The Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), previously called Forces Armées Royales Khmeres (FARK) was established on 9 November 1953 under a Franco-Khmer convention. That contributed to the termination of the French colony and protectorate and Cambodia obtained its own authentic military organization. The FARK's roles were defined: to guarantee sovereignties of the nation and of the king; to ensure security, social orders and the respect of law; and to defend the Kingdom of Cambodia. With the number of less than 35,000, FARK was organized in battalion level under command of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces (Head of State).

The military situation was dramatically changed following the coup d'état in March 1970. In the Khmer Republic regime the FARK was renamed as Khmer National Armed Forces (Forces Armées Nationales Khmeres – FANK). When Cambodia commenced to receive the real war and in response to a declared state of emergency, the FANK's size was expanded to reach approximately 200,000 military personnel organized in brigades and divisions. The armed forces of all categories were placed under command and control of the President.

After the fall of the Khmer Republic regime in April 1975, the Khmer Rouge established a new military force called National Army of Democratic Kampuchea (NADK). It purely comprised of the ex-Khmer Rouge fighters. Similar to other forces, the NADK was organized up to division level and under command of the Chief of the General Staff.

Following the intervention of the Vietnamese forces in January 1979, which resulted in the collapse of the Khmer Rouge regime and because of the effect of the cold war, a new security dimension occurred in Cambodia. The Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Armed Forces, which later changed its name to the Cambodian People's Armed Forces (CPAF) of the Phnom Penh government, was rebuild. This military organization evolved from battalions to divisions.

In the meantime, anti-Vietnamese movements were formed along the Cambodian-Thai border. Apart from the remained NADK, two other non-communist resistance forces, the Khmer People's National Liberation Armed Forces (KPNLAF) and the Armées Nationale pour Khmer Independent – ANKI (previously called Armées Nationale Sihanoukist – ANS) were established. The military evolution of the last two movements was similar in character: from small armed groups to divisions.

Because of the influence of the Cold War’s ideological contest, and the interference of some global powers, Cambodia became bogged down in a disastrous tragedy within an insecure environment. This remained the case for more than 20 years after 1970, and was only resolved through a Peace Accords singed in Paris in October 1991. A legitimate national armed force, the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces -- RCAF, was reestablished in 1993 following the creation of a democratically elected First-Term Government. The armed forces of all parties, except the NADK, were integrated into one national armed force.

In order to put security problems to an end, the Government commenced its Win Win policy in mid 1995. The policy was to cease internal security crisis through national reconciliation and national unity efforts, under the rules of His Majesty the King. Subsequent breakaways of the NADK's units began in early 1996. The Win Win policy of Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen continued to succeed as the last groups of the Khmer Rouge guerrillas were integrated into the RCAF in late 1998. It historically marked the total dissolution of the Khmer Rouge's political and military organs and the return of all secession areas to the government control.

The RCAF now has to reactivate its reforms in consistent with the Government’s political guidelines. These guidelines direct the armed forces to demobilize to an acceptable size, achieve sound capability, and inculcate high ethics and dignity and advancement towards international standardization in the future. The RCAF also has to plan for its agenda to include security cooperation for the common benefit of the whole region.