Venezuela
1. Summary
1.1.1. STRENGTH
105,400 plus 17,100 conscripts[1]
1.1.2. INFANTRY
Brigade × 4
Jungle Infantry Brigade × 2
Ranger Brigade × 4 (one at cadre level)
Special Development Brigade × 1
Military Police Brigade x 1
1.1.3. ARMOUR
Armoured Brigade × 2
Light Armour Brigade x 1
Mechanised Cavalry Brigade × 1
Mechanised Infantry Brigade x 1
1.1.4. AIRBORNE
Parachute Brigade × 1
1.1.5. ARTILLERY
Group × 8
1.1.6. SUPPORT
Communications Brigade x 1
Logistics Brigade x 1
Engineer regiment x 3
2. Assessment
Venezuela has not fought a foreign war since its independence. Since 1999, the army has been subjected to a modernisation and re-organisation process with changes made to the officer structure as well as the overall army role. The operational structure of the core army remains unchanged, although politics have seen a large number of senior officers to retire (some by force) and be replaced by more politically-oriented, recently promoted officers. In July 2007, the Chávez administration increased salaries by 30 per cent to boost morale.
The army’s reform has stretched beyond the procurement of new assault and sniper rifles and now comprises of a modernised doctrine too. New concepts include asymmetric warfare and reliance on the country’s communication and supply infrastructure as well as popular support to resist a large scale US invasion.
Most of the armyʼs equipment dates from the late 1980’s or early 1990s and is still fairly efficient, although there is little standardisation causing maintenance problems. Short term requirements include tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and air defence systems, at least some of which will be supplied by Russia following a September 2009 arms agreement.
The recent US embargo has been followed by Sweden’s refusal to supply spares or support of any kind. This will have a direct impact on the MANPADS and infantry anti-tank capabilities. Russian equipment is expected to become standard with an indigenous maintenance and support infrastructure slowly developing to support this.
2.1. Adaptability
The army is undertaking a large and expensive modernization and re-organization programme that seeks to improve its conventional and non-conventional fighting capabilities. At the same time, it has been undergoing a doctrinal transformation that has the goal of creating a politically conditioned military.
2.2. Sustainment
The Army has a Centre for Refresher training which is part of the 5th Division and has three battalions dedicated to the refresher training role, they are denominated “replacements”. There is a fourth battalion of replacements assigned to the Second Division. There is also a Military olice Replacements battalion assigned to the 3rd Division. There is an Army reserve Command to coordinate sustainability, although it is unclear at this point weather it has been integrated into the National Bolivarian Militia, which took over control of the 48 reserve battalions.
2.3. Readiness
The 42nd Para Brigade’s rapid reaction and Para-commando units are the main rapid reaction units in the Venezuelan army. Special Forces battalions are also assigned a rapid reaction role.
3. Deployments, tasks and operations
3.1. Role and Deployment
The army is tasked with ensuring land defence, contributing to the development of democratic institutions and respect for the laws of the republic, contributing to the development and national integration and to be prepared to participate in joint and international peacekeeping operations. Furthermore, President Chavez is promulgating an additional role, which is to support the development of the 21st Century Socialist State. Each soldier must now say the words 'Country, Socialism or Death!' before referring to a superior.
3.2. Recent and Current Operations
Venezuela has, in the past, contributed to the peacekeeping operations of both the Organisation of American States and the UN. It maintained a small observer group with UNPROFOR, in Croatia; and also in ONUSAL, in El Salvador; UNIKOM, in Iraq/Kuwait and MINURSO, in the Western Sahara. In late 2004, the Venezuelan military also contributed to hurricane emergency relief operations in several countries in the Caribbean.
4. Command and control
Table1.
Minister of the Popular Powers of Defence: / Vice-President Ramón CarrizalesCommander, Strategic Operations: / General Carlos Mata Figueroa
Commandant General, Army: / Major General Juan Vicente Paredes Torrealba
Chief of Staff, Army / Division General Jesus del valle Morao Gardona
Inspector general, Army / Division General Abdón Benito Matheus Pabón
Under both the Constitution and the Organic Law of the armed forces, the President is the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. In this position he exercises control on a daily basis through the Minister of Popular Powers for Defence.
The Commandant General of the army, whose tenure of office is a maximum of two years, reports to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and the Minister of Defence. The Inspector General of the Army forms part of the chain of command and ranks second only to the Commandant General. Following in line is the Chief of Staff (Army), to whom the commanders of all units and formations report.
