Armed Forces of Guatemala
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Armed Forces of Guatemala | |
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Fuerzas Armadas de Guatemala | |
Service branches |
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Leadership | |
Commander-in-Chief | ![]() |
Minister of National Defence | ![]() |
![]() | |
Manpower | |
Military age | 18 |
Active personnel | 106,114 |
Reserve personnel | 90,000 |
Expenditures | |
Budget | USD $120 million (FY99) |
Percent of GDP | 0.6% (FY99) |
Related articles | |
Ranks | Military ranks of Guatemala |
The Guatemalan Armed Forces (Spanish: Fuerzas Armadas de Guatemala) consists of the National Army of Guatemala (Ejercito Nacional de Guatemala, ENG), the Guatemalan National Defense Navy (Marina de la Defensa Nacional, includes Marines), the Guatemalan Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Guatemalteca, FAG), and the Presidential Honor Guard (Guardia de Honor Presidencial).
The Ministry of National Defence is the agency of the Guatemalan government responsible for the budget, training and policy of the armed forces. Based in Guatemala City, the Defence Ministry is heavily guarded, and the President of Guatemala frequently visits. As of 2017 the Minister of National Defence is Major General Luis Miguel Ralda Moreno.[1]
The Minister of Defense is responsible for policy. Day-to-day operations are the responsibility of the military chief of staff and the national defense staff.
History[]
Guatemala is a signatory to the Rio Pact and was a member of the Central American Defense Council (CONDECA). The President of the Republic is commander-in-chief.
Prior to 1945 the Defence Ministry was titled the Secretariat of War (Secretaría de la Guerra).
An agreement signed in September 1996, which is one of the substantive peace accords, mandated that the mission of the armed forces change to focus exclusively on external threats.[2] Presidents Álvaro Arzú and his successors Alfonso Portillo, Óscar Berger and Álvaro Colom, have used a constitutional clause to order the army on a temporary basis to support the police in response to a nationwide wave of violent crime, a product of the Mexican criminal organizations going across the north-west region.
The peace accords call for a one-third reduction in the army's authorized strength and budget — achieved in 2004 — and for a constitutional amendment to permit the appointment of a civilian minister of defense. A constitutional amendment to this end was defeated as part of a May 1999 plebiscite, but discussions between the executive and legislative branches continue on how to achieve this objective.
In 2004 the army has gone beyond its accord-mandated target, and has implemented troop reductions from an estimated 28,000 to 15,500 troops,[3] including subordinate air force (1,000) and navy (1,000) elements. It is equipped with armaments and material from the United States, Israel, Taiwan, Argentina, Spain, and France. As part of the army downsizing, the operational structure of 19 military zones and three strategic brigades are being recast as several military zones are eliminated and their area of operations absorbed by others. The air force operates three air bases; the navy has two port bases.[4]
The Guatemalan army has a special forces unit (specializing in anti-insurgent jungle warfare) known as the Kaibiles. In 2011, a Guatemalan court convicted four members of the Kaibiles, of killing more than 200 civilians in the Dos Erres massacre in 1982.[5] Each man was sentenced to 6,050 years in prison. Their convictions for their roles in the massacre nearly 30 years prior, in which soldiers killed more than 200 men, women, and children, would not have happened if not for the courage of victims of violence and Guatemala's attorney general, Claudia Paz y Paz. After the convictions of the Dos Erres four, based on a Guatemalan government's commitment to reorganize its special forces units, the U.S. Department of Defense resumed military aid.
Armed Forces Day[]
The Día del Ejército (Army Day or Armed Forces Day) is celebrated on 30 June, although if it occurs on a Tuesday or Wednesday it is celebrated on the prior Monday, and if it occurs on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday it moves to the following Monday.[6]
Organization[]
The Armed Forces today number at around 39,000 active personnel.
Leadership[]
- General Staff (14 November 1890–12 June 1930)
- ?
- Army Staff (12 June 1930–5 September 1968)
- ?
- General Staff of the Army (5 September 1968–23 March 1983)
- Kjell Eugenio Laugerud García: July 1970–July 1972[7]
- : July 1972–January 1973[7]
- José Efraín Ríos Montt: January 1973–April 1973[7]
- Fernando Romeo Lucas García: July 1973–July 1976[7]
- : July 1976–February 1977 [7]
- : February 1977–June 1979[7]
- Ángel Aníbal Guevara Rodríguez: June 1979–January 1980[7]
- : January 1980–June 1981[7]
- : 15 August 1981–24 March 1982[7]
- Héctor Mario López Fuentes: March 1982–October 1983[7]
- National Defense Staff (23 March 1983–present)
- Rodolfo Lobos Zamora: October 1983–September 1985[8][9]
- Héctor Gramajo: January 1986–February 1987[10]
- : ?–19 December 2020[11]
- : 19 December 2020–present[11]
Service branches[]
Army[]
The Army or Land Forces are the oldest military branch of the armed forces. In the middle of the 19th century, General Rafael Carrera promoted it with the triumph in the Battle of San José La Arada, dated to 2 February 1851, a date that is today commemorated as the day of this branch.
[]
The Navy was founded on 15 January 1959, by the then President Miguel Ydígoras Fuentes, due to the need to protect the country's marine resources, which at the time were the object of illegal predation by fishing boats from neighboring countries. It is a state entity with functions as a police agency for seas and rivers.
Air Force[]
The Guatemalan Air Force (Spanish: Fuerza Aérea Guatemalteca; FAG) constitutes the aviation portion of the Guatemalan Army. Founded in 1921, it is organized, equipped and trained to plan, conduct and execute the actions imposed by the State Military Defense in relation to the use of air power.
Honor Guard[]
The Presidential Honor Guard of Guatemala is a branch of the Guatemalan Land Forces, responsible for the care and protection of the President of the Republic, as well as the Vice President.
Equipment[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/US_Navy_110630-N-NY820-118_Members_of_the_Guatemalan_army_march_during_a_pass_and_review_ceremony_welcoming_USNS_Comfort_%28T-AH_20%29_to_Puerto_San_Jo.jpg/220px-US_Navy_110630-N-NY820-118_Members_of_the_Guatemalan_army_march_during_a_pass_and_review_ceremony_welcoming_USNS_Comfort_%28T-AH_20%29_to_Puerto_San_Jo.jpg)
Personal equipment[citation needed]
Vehicles[]
All data from World Military Intelligence[citation needed]
Armoured vehicles
Photo | Name | Origin | Type | Number | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
M41 | ![]() |
Light tank | 12[12][13] | |
Armadillo[14] | ![]() |
Armoured personnel carrier | 70[citation needed] | ||
Cadillac Gage Commando | ![]() |
Armoured personnel carrier | 7-12 | V-100[citation needed] | |
Dando 6x6 (Tapir)[citation needed] | ![]() |
Armoured personnel carrier | 1 | ||
![]() |
M113 | ![]() |
Armoured personnel carrier | 15 | |
M8 Greyhound | ![]() |
Armoured car | 12 | Modernised | |
![]() |
RBY MK 1 | ![]() |
Armoured car | 25 | |
![]() |
Humvee | ![]() |
Armoured car | "On loan" from the United States[15] |
Utility vehicles
Photo | Name | Origin | Type | Number | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Abir[citation needed] | ![]() |
Transport truck | |||
Business Class M2 | ![]() |
||||
Freightliner Columbia | ![]() |
||||
Hino 500 Series | ![]() |
34+ | Donated by United States.[citation needed] | ||
Hyundai H930C | ![]() |
Backhoe loader | |||
Hyundai Robex | ![]() |
Excavator | |||
International 7000-MV | ![]() |
Truck | |||
Jeep CJ-7 4x4 | ![]() |
||||
Jeep J8 APV | ![]() |
Patrol truck | Donated by United States[citation needed] | ||
M35 2½-ton cargo truck | ![]() |
2+1⁄2-ton cargo truck | |||
M37 | ![]() |
