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)
Garrison/HQ	Colombian Ministry of Defense
Motto	Homeland, Honor, Loyalty
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 Colombia and the largest branch of the Colombian Armed Forces. It is responsible for carrying out land-based military operations along with the Colombian Naval Infantry (Infanteria de Marina) and for protecting the Colombian state against domestic or foreign threats.

The modern Colombian Army has its roots in the Army of the Commoners (Ejército de los Comuneros), which was formed on the 7th of August of 1819, before the establishment of the present day Colombia to meet the demands of the Revolutionary War against the Spanish Empire. After their triumph against the Spanish, the Congress of Angostura created the Greater Colombian Army, to replace the disbanded Commoners Army.

History

Batallon Colombia ensign designed for the Korean War.

The Colombian Army traces 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 9 years before a truly national army would be formed.

The Greater Colombian Army was consolidated on August 7, 1819, following the defeat of the Spaniards at 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, resulting in the opening of the Colombian Military Academy. The Army was then dramatically changed by modernization efforts, which included among them the consultation of two military missions in the 1920s by the Chilean and Swiss armies.

Recent history

See also: Colombian armed conflict (1960s–present)

The Colombian National Army Flag.

Colombian National Army soldier searching for landmines.

The Colombian Army is presently 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 of 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 within 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 Supreme Commander of the Colombian Army is the President of Colombia, with a four star General being sub-commander.

Several courses within the Colombian Army are world recognized due to their demanding nature. The most well known among these being the Lancero School. This course – dedicated 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. The course, founded in 1955, was based in the metholody of the Ranger School, of the US Army. Lethal 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. Overall, the Colombian Army lost 141 soldiers by death and suffered 556 battle injuries.

Sinai

The Colombian National Army deployed soldiers in the Sinai as part of the United Nations Emergency Force between 1956 and 1967. 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

• 1st Division (Santa Marta) – Its jurisdiction covers the Northern Region of Colombia in which there are the departments of Cesar, La Guajira, Magdalena, Sucre, Bolívar and Atlántico. 2nd Mechanized and 10th Armored brigades.
• 2nd Division (Bucaramanga) – Its jurisdiction covers the north eastern Colombia in which there are the departments of Norte de Santander, Santander and Arauca. 5th Infantry, 30th Infantry and 23rd Mobile brigades.
• 3rd Division (Cali) – Its jurisdiction covers the South West of Colombia in which there are the Departments of Nariño, Valle del Cauca, Cauca, Caldas, Quindio, Risaralda and the southern part of the Chocó. 3rd, 8th, 23rd and 29th Infantry brigades.
• 4th Division (Villavicencio) – Its jurisdiction covers the eastern region of Colombia in which there are the departments of Meta, Guaviare, and part of Vaupés. 7th Infantry, 22nd Infantry and 31st Jungle Infantry brigades.
• 5th Division (Bogota) – Its jurisdiction covers the Central Region of Colombia in which there are the departments of Cundinamarca, Boyaca, Huila and Tolima. 1st Infantry, 6th Infantry, 8th Mobile, 9th Infantry and 13th Infantry brigades.
• 6th Division (Florencia) – Its jurisdiction covers the southern region of Colombia in which there are the departments of Amazonas, Caquetá, Putumayo and southern Vaupés. 12th Infantry, 13th Mobile, 26th Jungle and 27th Jungle brigades.
• 7th Division (Medellin) – Its jurisdiction covers the western region of Colombia in which there are the departments of Cordoba, Antioquia, and part of the Chocó. 4th, 11th, 14th, 15th and 17th Infantry and 11th Mobile Brigades
• 8th Division (Yopal) – Its jurisdiction covers the northeastern region of Colombia: the Departments of Casanare, Arauca, Vichada, Guainía, and the municipalities of Boyaca of Cubará, Pisba, Paya, Labranzagrande and Pajarito. 16th, 18th, 28th, and the 5th Mobile Brigade.

Other units

Combat Arms of the Colombian Army

• Mobile Medical Command with 3 Battalions
• Military and Institutes Brigade
• 19th Cadet Brigade with 3 battalions
• Army Aviation with 135 helicopters and aircraft.
• Army Commando Battalion

Combat arms

• Infantería (Infantry)
• Caballería (Cavalry)
• Artillería (Artillery)
• Ingenieros (Engineers)
• Inteligencía (Intelligence)
• Comunicaciones (Communications)
• Cuerpo Logístico y Administrativo (Logistics and Administrative Corps)
• Aviación (Army Aviation)

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

• The Rapid Deployment Force or Fuerza de Despliegue Rápido abr. FUDRA, was created as a modern quick reaction force to deploy to different regions and to all types of weather. Currently, its function is to solely carry out offensive operations against insurgents or outlaws.

Anti-Narcotics Brigade

• Anti-Narcotics Brigade (Brigada Anti-Narcoticos). This unit was specifically activated for operations against the trafficking of narcotics. It was created on December 8, 2000 and has its main headquarters in the Guaviare Department.

Air Assault Aviation Division

• The Colombian National Army Aviation or División de Aviación Asalto Aéreo del Ejército, is an aviation branch that works autonomously from the Colombian Air Force. It is part of the Colombian Army and its main mission is to support the army's ground operations. The unit has recently focused in the security of the Colombian border and Colombia's sovereignty.
  This Unit was created on September 7 of 1916 and it is managed by the Colombian Army.

AFEUR unit

• Urban Counter-Terrorism Special Forces Group

The Urban Counter-Terrorism Special Forces Group, otherwise known as AFEUR (Spanish: Agrupación de Fuerzas Especiales Antiterroristas Urbanas) is an elite special operations unit within the Colombian Army, dedicated to performing counter-terrorism operations, HVT (High-Value Target) acquisition or elimination, and hostage rescues.

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

AFEUR answers directly to the "General Command of the Armed Forces" ("Comando General de las Fuerzas Armadas"), 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

• Colombian National Army 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

• Arms and Services Capacitation and Specialization Courses
• Military Professorate
• Sports and Professional Achievements
• Combat Specialization Courses:
  • Lancero School
  • Counter-Guerrilla Course
  • Military Airborne School
  • Special Forces Course
  • Meritorious Conduct in Special Units Course
  • Intelligence School
  • Special Land Commandos Course
  • Urban Commando Course
  • Urban Counter-Guerrilla Course
  • Psychological Operations Course
  • Military Police Course

Military educational institutions

• Colombian Military Academy "General José María Córdova"
• Colombian Army NCO School "Sergeant Inocencio Chinca"
• Army Arms and Services School
• Army Infantry School
• Army Cavalry School
• Army Artillery School
• Military Engineering School
• Army Communications School
• Army Logistics School
• Colombian Army Military Police School
• School of Civil-Military Relations
• Army Equestrian School
• Army Aviation School
• Army International Missions Support School
• Army Human Rights and International Rights School
• Army School of Languages

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	Israel
Humvee	800	In Service	United States
M-1117	67	In Service	United States
M-113	130	In Service	United States	200px
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	Colombia
LAV III	56	In Service	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	200px
Ford Super Duty		In Service	United States

Pistols

• Beretta 92 Italy
• M1911 pistol United States
• IWI Jericho 941 Israel

Assault rifles

• IMI Galil – Standard assault rifle. Produced under license by Indumil Israel Colombia
• IMI Tavor – 30,000 in use. Israel
• Galil ACE – Produced by Indumil Israel Colombia
• M16A2 rifle United States
• M4 Carbine – 1328 M4s and M4A1s (Value $1,534,058.02.) Used by the AFEUR unit and the Special Forces Brigade. United States

Submachine guns

• Heckler & Koch MP5 Germany
• FN/IMI Uzi Submachine gun IsraelBelgium

Machine guns

• IMI Negev Israel
• Daewoo K3 South Korea
• FN Minimi – M249 Belgium United States
• M60 machine gun United States
• FN MAG Belgium
• M1919 Browning machine gun United States
• M240 machine gun United States
• Vektor SS-77 South Africa
• M2 Browning machine gun United States

Grenade launchers

• M79 grenade launcher
• M203 grenade launcher
• Milkor MGL – 200 units
• Mk 19 grenade launcher

Artillery

• 60mm Mortar
• M-4 Commando Mortar – 350 in service
• 81mm Mortar Produced for Indumil
• M30 mortar – 148, of which 80 in service.
• 120mm Mortar – 210, of which 120 in service.
• Mortier 120mm Rayé Tracté Modèle F1
• M116 howitzer – 80, of which 70 in service.
• M101 howitzer – 100, of which 50 in service.
• GIAT LG1 – 20 in service, Modern lightweight 105 mm howitzer.
• Obus GDSB 155/52mm – 15.

Anti-armour

• Nimrod Missile Israel
• BGM-71 TOW – 18, mounted on HMMWVs. United States
• Spike (missile) Israel
• RPG-22 Russia
• M72 LAW United States
• APILAS France
• AT4Sweden
• M40 recoilless rifle – 80, of which 63 are in service. United States
• Batteries IMI Nimrod (on vehicle) Israel

Air defense systems and anti-aircraft artillery

• Mistral (missile)
• Baterías AA Eagle Eye
• Sistemas Oerlikon
• bofors M1
• M-55 AAA
• M-8/M-55

Aircraft

Main article: Colombian National Army Aviation

Fixed Wing	Origin	Type	Version(s)	In service	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	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.
Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk	United States	Transport/ Combat helicopter	UH-60L S-70i	54 7	Including the 15 from Plan Colombia. One UH-60 lost on 22 February 2013. All S-70i helicopters used by the Special Operations Aviation Battalion.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles	Origin	Type	Version(s)	In service	Notes
RQ-11 Raven	United States	Reconnaissance	RQ-11B		Special Forces

Uniforms

• 

  Historic Gala Uniform

• 

  Historic uniform on LT Gómez Paris

• 

  Image of modern camouflage currently worn by the Colombian army.

• 

  Camouflage for desert operations.

• 

  Special Forces wearing the new field uniform

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.

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.

	Ranks and Insignias - Colombian National Army
Officers
NATO code	OF-10	OF-9		OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1
Colombia	No equivalent
Spanish	-	General de Ejercito		Teniente General	Mayor General	Brigadier General	Coronel	Teniente Coronel	Mayor	Capitán	Teniente	Subteniente
Abbr.	-	GR		TG	MG	BG	CR	TC	MY	CT	TE	ST
English	-	General of the Army		Lieutenant General	Major General	Brigadier General	Colonel	Lieutenant Colonel	Major	Captain	Lieutenant	Second Lieutenant
Enlisted personnel
NATO code		OR-9		OR-8	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-4	OR-3	OR-2	OR-1
Colombia													No Insignia
Spanish		Sargento Mayor de Comando Conjunto	Sargento Mayor de Comando	Sargento Mayor	Sargento Primero	Sargento Vice Primero	Sargento Segundo	Cabo Primero	Cabo Segundo	Cabo Tercero	Dragoneante	Soldado Profesional	recluta
Abbr.		SMCC	SMC	SM	SP	SV	SS	CP	CS	C3	-	-	-
English		Joint Command Sergeant Major	Command Sergeant Major	Sergeant Major	First Sergeant	Sergeant First Class	Second Sergeant	First Corporal	Second Corporal	Third Corporal	Private First Class	Private (Professional)	Private Basic

See also

• Military of Colombia
• Lancero
• Ranger
• Military ranks of the Colombian Armed Forces

External links

• Colombian Armed forces official website (available in spanish, english and german)
• Colombian Army official website (available in spanish and english)
• Extense information about Colombian Armed Forces. Colombia Seguridad y Defensa, Pagina no oficial
• UNFFMM página no oficial de las Fuerzas Militares de Colombia