A unified command - CUFAN - was created to control all operations, particularly in Military Areas 1 and 2 on the border with Colombia. This evolved during 2007 into the Strategic Operational Command (Comando Estratégico Operacional: CEO) and under the command of General Jesus González González. The CEO formed the planning, co-ordination, direction and implementation command for Venezuela’s joint forces. The country has now been divided into five regions under the CEO, with each regional commander (either a General or Admiral) responsible for all of the forces in its territory.
In March 2009, further restructuring granted actual control of the armed forces completely to the CEO and General Carlos Mata Figueroa was appointed the new CEO commander. The Defence Ministry will now be transformed into a purely administrative organisation in charge of overseeing the development of the armed forces and directing the country's defence policy. Previously, through the combined General Staff, the Ministry of Popular Powers for Defence had directly controlled a number of multi-service command, security and logistic support units, which will likely now aggregate to the CEO. These include the Caracas Armed Forces HQ Security Battalion, the General Lino de Clemente Security and Service Battalion, the General Jose Trinidad Moran Production, Supply and Service Battalion and a Mixed Military Police Battalion embodying elements of the four armed forces, all at Caracas. Both the Clemente and Moran battalions are scheduled for transfer to the Army Command, at some unspecified future date.
Similarly, the tri-service (army, marines and air force) Air Defence Command was previously directly subordinate to the Ministry of Defence, and will likely now become the responsibility of the CEO. It comprises the air forceʼs 1st Air Defence Artillery Group (Base Aereo El Libertador, Palo Negro), the navyʼs 2nd Air Defence Artillery Group (Base Naval Mariscal Juan C. Falcon, Punto Fijo) and the armyʼs 3rd General de Division Ascension Barreras Air Defence Artillery Group (Fuerte Guraguao, El Gury).
Also directly subordinate to the Defence Ministry were: the multiservice Regimiento Guardia de Honor (which consists of the General Manuel Manrique Security Battalion equipped with V-150 Commando armoured fighting vehicles); the General Tomas Montilla Custodial Battalion; the General Jose de la Cruz Paredes Support Battalion; and a Commando Company.
the General Francisco Carabaño y Ponte Electronic Warfare Unit
5. Organisation
Venezuelan Army units are constantly being formed, stood down or re-deployed, changing their numerical designations in accordance with their parent formations - the only constant is the name, which all units of battalion size and above historically bear.
There are four “Great Commands” which include:
- Logistics Command at Fort Tiuna del Valle
- Army Aviation Command at La Carlota Airbase
- Army Education Command at Fort Tiuna del Valle
- 6th Corps of Engineers at Fort Tiuna del Valle
There are six divisions headquartered as below, together with the 6th Corps of Engineers, which is also headquartered in Caracas. Directly subordinate to Army HQ Command are the General Daniel Florencio O'Leary Army HQ Battalion (Caracas DF); Army Aviation Command; Army Logistic Command; and Army Reserve Command.
1st Division (HQ Maracaibo)
2nd Division (HQ San Cristóbal)
3rd Division (HQ Caracas)
4th Division (HQ Maracay)
5th Jungle Infantry Division (HQ Ciudad Bolívar)
9th Mechanised Cavalry Division (HQ Apure)
5.1. Military Areas
In accordance with Venezuelaʼs new Organic Law, published 31 July 2008, the country is divided into five strategic defence regions:
Central: Vargas, Caracas, Miranda, Aragua, Carabobo and Yaracuy - Commanded by (Army) Major General Juan Vicente Paredes Torrealba;
Western: Falcón Lara, Trujillo, Mérida, Táchira and Zulia - Commanded by (National Guard) Major General Luis Motta Dominguez;
Los Llanos: Apure, Portuguesa, Barinas, Cojedes and Guárico - Commanded by (Air Force) Major General Jorge Arevalo Oropeza Pernalete;
Eastern: Delta Amacuro, Monagas, Sucre and Nueva Esparta - Commanded by (Navy) Admiral Pedro José González Díaz; and
Guyana: Bolívar and Amazonas - Commanded by (Army) Major General Félix Antonio Velásquez.
5.2. Order of Battle
Units Directly Subordinate to Army HQ
Directly subordinate to Army HQ Command are the General Daniel Florencio O'Leary Army HQ Battalion (Caracas DF); the General Andrés Ibarra Intelligence Battalion;; the Army Aviation Command; the Army Logistic Command; and the Army Reserve Command.
