Armed Forces of Guatemala

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Armed Forces of Guatemala
Fuerzas Armadas de Guatemala (Spanish)
Escudo de la Guardia Presidencial.png Cfag2.png Escudo de la Marina de la Defensa Nacional.png
Emblems of the Guatemalan Armed Forces' services branches
Service branches Guatemalan Army
Guatemalan Air Force
Guatemalan Navy
Presidential Honor Guard
Leadership
Commander-in-Chief Guatemala Presidental Flag.svg Bernardo Arévalo
Minister of National Defence Flag for the Minister of Defence (Guatemala).svg Henry Saenz Ramos
Chief of the General Staff Flag for the Chief of the General Staff (Guatemala).svg William Arnulfo López
Personnel
Military age18
Active personnel106,114
Reserve personnel90,000
Expenditures
BudgetUSD $120 million (FY99)
Percent of GDP0.6% (FY99)
Related articles
Ranks Military ranks of Guatemala

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.

Contents

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. [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

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

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

Leadership

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.

Members of the Navy 20230901 AI 150 ANIVERSARIO ESCUELA POLITECNICA 9 (2).jpg
Members of the Navy

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

Small arms

NameImageCaliberTypeOriginNotes
Pistols
M1911 [6] [7] M1911A1.png .45 ACP Semi-automatic pistol Flag of the United States (1908-1912).svg  United States
Browning Hi-Power [7] FN Hi Power.jpg 9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
Beretta 92 [7] Beretta 92 FS.gif 9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Walther P38 [7] Walther P38N (6825680204).jpg 9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg  Nazi Germany
Glock 19 [7] Glock 19 Generation 4-removebg.png 9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol Flag of Austria.svg  Austria
SIG Sauer P226 [7] Pistole SIG Sauer P226 S.jpg 9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland
Shotguns
Valtro PM5/350 [8] 12 gauge Shotgun Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Use by Kaibiles; stockless configuration with 350mm barrel
Submachine guns
Uzi [7] [9] Uzi of the israeli armed forces.jpg 9×19mm Submachine gun Flag of Israel.svg  Israel
Mini-Uzi [8] Uzi 2.jpg 9×19mm Submachine gun
FMK-3 Pa3dm-fmk3-mod2.jpg 9×19mm Submachine gun Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina
MAC-10 [7] MAC10.jpg 9×19mm Submachine gun Flag of the United States.svg  United States
M3 Grease Gun [7] M3-SMG noBG.png 9×19mm Submachine gun Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States M3 and M3A1
Beretta M12 [10] M12S Beretta.jpg 9×19mm Submachine gun Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Rifles
AKM [11] AKM automatkarbin Ryssland - 7,62x39mm - Armemuseum rightside noBG.png 7.62×39mm Assault rifle Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
AKS-74U AKS74U (noBG).jpg 5.45×39mm Carbine
Assault rifle
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Samopal vz.58 [12] Sa 58-JH01 noBG.png 7.62×39mm Assault rifle Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovak Socialist Republic
IMI Galil [13] Galil noBG.png 5.56×45mm Assault rifle Flag of Israel.svg  Israel
IWI Galil ACE [14] IWI 3686.jpg 5.56×45mm Assault rifle Flag of Israel.svg  Israel
Galil Córdova [15] [16] Galil Cordova 13.png 5.56×45mm Assault rifle Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia
Tavor CTAR21 [8] [17] Interpolitex 2011 (405-22).jpg 5.56×45mm Assault rifle Flag of Israel.svg  Israel In use with Kaibiles
M16 [18] M16A2 rightside noBG.jpg 5.56×45mm Assault rifle Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Colt 727 [8] 5.56×45mm Assault rifle Flag of the United States.svg  United States In use with Kaibiles [8]
Colt 733 [8] Westdog-lds-m733 001.JPG 5.56×45mm Assault rifle Flag of the United States.svg  United States In use with Kaibiles [8]
M4 PEO M4 Carbine RAS M68 CCO.png 5.56×45mm Carbine
Assault rifle
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
T65 TwT65.JPG 5.56×45mm Assault rifle Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Taiwan
ArmaLite AR-10 [19] AR10 Armalite vue d'ensemble noBG.png 7.62×51mm Battle rifle Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States
Machine guns
Daewoo K3 [20] Daewoo K3 machine gun 1.jpg 5.56×45mm Light machine gun Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea
Browning M1919 [7] Browning M1919a.png 7.62×51mm Medium machine gun Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States
Browning M2 [7] PEO Browning M2E2 QCB (c1).jpg .50 BMG Heavy machine gun Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States
FN MAG [7] FN MAG white background.jpg 7.62×51mm General-purpose machine gun Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
Sniper and anti-materiel rifles
Barrett M82 Barrett-M82A1-Independence-Day-2017-IZE-048-white.jpg .50 BMG Anti-materiel rifle Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Rocket propelled grenade launchers
M20 Super Bazooka [21] M20-bazooka-batey-haosef-1.jpg 60mm Rocket-propelled grenade Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States
M7A2 LAW [8] M72A2 LAW.png Rocket-propelled grenade Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Grenade launchers
M203 [7] PEO M203A2 Grenade Launcher.png 40×46mm SR Grenade launcher Flag of the United States.svg  United States
M79 [7] M79 Grenade Launcher (7414625716).jpg 40×46mm Grenade launcher Flag of the United States.svg  United States

