniformed services as well as for administrative, logistical, and personnel matters. The chief of staff normally did not command troops but served as a policy coordinator among the three services and as the preeminent military adviser to the minister of national defense. The Ministry of National Defense also included chiefs of staff for each of the three services, but, rather than acting as a unified general staff, each was considered to be the commander of his respective service. Other elements of the general staff organization were charged with carrying out the plans involving budgeting logistics, and various administrative support functions of their assigned areas of responsibility.

Under Decree No. 79 735 of August 22nd, 1979 on the organization of the Ministry of National Defense and amended supplemented decrees, the Ministry of National Defense is composed of the Cabinet, the Head of State Staff of the Armed Forces to the Minister of National Defense, Military Justice and the Institute of National Defense:

• The military high committee,
• bodies,
• Common services,
• Technical services,
• Military Schools

Under Decree No. 75671 of September 25th, 1975 establishing the powers of the Minister of National Defense. The Minister of National Defense, under the President of the Republic, Supreme Commander of Armed Forces, has the task of ensuring the security and integrity of national territory and protection of people's lives. The Minister of National Defense is responsible under the general policy of defense:

• To implement the military policy of the government, in particular, to prepare the Armed Forces, to provide for their operations, and where appropriate to implement them.
• To participate in maintaining and restoring order by the use of Armed Forces, where is legally required by the competent civilian authorities.
• To organize the contribution of Armed Forces to fight natural disasters and thrust economic and social development of countries under the legislation.

The Minister of National Defense prepares in peace time and under popular mobilization defense strategy and use of all the country's resources and the protection of all structures and facilities and other means involving business continuity essential to maintaining the defensive potential of the nation.

The uniforms adopted by the ANT in 1956 basically reflected the French tradition, particularly those worn by units in the field. Modifications have occurred since then, however, and the modern uniforms of all services have a closer resemblance to those worn by eastern Arab military personnel, although the traditional French collar patches have been retained. By law the grades in the army rank structure ranged from basic private to lieutenant general. Senior officer grades for the navy did not include officers of flag rank among their active-duty personnel because of the small size of the service and the developing nature of its status within the ANT structure.