Armed Forces of Guatemala

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Template:Short description Template:More citations needed Template:Infobox national military

The Guatemalan Armed Forces (Template:Langx) 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.

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 Script error: No such module "Lang". (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

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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.

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

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

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The Guatemalan Air Force (Template:Langx) 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

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

Anti-tank weapons

Name Image Type Origin Caliber Notes
M40A1Template:Sfn File:Recoilless-rifle-beyt-hatotchan-1.jpg Recoilless rifle Template:Country data United States 105mm 56 in service.
M-1968[22] File:Czekalski cañón sin retroceso.JPG Recoilless rifle Template:Country data Argentina 105mm 64 in service.

Boats

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
Golfo de Tribuga-class landing craft File:LCU Quetzal (BL-1601).webp Landing Craft Utility Template:Country data Colombia 1

Tanks

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
M41 Walker Bulldog File:R.O.C Marine Corps M41A3 Walker Bulldog front view.jpg Light tank Template:Country data United States 10[23][24]

Reconnaissance

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
RBY Mk 1 File:RBY-MkI-latrun-2.jpg Reconnaissance vehicle Template:Country data Israel 10[24]
M8 Greyhound File:Izvidniško oklepno vozilo M8 Greyhound.JPG Armored car Template:Country data United States 12[25]

Armored personnel carriers

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
M113 File:UA M113 01.jpg Armored personnel carrier Template:Country data United States 10[26]
Cadillac Gage Commando File:Cadillac Gage Commando.JPEG Armored personnel carrier Template:Country data United States 7[27]
Armadillo File:Armadillo Apc (66).JPG Armored personnel carrier Template:Country data Guatemala 30[28]

Utility vehicles

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
AIL Abir File:Abir.jpg Utility vehicle Template:Country data Israel 20
M151[29] File:AMG M151 A2 (1978) GB (owner Gavin Broad).JPG Utility vehicle Template:Country data United States Unknown
Trucks
M35[29] File:M35A2 with winch.jpg Utility truck Template:Country data United States Unknown
M54[29] File:REFORGER 1991, M54 Truck unloading.jpg Utility truck Template:Country data United States Unknown
Ural-4320 File:Interpolitex2016part2-13.jpg Utility truck Template:Country data Russia 3
Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer File:Pinzgauer All-Terrain Troop Transport.JPG Utility truck Template:Country data Switzerland Unknown

Artillery

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
Mortars
M224 File:60mm mortar round being launch (crop).jpg Mortar Template:Country data United States 625
Field artillery
M-56[30] File:M56A1.jpg Howitzer Template:Country data Yugoslavia 26
M101 File:JGSDF 105mm Howitzer M2A1(Type 58 105mm Howitzer) left front view at Camp Nihonbara October 1, 2017.jpg Howitzer Template:Country data United States 24Template:Sfn

Air defence systems

Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
Bofors L/60[31] File:40mm bofors AA-gun in Finland.JPG Autocannon Template:Country data Sweden Unknown
Blowpipe File:Blowpipe missile 2.JPG MANPADS Template:Country data United Kingdom 82 launchers.

Notable military personnel

References

Template:Reflist

Work cited

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External links

Template:Guatemala topics Template:Military of North America

  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  4. ↑ Center for International Policy, Security Assistance Monitor
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  8. ↑ a b c d e f g h Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  19. ↑ Pikula, page 45
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  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Template:Better source needed
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