Anti-tank weapons

NameImageTypeOriginCaliberNotes
M40A1 [22] Recoilless-rifle-beyt-hatotchan-1.jpg Recoilless rifle Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 105mm56 in service.
M-1968 [23] Czekalski canon sin retroceso.JPG Recoilless rifle Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 105mm64 in service.

Tanks

NameImageTypeOriginQuantityStatusNotes
M41 Walker Bulldog R.O.C Marine Corps M41A3 Walker Bulldog front view.jpg Light tank Flag of the United States.svg  United States 10 [24] [25] INS

Reconnaissance

NameImageTypeOriginQuantityStatusNotes
RBY Mk 1 RBY-MkI-latrun-2.jpg Reconnaissance vehicle Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 10 [25] INS
M8 Greyhound Izvidnisko oklepno vozilo M8 Greyhound.JPG Armored car Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 12 [26] INS

Armored personnel carriers

NameImageTypeOriginQuantityStatusNotes
M113 UA M113 01.jpg Armored personnel carrier Flag of the United States.svg  United States 10 [27] INS
Cadillac Gage Commando Cadillac Gage Commando.JPEG Armored personnel carrier Flag of the United States.svg  United States 7 [28] INS
Armadillo Armadillo Apc (66).JPG Armored personnel carrier Flag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala 30 [29]

Utility vehicles

NameImageTypeOriginQuantityStatusNotes
AIL Abir Abir.jpg Utility vehicle Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 20INS
M151 [30] AMG M151 A2 (1978) GB (owner Gavin Broad).JPG Utility vehicle Flag of the United States.svg  United States UnknownINS
Trucks
M35 [30] M35A2 with winch.jpg Utility truck Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States UnknownINS
M54 [30] REFORGER 1991, M54 Truck unloading.jpg Utility truck Flag of the United States.svg  United States UnknownINS
Ural-4320 Interpolitex2016part2-13.jpg Utility truck Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 3INS
Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer Pinzgauer All-Terrain Troop Transport.JPG Utility truck Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland UnknownINS

Artillery

NameImageTypeOriginQuantityStatusNotes
Mortars
M224 60mm mortar round being launch (crop).jpg Mortar Flag of the United States.svg  United States 625INS
Field artillery
M-56 [31] M56A1.jpg Howitzer Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia 26INS
M101 JGSDF 105mm Howitzer M2A1(Type 58 105mm Howitzer) left front view at Camp Nihonbara October 1, 2017.jpg Howitzer Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 24 [22] INS

Air defence systems

NameImageTypeOriginQuantityStatusNotes
Bofors L/60 [32] 40mm bofors AA-gun in Finland.JPG Autocannon Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden UnknownINS
Blowpipe Blowpipe missile 2.JPG MANPADS Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 82 launchers.INS

Notable military personnel

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