The Eusko Gudarosteaestablished in 1936, is the heir of the ancient militias of Euskadi, dating back to 1700. It is the branch of Euskadiko Indar Armatuak responsible for land-based military operations. It is the second largest branch of the armed forces after the Armada Nazional. The Eusko Gudarostea currently has a strenght of 80,000 men and women. About 55,000 are professionals and it is planned to reach fully professionalization by 2016.