3/4 ton truck | |||
M151 Truck, Utility, 1/4-Ton, 4×4 | ![]() |
1/4 ton vehicle | |||
Sakai America SV520 Series | ![]() |
Road roller | SV520DF | ||
Toyota Hilux | ![]() |
Pickup | 25+ |
Artillery[]
Towed artillery[]
- 12 M-101 105mm (United States)
- 8 M-102 105mm (United States)
- 56 M-56 105mm (Yugoslavia)
- 12 M-116 75mm (United States)
Mortars[]
Recoilless rifles[]
- 64 M67 90mm recoilless rifles (United States)
- 64 M-1974 FMK-1 105mm recoilless rifles (Argentina)
- 56 M40A1 106mm recoilless rifles (United States)
Air defence[]
- 16 M-55 3x20mm (Yugoslavia)
- 16 GAI-BO1 20mm Oerlikon (Switzerland)
- TCM 20 2x20mm (some reported) (Israel/Switzerland)
- 5 M42 Duster 2x40mm SP-AAG (United States/Sweden)
[]
- 1 110 ft Broad class patrol boat: GC-1051
- 1 40 ft Dauntless class patrol boat: Iximche
- 2 85 ft Sewart Seacraft patrol boats: GC-851 Utatlan, GC-852 Subteniente Osoho Saravia
- 6 Cutlass 65 ft (Halter Marine) class patrol boats: GC 651-656
- 11 small patrol launches
- 1 ferry
- 2 sail training boats
- 2 Machete class personnel landing craft (Halter Marine)
Notable military personnel[]
- Captain General Rafael Carrera
- Colonel Jacobo Árbenz Guzman
- Field Marshal José Víctor Zavala
- General Justo Rufino Barrios
- General Miguel Garcia Granados
References[]
- ^ "Alto Mando del Ejército de Guatemala" (in Spanish). Ejército de Guatemala. Archived from the original on 2013-12-31. Retrieved 2014-01-07.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-08-13. Retrieved 2008-08-18.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^ "Cancelarán 12 mil 109 plazas en el Ejército". Prensa Libre. April 2, 2004. Archived from the original on July 10, 2007.
- ^ "Background Note: Guatemala". Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, US Department of State. February 2009.
- ^ Center for International Policy, Security Assistance Monitor
- ^ "Así quedarán los feriados en Guatemala para el 2020 – Prensa Libre" (in Spanish). Prensa Libre. 28 Apr 2020. Retrieved Sep 16, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j "El Estado Mayor Presidencial en Guatemala: Una aproximación" (PDF). myrnamack.org.gt (in Spanish). November 2011. pp. 30–31, 37, 40. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- ^ "World Roundup". The Pittsburgh Press. 1983-10-22. Retrieved 2012-05-04.
- ^ "El Estado Mayor Presidencial en Guatemala: Una aproximación" (PDF). myrnamack.org.gt (in Spanish). November 2011. p. 44. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- ^ "El Estado Mayor Presidencial en Guatemala: Una aproximación" (PDF). myrnamack.org.gt (in Spanish). November 2011. p. 52. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Arana, Lourdes. "Nombran nuevo Jefe del Estado Mayor, denuncian vinculación con diputado Ubico". lahora.gt (in Spanish). La Hora. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- ^ Foss, Christopher F. (2005). Jane's Armour and Artillery 2005-2006. London: Jane's Information Group. pp. 186–194. ISBN 978-0-7106-2686-8.
- ^ "Trade Registers". Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 2013-06-20.
- ^ "HISTORY OF THE ARMADILLO". www.army-guide.com. Retrieved 2017-03-19.
- ^ "Combat Pickup Trucks: The Resurrection of the Technical as a Combat Mobile Platform in Irregular Warfare and Urban Combat". www.smallarmsreview.com. Retrieved 2017-03-19.
External links[]
- Official Website of Guatemala's Military
- [1]
- Raul Sohr. ‘’Centroamérica en guerra.’’ Alianza Editorial. México. 1988.
- Christopher F. Foss. ‘’Jane's tank and combat vehicles recognition guide. ‘’Harper Collins Publishers. UK. 2000.
- Military of Guatemala