The active army of the Dual Monarchy is an organization common to both kingdoms, and has its Ersatz, or supplementary Reserve, with local forces for Bosnia and Herzegovina attached. There are fifteen army corps, and certain troops in the military districts of Zara in Dalmatia. In addition are the Austrian Landwehr and Landsturm and the Hungarian (or Transleithan) Landwehr and Landsturm, known as the Honved.

During 1903 the army question rose to great prominence between the national parties in Austria and Hungary, and certain concessions were made to the latter in regard to the language of command, regimental colors, and other matters, but these do not affect the unity of the army.

The fifteen army corps comprise 5 cavalry divisions and 31 infantry divisions of the active army, and on mobilization a Landwehr division would be attached to each. There are 466 battalions of infantry (102 regiments of the line, 4 of Tyrolese rifles and 4 Bosnian, and 26 battalions regular rifles. The cavalry on a peace footing comprises 252 squadrons (15 regiments of Dragoons, 11 of Uhlans, and 16 of Hussars), and the artillery. 251 batteries, exclusive of 18 battalions of fortress artillery and 15 of pioneers. The field artillery is formed in 14 brigades, and a group of 3 mountain batteries in the Tyrol. On a peace footing there are 224 field batteries, 16 horse batteries, 11 mountain batteries, 56 ammunition columns (in skeleton), and 56 depots. The war strength would give a total of 328 batteries (exclusive of fortress units), with a total of 2,464 guns. The Austrian and Hungarian cavalry have won the admiration of European soldiers, and the Empire unquestionably possesses a thoroughly practical mounted arm fit for service at a moment's notice.

The following table shows the total strength of the forces in 1903; but it is believed that by embodying all classes of the Landsturm the dual monarchy could put 3,000,000 men in the field.

The Honved (national Hungarian army) is subject in war time only to the commander-in-chief, and in peace time only to the Royal Hungarian jurisdiction.