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Armed Forces of Guatemala

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The Guatemalan Armed Forces (Spanish: Fuerzas Armadas de Guatemala) is the unified military organization comprising the Guatemalan Army, Navy, Air Force, and Presidential Honor Guard. The president of Guatemala is the commander-in-chief of the military, and formulates policy, training, and budget through the Minister of Defence. Day-to-day operations are conducted by the Chief of the General Staff.

Armed Forces of Guatemala
Fuerzas Armadas de Guatemala (Spanish)
Emblems of the Guatemalan Armed Forces' services branches
Service branchesGuatemalan Army
Guatemalan Air Force
Guatemalan Navy
Presidential Honor Guard
Leadership
Commander-in-Chief Bernardo Arévalo
Minister of National Defence Henry Saenz Ramos
Chief of the General Staff William Arnulfo López
Personnel
Military age18
Active personnel106,114
Reserve personnel90,000
Expenditure
BudgetUSD $120 million (FY99)
Percent of GDP0.6% (FY99)
Related articles
RanksMilitary ranks of Guatemala

History

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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.[1] 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,[2] 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.[3]

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.[4] 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

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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.[5]

Organization

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The Armed Forces today number at around 39,000 active personnel.

Leadership

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Main article: Chief of the General Staff (Guatemala)

Service branches

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Army

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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.

 
Members of the Navy
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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

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Main article: Guatemalan 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

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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

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Small arms

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Name Image Caliber Type Origin Notes
Pistols
M1911[6][7]   .45 ACP Semi-automatic pistol   United States
Browning Hi-Power[7]   9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol   Belgium
Beretta 92[7]   9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol   Italy
Walther P38[7]   9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol   Nazi Germany
Glock 19[7]   9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol   Austria
SIG Sauer P226[7]   9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol    Switzerland
Shotguns
Valtro PM5/350[8] 12 gauge Shotgun   Italy Use by Kaibiles; stockless configuration with 350mm barrel
Submachine guns
Uzi[7][9]   9×19mm Submachine gun   Israel
Mini-Uzi[8]   9×19mm Submachine gun
FMK-3   9×19mm Submachine gun   Argentina
MAC-10[7]   9×19mm Submachine gun   United States
M3 Grease Gun[7]   9×19mm Submachine gun   United States M3 and M3A1
Beretta M12[10] 9×19mm Submachine gun   Italy
Rifles
AKM[11]   7.62×39mm Assault rifle   Soviet Union
AKS-74U   5.45×39mm Carbine
Assault rifle 		  Soviet Union
Samopal vz.58[12]   7.62×39mm Assault rifle   Czechoslovak Socialist Republic
IMI Galil[13]   5.56×45mm Assault rifle   Israel
IWI Galil ACE[14]   5.56×45mm Assault rifle   Israel
Galil Córdova[15][16]   5.56×45mm Assault rifle   Colombia
Tavor CTAR21[8][17]   5.56×45mm Assault rifle   Israel In use with Kaibiles
M16[18]   5.56×45mm Assault rifle   United States
Colt 727[8] 5.56×45mm Assault rifle   United States In use with Kaibiles[8]
Colt 733[8]   5.56×45mm Assault rifle   United States In use with Kaibiles[8]
M4   5.56×45mm Carbine
Assault rifle 		  United States
T65   5.56×45mm Assault rifle   Taiwan
ArmaLite AR-10[19]   7.62×51mm Battle rifle   United States
Machine guns
Daewoo K3[20]   5.56×45mm Light machine gun   South Korea
Browning M1919[7]   7.62×51mm Medium machine gun   United States
Browning M2[7]   .50 BMG Heavy machine gun   United States
FN MAG[7]   7.62×51mm General-purpose machine gun   Belgium
Sniper and anti-materiel rifles
Barrett M82   .50 BMG Anti-materiel rifle   United States
Rocket propelled grenade launchers
M20 Super Bazooka[21]   60mm Rocket-propelled grenade   United States
M7A2 LAW[8]   Rocket-propelled grenade   United States
Grenade launchers
M203[7]   40×46mm SR Grenade launcher   United States
M79[7]   40×46mm Grenade launcher   United States

Anti-tank weapons

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Name Image Type Origin Caliber Notes
M40A1[22]   Recoilless rifle   United States 105mm 56 in service.
M-1968[23]   Recoilless rifle   Argentina 105mm 64 in service.

Tanks

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Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
M41 Walker Bulldog   Light tank   United States 10[24][25]

Reconnaissance

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Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
RBY Mk 1   Reconnaissance vehicle   Israel 10[25]
M8 Greyhound   Armored car   United States 12[26]

Armored personnel carriers

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Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
M113   Armored personnel carrier   United States 10[27]
Cadillac Gage Commando   Armored personnel carrier   United States 7[28]
Armadillo   Armored personnel carrier   Guatemala 30[29]

Utility vehicles

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Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
AIL Abir   Utility vehicle   Israel 20
M151[30]   Utility vehicle   United States Unknown
Trucks
M35[30]   Utility truck   United States Unknown
M54[30]   Utility truck   United States Unknown
Ural-4320   Utility truck   Russia 3
Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer   Utility truck    Switzerland Unknown

Artillery

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Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
Mortars
M224   Mortar   United States 625
Field artillery
M-56[31]   Howitzer   Yugoslavia 26
M101   Howitzer   United States 24[22]

Air defence systems

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Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
Bofors L/60[32]   Autocannon   Sweden Unknown
Blowpipe   MANPADS   United Kingdom 82 launchers.

Notable military personnel

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References

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  1. ^ "Agreement on the Strengthening of Civilian Power and on the Role of the Armed Forces in a Democratic Society: Guatemala: Peace Agreements: Library and Links: U.S. Institute of Peace". Archived from the original on 2008-08-13. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
  2. ^ "Cancelarán 12 mil 109 plazas en el Ejército". Prensa Libre. April 2, 2004. Archived from the original on July 10, 2007.
  3. ^ "Background Note: Guatemala". Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, US Department of State. February 2009.
  4. ^ Center for International Policy, Security Assistance Monitor
  5. ^ "Así quedarán los feriados en Guatemala para el 2020 – Prensa Libre" (in Spanish). Prensa Libre. 28 Apr 2020. Retrieved Sep 16, 2020.
  6. ^ "Latin American Light Weapons National Inventories". Federation of American Scientists. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2012. Citing Gander, Terry J.; Hogg, Ian V., eds. (1995). Jane's Infantry Weapons, 1995–1996 (21st ed.). Jane's Information Group. ISBN 9780710612410. OCLC 32569399.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Jones, Richard (2009). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009–2010. Jane's Information Group. pp. 896, 897, 899. ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h "wiw_sa_guatemala - worldinventory". 2016-11-24. Archived from the original on 2016-11-24. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  9. ^ Diez, Octavio (2000). Hand Guns (in Arabic). Barcelona: Lema Publications. ISBN 84-8463-013-7. OCLC 44059526. Archived from the original on 2014-09-16. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
  10. ^ Gander, Jerry (2002). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002–2003. Jane's Information Group. pp. 214, 899–906. ISBN 0-7106-2434-4.
  11. ^ World Armies (2011-12-06). "Guatemalan Special Forces". flicker.com. Archived from the original on 2017-04-07. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
  12. ^ "Czechpoint - History of the Sa vz. 58 - History of the Sa vz. 58 rifle". Czechpoint-usa.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2010-09-04.
  13. ^ Haapiseva-Hunter, Jane (1999). Israeli foreign policy: South Africa and Central America. South End Press. p. 113. ISBN 978-0-89608-285-4.
  14. ^ Johnson, Steve (16 February 2011). "IWI Galil ACE rifle adopted by Guatemala National Civil Police". The Firearm Blog.
  15. ^ "Guatemala compró 8000 fusiles 'Galil Cordova' a Indumil, por más de 10 millones de dólares". Webinfomil (in Spanish). 2019-09-20. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  16. ^ "Galile dla Gwatemali". 27 September 2019.
  17. ^ InfoDefensa, Revista Defensa. "El gobierno de Guatemala entrega nuevo armamento para sus Fuerzas Especiales Kaibil". Infodefensa - Noticias de defensa, industria, seguridad, armamento, ejércitos y tecnología de la defensa (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  18. ^ "Report: Profiling the Small Arms Industry – World Policy Institute – Research Project". World Policy Institute. November 2000. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  19. ^ Pikula, page 45
  20. ^ "[현장르포] 30년만에 무분규 임금타결 S&T대우". Archived from the original on 2013-12-18. Retrieved 2013-02-14.
  21. ^ Gander, Terry J.; Cutshaw, Charles Q., eds. (2001). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001/2002 (27th ed.). Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 9780710623171.
  22. ^ a b Military Balance 2016, p. 399.
  23. ^ "Armamento argentino olvidado por la historia en Centro América". Desarrollo y Defensa (in Spanish). 30 June 2015.
  24. ^ 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.
  25. ^ a b "Trade Registers". Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 2013-06-20.
  26. ^ Zaloga, Steve (2002). M8 Greyhound Light Armored Car. Osprey. ISBN 1-84176-468-X.
  27. ^ The Military Balance. International Institute for Strategic Studies. 2022. ISBN 978-1-032-27900-8.
  28. ^ "SIPRI arms transfer database". Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
  29. ^ "HISTORY OF THE ARMADILLO". www.army-guide.com. Retrieved 2017-03-19.
  30. ^ a b c "Annex C Appendix II". US Army Technical Manual of Foreign Military Sales: Battlefield Damage Assessment and Repair (PDF). Washington, D.C. 18 December 1987. p. 262. TM 9-2320-356-BD. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2013.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  31. ^ Foss, Christopher F. (1998). "105 mm howitzer M56". Jane's Armour and Artillery (19 ed.). Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710617903.
  32. ^ "Bofors 40mm (Series) Towed Anti-Aircraft Gun / Air Defense Gun - Sweden". www.militaryfactory.com. Military Factory. Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019.[better source needed]

Work cited

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