The armed forces cover personnel from the metropolitan territory drawn from the total available labour force who served in the armed forces during the period under consideration, whether stationed in the metropolitan territory or elsewhere. The following are excluded from the armed forces:
– personnel drawn from areas outside the metropolitan territory of the country concerned;
– security forces, except forces such as mobile gendarmerie units and armed border patrols which receive training in military tactics, are equipped like the military forces and are able to be placed under military command;
– Reservists recalled for a period of training of less than one month.

Members of the armed forces should be included among persons in paid employment. The armed forces should include both the regular and the conscripts as specified in the most recent revision of the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO).