National Army of Colombia

Colombian National Army
Ejército Nacional de Colombia

Colombian Army Emblem
Active August 19, 1819 – present
Country  Colombia
Role Foreign and Domestic Defense
Size 235,538 (2009)[1]
Garrison/HQ Colombian Ministry of Defense
Colors Red with Army Crest
March "Himno del Ejército"
Anniversaries August 7
Engagements Independence War against Spain
Thousand Days War (Civil war)
War Against Peru
Korean War
Colombian Armed Conflict
Commanders
Current
commander		 Gen. Oscar González
Notable
commanders		 Simon Bolivar,
Francisco de Paula Santander,
Gustavo Rojas Pinilla,
Harold Bedoya Pizarro,
Manuel José Bonett
Rafael Reyes Prieto

The National Army of Colombia (Spanish: Ejército Nacional de Colombia) is the land military force of the government of Colombia and the largest service of the Colombian Armed Forces. It has the responsibility for land-based military operations along with the Infanteria de Marina (Naval Infantry) to protect the Colombian state against domestic or foreign threats.

The modern Colombian Army has its roots in the Ejército de los Comuneros or Army of the Commoners which was formed on August 7, 1819, before the establishment of the present day Colombia to meet the demands of the Revolutionary War against the Spanish Empire.

That same day, the Congress of Angostura created the Greater Colombian Army after the triumph over the Spanish, to replace the disbanded Commoners Army. However, the Colombian Army considers itself to be an evolution of the Commoners Army, and thus dates its inception from its origins.

History

Batallon Colombia ensign designed for the Korean War.

The Colombian Army trace its history back to the 1770s and 1780s, when the comuneros (Commoners) (mostly descendants of Spanish and Amerindians) decided to separate from the Spanish Empire to create their own country and initiated a revolutionary war.

By 1810, as the nation declared independence, a Volunteer National Guard was raised composed of infantry and cavalry units. Nationwide civil war prevented a full establishment of a regular army, and it would take only 9 years before a truly national army would be formed.

The Greater Colombian Army is consolidated on August 7, 1819 by defeating the Spaniards at Boyacá in the Battle of Boyacá under the command of Simon Bolivar. Since then the Colombian Army has been the biggest organization in Colombia.

The military reform carried out by General Rafael Reyes Prieto in the year 1907, right in the aftermath of the Thousand Days War, marked the professionalization of the Colombian Armed Forces, partly resulting in the opening of the Colombian Military Academy. The Army was dramatically changed by the modernization efforts including two military missions in the 1920s by the Chilean and Swiss armies.

Recent history

The Colombian National Army Flag.
Colombian National Army soldier searching for landmines.

The Colombian Army is present at war with leftist rebels of the FARC, ELN and EPL, as well as other minor groups. Throughout the war, military personnel have usually maintained a level of professionalism.

Members of the military have been accused or condemned for collaborating with the activities of right wing paramilitaries, such as the AUC and others. The BBC and other sources have reported on cases of corruption in the military, as well as other scandals.

The United States government approved the Plan Colombia initiative. Part of the resources provided by this initiative would be directed to the support of the Colombian Army by strengthening its combat and logistics capabilities.

The Colombian Army is led by the President of Colombia (a civilian) and directed as well by a (four sun) General.

The training of Colombian soldiers is world recognized due to its demanding features. The promotional courses (courses that the candidate has to take in order to be promoted to a higher rank) are usually tough and physically demanding.

A "Lancero" training course in counterinsurgency warfare is held in Tolemaida, 150 miles (240 km) from Bogotá, where temperatures range between 85 and 100 degrees F. (29.5–38 degrees C.) throughout the year. The course, which has been called the toughest in the world, is run by the Colombian army with U.S. military instructors also playing a role. According to Paris Match (no. 2964, March 9–15, 2006) the course lasts 73 days and trains Bolivian, Ecuadorean, and Panamanian troops as well as Colombian soldiers; some French and American soldiers are also trained there.[2] The course, founded in 1955, derives from the Ranger program of the US Army. Reportedly, severe techniques and live ammunition are used. Because of its exceptional nature, the course has gained international prestige.

