The Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) was established on 9 November 1953 under a Franco-Khmer Convention.

A Coup d’etat on 18 March 1970, Cambodia fell into critical political crisis, and civil war has exploded throughout the whole country. So far the RCAF was completely destroyed. After a chronical war over two decades, the Paris peace Agreement was held on 23 October 1991 to put an end to political disputes in Cambodia.

This led to the nationwide election on 23 May 1993 as sponsored by the United Nations in the name UNTAC. After that on 14 July 1993, His Majesty King Narodon SIHANOUK signed a Royal Decree establishing the Ministry of National Defense and General Staff of National Armed Forces of all parties accept the National Army Democratic Kampuchea (NADAK) was integrated into one National Armed Force.

Carrying out the national reconciliation and national unity effort of His Majesty King Narodom SIHANOUK and under the brilliant direction of Samdech HUN SEN Prime Minister of Royal Government, The Armed Forces are determined of the Policy “WIN! WIN” in 1996-98 the Democratic Kampuchea (Khmer Rouge) that includes Armed Forces and Political Organization, the base (Fortified Area) in Pai Lin and Anlung Veng, was subsequently integrated into the Royal Government thus, completely ending the domestic war in Cambodia.

The third amendment (2003-2007) of Royal Government implemented the four fields of Armed Forces reformation, which was a project of the Royal Government. In the Armed Forces reformations, His Majesty the king released a Royal Decree No. NS/RD 0199/21 dated 24 January 1999 on the Functions, Duties and Organization Structures correcting the High Command of RCAF and established the Army HQ, Navy HQ, Air Force HQ and Royal Gendarmerie HQ.

The Army of RCAF has been successful its implementing the reforming plan from the year 2005 to the year 2009.