Table2.Army Logistics Command
Unit / BaseLogistic Support Regiment 81 / HQ Caracas
Command and Service Company 8201 / Caracas
Maintenance and Communications Company 8202 / Caracas
Medical Company 8203 / Caracas
Supply Battalion 821 / Caracas
Ordnance Battalion 822 / Caracas
Transport Battalion 824 / Caracas
Logistic Replacement Battalion 823 / Maracay
Ordnance Battalion 825 / Caracas
Supply Battalion 826 / Caracas
Construction and Maintenance Regiment 83 / HQ Fuerte Tiuna, Caracas
Command and Service Company 8301 / Caracas
Construction and Maintenance Battalion 831 / Caracas
Construction and Maintenance Battalion 832 / Caracas
Construction and Maintenance Battalion 833 / Caracas
Engineer Support Battalion 834 / Caracas
Other units
Engineer, Signals, Supply and Transport services / Caracas
Ordnance Service / San Juan de los Morros
AFV maintenance centre / Maracay
Medical Service / Fuerte Tiuna, Caracas
Logistic Support Command 84 / Fuerte Terepaima, Lara
Logistic Support Command 85 / Maturín
Logistic Support Battalion 841 / Caracas
Table3.Army Reserve Command
Unit / BaseInfantry Reserve Battalion 1 Batalla de la Victoria / Caracas
Infantry Reserve Battalion 2 Maracaibo / Maracaibo
Infantry Reserve Battalion 3 Los Horcones / Barquisimeto
Infantry Reserve Battalion 7 Maturín / Maturín
Infantry Reserve Battalion 8 Tachira / San Cristóbal
Armoured Reserve Battalion 5 Batalla de Vigirima / Valencia
Artillery Reserve Battalion 4 Batalla de Boca Chica / Maracay
Reserve Support Services Battalion 6 Batalla Queseras del Medio / Caracas
Note:
(1) Ultimately, the armed forces intend to raise at least one reserve unit in each of Venezuela's States and Federal Territories.
Table4.1st Division (HQ Maracaibo, Zulia)
Unit / Base11th Armoured Brigade / HQ Maracaibo, Zulia
Commando Company 1101 / Maracaibo
Sniper Company 11 / Maracaibo
Armoured Battalion 111 Juan Guillermo Irribarren / Coro
Mechanised Infantry Battalion 112 Francisco Aramendi / Maracaibo
Armoured Battalion 113 Leonardo Infante / Maracaibo
Armoured Battalion 114 Pedro Camejo / Maracaibo
Artillery Group 115 Pedro María Freites / Maracaibo
Air Defence Group 116 / Maracaibo
Logistic Support Battalion 115 / Maracaibo
12thCaribes Brigade[2] / Machiques
Motorised Infantry Battalion 121 Venezuela / Machiques
13th Infantry Brigade / HQ Barquisimeto, Lara
Commando Company 1301 / Barquisimeto
Motorised Infantry Battalion 131 / Barquisimeto
Motorised Infantry Battalion 132 / San Felipe, Yaracuy
Motorised Infantry Battalion 133 / Barquisimeto
Field Artillery Group 134 / El Tocuy
Field Artillery Group 135 Combate de Maracaibo
14th Mechanised Infantry Brigade / HQ Barquisimento, Lara
Commando Company 1401 / Barquisimento
Cavalry Squadron / Barquisimento
Engineer Company / Barquisimento
Sniper Company / Barquisimento
Mechanised Infantry Battalion 141 Coronel Miguel María Lara / Barquisimento
Mechanised Infantry Battalion 143 Coronel Atanasio Girardot / Barquisimento
Artillery Group 145 Jose de la Cruz Carrillo / Barquisimento
Division support units
HQ Battalion 101 / Maracaibo
Motorised Cavalry Group 102 / Maracaibo
S/P Missile Artillery Group 103 / La Concepción
AAA Defence Group 104 / Campo Mara
Combat Engineer Battalion 105 / Maracaibo
HQ Company 1001 / Maracaibo
Special Forces Battalion 107 / Maracaibo
Note:
(1) The Venezuela Infantry Battalion is earmarked for the 12th Brigade, which has yet to be formed.