Overseas military operations

Korean War

During the Korean War, some 4,314 troops of the Colombian Army (21% of the total force) served with the Colombia Battalion in the United Nations Command. The initial contingent of troops transported to Korea aboard the USNS Aiken Victory. Once in-country, the Colombia Battalion received training and then joined the American 21st Infantry Regiment on 1 August 1951. It was engaged in battle during Operation Nomadic, for which the battalion received a Presidential Unit Citation. In 1952, as the 21st Infantry Regiment redeployed, the Colombia Battalion was transferred to the 31st Infantry Regiment. The battalion was greatly involved in the Battle of Old Baldy. Colombian soldiers killed in action were sometimes cremated at the United Nations Cemetery in Tanggok and repatriated in 1954.[3] Overall, the Colombian Army lost 141 soldiers by death and suffered 556 battle injuries.[4]

Sinai

The Colombian National Army deployed soldiers in the Sinai as part of the United Nations Emergency Force between 1956 and 1967.[5] Since 1980 it has supplied one battalion ('COLBATT') to the Multinational Force and Observers there.

Organization

Structure of the Colombian National Army

Major units

Divisions

Colombian Army Divisions are static Regional Commands

Other units

Combat Arms of the Colombian Army

Combat arms

Special units

The Colombian Army has created new programs in order to fight terrorist guerrillas that during the last 40 years have fought a war to overthrow the Colombian government. They are highly trained, specially selected Colombian Army soldiers. They do special recon operations to find and expel Colombian terrorists hideouts.

Rapid Deployment Force

Anti-Narcotics Brigade

Air Assault Aviation Division

AFEUR unit

The Agrupación de Fuerzas Especiales Antiterroristas Urbanas (Urban Counter-Terrorism Special Forces Group, AFEUR) is an elite unit of the Colombian Army, whose primary mission is to perform counter-terrorist operations and hostage rescues based on stealth, surprise and team work.

VIP protection is another task of the unit. For example, they protect the Colombian President when he travels, and provided protection for President Bill Clinton's (Army group) and President George W. Bush's visits to Cartagena, in 2000 and 2004 respectively. They also provided the second security ring to Bush's visit to Bogotá in 2007.

This unit answers directly to the Commando General de las Fuerzas Armadas (Armed Forces Joint Staff), and they are allowed to use any military air transportation to guarantee mobility, and to use any weapon or additional equipment as required to accomplish their missions.

AFEUR won the "Fuerzas Comando 2005" (Commando Forces 2005) contest, that took place in Chile in June 2005 lasting two weeks.

This yearly contest sponsored by the US South Command and the US Special Operations Command with similar teams from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, U.S., Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Dominican Republic, Peru and Uruguay.

AFEUR also won the 2006 and 2007 versions of this contest.

Special Forces Brigade

GAULA groups

Members of the GAULA, prepare for a demonstration during a ceremony in Sibate, Colombia on Dec. 6, 2007.

GAULA is an acronym for Grupos de Acción Unificada por la Libertad Personal, i.e. Unified Action Groups for Personal Liberty, specialising in solving hostage-taking. These are elite units established in 1996 exclusively dedicated to the combating of kidnapping and extortion. They are composed of highly qualified personnel who conduct hostage rescues and dismantling of criminal gangs at the root of crimes which compromise the personal freedom of Colombians. There is an inter-institutional element in GAULA guaranteeing self-checking procedures, trained by staff of the Administrative Security Department, the Technical Investigation Corps (CTI) of the Criminal Investigation Bureau (Fiscalía) and military forces. Currently, the country has 16 GAULA of the Colombian National Army and 2 of the Navy.

Schools and courses

Courses

Military educational institutions

Equipment

Land vehicles

Colombian Army Vehicle Inventory
Vehicle/System Firm Number in Service Status Origin Photo
Armoured Vehicles
EE-9 Cascavel 180 In Service  Brazil
Infantry Transport Vehicles
Plasan Sand Cat 14 In service[6]  Israel
Humvee 800 In Service  United States
M-1117 67[7] In Service  United States
M-113 130 In Service  United States
EE-11 Urutu 100 In Service  Brazil
RG-31 Nyala 6 In Service  South Africa
ISBI 16 In Service  Colombia
Hunter TR-12 2 In production[8]  Colombia
LAV III 56 In Service[9]  Canada
Transport Vehicles
M35 2-1/2 ton cargo truck In Service  United States
AIL Abir In Service  Israel
Willys MB In Service  United States
Kaiser Jeep M715 In Service  United States
M151 In Service  United States
Ford Super Duty In Service  United States

