Historian Ibn Bishr notes that during the rule of Imam Saud bin Abdulaziz, the mobilization of the Jihad Army was achieved by dispatching envoys across towns, villages, and tribal areas under Saudi control, calling upon local forces to assemble.
This collective approach allowed the Saudi state to respond to threats and expand its influence, relying on a call-to-arms system rather than a standing army.
[13] During the era of the Imams, the Saudi military organization could mobilize an estimated force of approximately 100,000 fighters, drawn from various regions and equipped with essential arms and supplies.
However, the Saudi state lacked formal military training institutions; instead, fighters relied on personal skills, including swordsmanship, thrusting, and horsemanship, forming the core of their capabilities.
[14] The Saudi Arabian Army, formally founded on 5 Shawwal 1319 AH (January 15, 1902), began with King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud's campaign to reclaim Riyadh.
This moment marked the establishment of a formal military structure as the founder prioritized the organization, leadership, and armament of the Saudi Land Forces.
Emphasizing education and training, the military school in Taif became central to developing a skilled officer corps, setting the stage for the Saudi Army's future expansion and modernization.
In response to the increasing educational standards in Saudi Arabia and the growing demand for graduates with diverse specializations, the college raised its admission requirements to the general secondary level in 1380 AH.
The study duration was extended to three years, after which graduates were awarded a Bachelor of Military Science and commissioned as officers in one of the branches of the Royal Saudi Land Forces.
To keep pace with advancements in various fields across the kingdom, a new campus for the college was constructed utilizing modern architectural and engineering methods, equipped with contemporary educational and training facilities.
The actual inception of the infantry branch can be traced back to the formation of an army consisting of sixty men—akin to what is commonly referred to today as a squad—led by King Abdulaziz Al Saud during the campaign to capture Riyadh on the 5th of Shawwal, 1319 AH.
By 1353 AH (1934 CE), as the regular forces expanded significantly, the necessity arose to form a Defense Agency alongside the Directorate of Military Affairs.
This command remained in place until 1387 AH (1967 CE), when a project office was established to oversee the modernization and development of armored units, introducing the latest equipment of the time, including various French weapons.
This included equipping them with the latest armored vehicles globally and training officers and personnel in their combat and technical use to keep pace with advancements in the field, ensuring their effectiveness in fulfilling operational missions.
Through the battles fought by King Abdulaziz Al Saud to establish the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and unify its territories, he successfully seized several bronze cannons from the Ottoman Empire, which were utilized as artillery pieces rather than organized units or formations.
In 1348 AH, His Majesty ordered the establishment of the Directorate of Military Affairs, marking the inception of the first nucleus of the regular Saudi Arabian Army.
By 1353 AH, the regular forces had grown sufficiently to necessitate the formation of a Defense Agency alongside the Directorate of Military Affairs, which comprised three branches: Infantry, Artillery, and Cavalry.
The foundation of the Signal Corps can be traced back to the unification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the reign of its founding king, Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud.
The Royal Saudi Engineers Corps is a vital branch of modern warfare, facilitating the movement of ground forces while impeding enemy operations.
Utilizing advanced equipment and technology, the Corps is responsible for constructing bridges, developing roads in rugged mountainous terrain, detecting and clearing contaminated areas, laying minefields, and creating pathways to enable ground forces to achieve their objectives.
The origins of the Engineers Corps date back to approximately 1362 AH (1943 CE) when the Construction Division was established to maintain army buildings, initially based in Taif.
By 1374 AH (1954 CE), the Corps was relocated to Riyadh, aligning with the transfer of the Ministry of Defense and Aviation, and became a supporting branch under the Logistics and Supply Department.
The Maintenance Corps is a vital branch of the Royal Saudi Ground Forces, responsible for ensuring the operational readiness of weapons, equipment, devices, and vehicles under various conditions.
Despite this separation, the Maintenance Corps continued to fulfill its technical responsibilities, particularly in supplying the Saudi Arabian Army with modern equipment, vehicles, and spare parts.
In July 1968 (Jumada I 1388 AH), an IBM 360 computer was installed in the supply department, marking the transition to a centrally managed automated system overseen by the Maintenance Corps Command.
The Corps also focuses on the development and training of technical personnel, including officers, enlisted soldiers, and civilian employees, to enhance its operational capabilities.
The Catering unit is encapsulated in the well-known military adage, "Armies march on their stomachs," which underscores the essential role of logistics in both ancient and modern warfare.
By 1377 AH (1957 CE), the first technical and administrative formation of the corps was established in Riyadh, known as the Supply and Logistics Command, to align with the comprehensive development of the Saudi Arabian Army.