The military, and in particular the army, enjoyed preferential treatment under Pinochet. Its success in taking power in 1973 was a reflection of its cohesive command structure rather than of any right-wing ideological conviction. Pinochet exercised enormous influence in his position as commander-in-chief, but during his period in office worked with civilian rather than military advisers. The army retains considerable passive influence; the recent Aylwin government decided not to press human rights charges over atrocities committed during the Pinochet years. Much of its equipment is supplied by Chile's own CARDOENS munitions factories.