Pistols

Assault rifles

Submachine guns

Machine guns

Grenade launchers

Artillery

Anti-armour

Air defense systems and anti-aircraft artillery

Aircraft

Fixed Wing Origin Type Version(s) In service[13] Notes
Gulfstream Turbo Commander  United States Transport Commander 1000 2
Beechcraft King Air  United States Transport 90
200
350		 4
Beechcraft Super King Air  United States Electronic warfare 200
350		 4
Convair 580  United States Airliner 1
Cessna 208 Caravan  United States Utility 5
Aero Commander 500  United States Utility Rockwell 685 Commander 2
CASA C-212 Aviocar  Spain Transport 2
Antonov An-32  Ukraine Transport 2
Helicopters Origin Type Version(s) In service[13] Notes
UH-1 Iroquois
UH-1N Twin Huey		  United States Utility helicopter UH-1H
UH-1N		 64
Mil Mi-17  Russia Transport helicopter Mi-17 MD 21 One lost on 25 February 2013.[14]
Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk  United States Transport/ Combat helicopter UH-60L
S-70i		 54
7[15]		 Including the 15 from Plan Colombia. One UH-60 lost on 22 February 2013.[16] All S-70i helicopters used by the Special Operations Aviation Battalion.[15]
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Origin Type Version(s) In service Notes
RQ-11 Raven  United States Reconnaissance RQ-11B Special Forces[17]

Uniforms

Colombian military personnel wore a number of different uniforms for both cold and hot weather. Army officer uniforms included a full-dress uniform of blue coat and white trousers for a cold climate; a white full-dress uniform for a hot climate; several different dress uniforms for both hot and cold climates that consisted of some combination of blue and white coat and trousers with piping or fringe on the trousers to indicate branch of service; an olive-drab barracks uniform for a cold climate; a tan gabardine barracks uniform for a hot climate; and tan gabardine service and field uniforms for all climates. Army enlisted uniforms consisted of an olive-drab dress uniform for a cold climate, a tan flannel dress uniform for a hot climate, and tan barracks and field uniforms for all climates.[18]

Since 2006 the National Army of Colombia changed its uniform type forest (woodland) by a modern design featuring a new digital camouflage pattern is called a pixel.

There are 2 types of camouflage, jungle camouflage that is used by most of the army and the desert camouflage that is used by troops in the department of La Guajira and the Colombia Battalion in the Sinai peninsula in the Multinational Force and Observers.

The changes provide greater comfort to the troops, while the material used allows even for the application of mosquito repellent to prevent mosquito bites and a high percentage of the concentration of bacteria and odors.

The design of camouflage texture, color and design is unique to the Colombian army. It is locally made and its distribution is controlled so that only Colombia's military forces can use it.

Personnel

Rank and insignia

Further information: Military ranks of the Colombian Armed Forces and Military ranks of the Colombian Armed Forces/Army

The rank structure for closely parallels that of the United States military. There are nine officer ranks, ranging from the equivalent of second lieutenant to general. The army has nine enlisted grades, ranging from the equivalent of basic private to command sergeant major

The tables below display the rank structures and rank insignias for the Colombian Army personnel.[19][20]

Ranks and Insignias - Colombian National Army
NATO code[n 1] OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1
 Colombia No equivalent
Spanish - General de Ejercito Teniente General Mayor General Brigadier General Coronel Teniente Coronel Mayor Capitán Teniente Subteniente
Abbr. - GRTGMGBGCRTCMYCTTEST
English -General of the Army Lieutenant General Major General Brigadier General Colonel Lieutenant Colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second Lieutenant
NATO code[n 1] OR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1
 Colombia No Insignia
Spanish Sargento Mayor de Comando Conjunto Sargento Mayor|Sargento Mayor de Comando Sargento Mayor Sargento Primero Sargento Vice Primero Sargento Segundo Cabo Primero Cabo Segundo Cabo Tercero DragoneanteSoldado Profesionalrecluta
Abbr. SMCCSMCSMSPSVSSCPCSC3 - - -
English Joint Command Sergeant MajorCommand Sergeant Major Sergeant Major First Sergeant Sergeant First Class Second Sergeant First Corporal Second Corporal Third CorporalPrivate First ClassPrivate (Professional)Private Basic

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Colombia is not a member of NATO, so there is not an official equivalence between the Colombian military ranks and those defined by NATO. The displayed parallel is approximate and for illustration purposes only.

References

  1. ↑ LOGROS DE LA POLÍTICA DE CONSOLIDACIÓN DE LA SEGURIDAD DEMOCRÁTICA –PCSD Febrero 2009 page 81
  2. ↑ http://www.ufppc.org/content/view/4421/
  3. ↑ Coleman, Bradley Lynn (October 2005). "The Colombian Army in Korea, 1950–1954" (PDF). The Journal of Military History (Project Muse (Society for Military History)) 69 (4): 1137–1177. doi:10.1353/jmh.2005.0215. ISSN 0899-3718.
  4. ↑ Ruíz Novoa, Alberto (1956). El Batallón Colombia en Corea, 1951–1954. Bogotá: Imprenta Nacional. pp. 149–160. OCLC 1862975.
  5. ↑ http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/dpko/co_mission/unef1facts.html
  6. ↑ Colombia selects the Oshkosh Sandcat – Armyrecognition.com, December 20, 2012
  7. ↑ Colombian Army Acquires 28 Additional ASV Armored Personnel Carriers – Deagel.com, 22 August 2013
  8. ↑ El Ejército de Colombia adquiere un nuevo Hunter TR-12 para el Departamento de Huila – Infodefensa.com, 17 July 2013
  9. ↑ Colombia; Armored vehicles procurement programs summary – Dmilt.com, 3 January 2014
  10. ↑ http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=101686&page=46
  11. ↑ http://www.aerospace-index.com/images/denel/denelnewslettersept06.pdf
  12. ↑ "Army of Colombia has take delivery of three new Nexter System LG1 Mk III 105mm light guns". July 5, 2014.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 World Air Forces 2013 - Flightglobal.com, pg 13, December 11, 2012
  14. ↑ Air Forces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. April 2013. p. 31.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Colombian Army receives two new S-70i helicopters - Janes.com, 4 September 2013
  16. ↑ Air Forces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. April 2013. p. 30.
  17. ↑ Colombia; US donates ScanEagle UAV's to FAC – Dmilt.com, March 19, 2013
  18. ↑ http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field%28DOCID+co0153%29
  19. ↑ Congreso de la República de Colombia (28 July 2010). "Ley 1405 de 2010 Nuevos Grados Militares" (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  20. ↑ Ejército de Colombia (15 March 2011). "Grados y distintivos del Ejército" (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 April 2011.

External links

Colombian conflict (1964–present)

Participants

Timeline

Key aspects

• La Violencia (1948-1958)
• Marquetalia Republic
• The National Front
• Dominican Embassy (1980)
• Palace of Justice (1985)
• Patriotic Union Party extermination
• Humanitarian exchange
• Mapiripán Massacre (1997)
• Peace process (1999-2002)
• Bojayá massacre (2002)
• Valle del Cauca Deputies
hostage crisis (2002-2009)
• El Nogal Club bombing (2003)
• Parapolitics scandal (2006–7)
• Operation Emmanuel
• Andean diplomatic crisis (2008)
• Operation Jaque
 Lawsuits 

• Sinaltrainal v. Coca-Cola (2001)
• Rodriquez v. Drummond (2003)
• Doe v. Chiquita (2007)

 Kidnappings 

• Kidnappings in Colombia
• List of political hostages held by FARC

 Illegal drug trade 

• Illegal drug trade in Colombia
• War on Drugs
• Narcoterrorism

 Government aspects 

• Democratic security
• Plan Colombia
• Plan Patriota
• Colombia–United States relations
• Human rights in Colombia
• Politics of Colombia



Guerrillas
 Government of Colombia Paramilitaries

• FARC-EP
• ELN
• EPL
• List of FARC attacks

Former guerrillas
• M19
• MOEC
• CGSB
• ERP
• Jorge Alberto Rodriguez The 400
• Movimiento Armado Quintin Lame

Linked to
• PCCC
• Foro de São Paulo
• PCC(M-L)
• Cuban revolutionaries
• Provisional IRA
• ETA
• ANNCOL
• Fighters+Lovers
• Colombian drug cartels
• Some politicians

Former government program
• CONVIVIR

Linked to
• DynCorp International
•  United Nations
•  United States
•  European Union
•  Canada

• Águilas Negras
• Los Rastrojos
• Los Urabeños

Former paramilitaries
• AUC
• AAA

Linked to
• Spearhead Ltd
• Colombian drug cartels
• CONVIVIR
• Some Colombian
military personnel
• Some politicians

 Colombian armed conflict at Wiktionary  Colombian armed conflict at Wikibooks      Colombian armed conflict at Wikiquote
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