Table5.2nd Division (HQ San Cristóbal, Tachira)
Unit / Base21st Infantry Brigade / HQ San Cristóbal, Tachira
HQ and Service Company 2101 / San Cristóbal
Air Defence Battery 2104 / San Cristóbal
Mechanised Infantry Battalion 211 / San Cristóbal
Infantry Battalion 212 Carabobo / Valencia
Infantry Battalion 231 / Barinas
Special Operations Unit 213 / Fuerte Yaruro
Artillery Group 214 / San Cristóbal
Anti-Tank Missile Company 2103 / San Cristóbal
Air Defence Battery 2103 / Uribante-Caparo, San Cristóbal
Combat Engineer Company 2106 / San Cristóbal
Logistic Support Battalion 215 / San Cristóbal
22nd Infantry Brigade / HQ Mérida, Mérida
HQ and Service Company 2201 / Mérida
Mountain Infantry Battalion 221 / Mérida
Motorised Infantry Battalion 222 / Trujillo
Motorised Cavalry Squadron 2204 / Guasdualito
Artillery Group 224 / Moruto, Táchira
Heavy Mortar Battery 2204 / Mérida
Anti-Tank Missile Company 2204 / Mérida
Military Police Company 2206 / Mérida
Division support units
HQ Battalion 2001 / Mérida
Field Artillery Group 203 / Mérida
Replacement Battalion 206 / Mérida
Special Electronic Warfare Unit 207 / Mérida
25th Caribes Brigade(1) / HQ La Fría, Táchira
HQ and Service Company 2501 / La Fría
Caribes Battalion 251 / La Fría
Caribes Battalion 252 / La Fría
Caribes Battalion 253 / La Fría
Note:
(1) In the process of being formed.
Table6.3rd Division (HQ Caracas)
Unit / Base31st Infantry Brigade / HQ Caracas
HQ and Service Company 3101 / Caracas
Infantry Battalion 311 Bolivar / Caracas
Artillery Group 314 Ayacucho / Caracas
Signals Company 3103 / Caracas
Ordnance Company 3104 / Caracas
32nd Caribes Brigade / HQ Maturín
HQ and Service Company 3201 / Maturín
Caribes Battalion 321 / Maturín
Caribes Battalion 322 / Maturín
Caribes Battalion 3203 / Maturín
Maintenance and Transport Company 3204 / Maturín
Anti-aircraft missile Group 499 / Maturin
34th Communications Brigade / HQ Caracas
HQ and Service Company 3401 / Caracas
Tactical Signals Battalion 341 / Caracas
Tactical Signals Battalion 342 / Caracas
Tactical Signals Battalion 343 / Caracas
35thMilitary Police Brigade / HQ Caracas
HQ and Service Company 3501 / Caracas
Military Police Battalion 351 / Caracas
Military Police Battalion 352 / Caracas
Military Police Battalion 353 / Caracas
Military Police Replacement Battalion 354 / Caracas
Division support units
HQ Battalion 301 / Caracas
Motorised Cavalry Group 302 / Valencia
S/P Air Defence Artillery Group 304 / Caracas
Combat Engineer Battalion 205 / Caracas
Table7.4th Division (HQ Maracay)
Unit / Base41st Armoured Brigade / HQ Valencia
Commando Company 4101 / Valencia
Mechanised Infantry Battalion 411 / Carora
Armoured Battalion 412 / Maracay
Armoured Battalion 413 / Fuerte Paramacay, Valencia
Armoured Battalion 414 Bravos de Apure / Fuerte Mara, Zulia
S/P Artillery Group 415 / Valencia
Air Defence Battery 4103 / Valencia
Combat Engineer Company 4104 / Valencia
Signals Company 4105 / Valencia
Heavy Mortar Company 4106 Veinticuatro de Junio / Valencia
Logistic Support Battalion 416 / Valencia
42nd Parachute Infantry Brigade / HQ Maracay
HQ and Service Company 4201 / Maracay
Paratroop Battalion 421 / Maracay
Paratroop Battalion 422 / Maracay
Para-Commando Unit 423 / Maracay
Signals Company 4203 / Maracay
Logistic Support Battalion 424 / Maracay
Rapid Deployment Unit 4205 / Maracay
44th Light Armoured Brigade / HQ San Juan de los Morros
HQ Battalion 4401 / San Juan de los Morros
Light Armoured Battalion 441 / San Juan de los Morros
Light Armoured Battalion 442 / San Juan de los Morros
Other units
HQ Battalion 401 / Maracay
Guard of Honour Battalion 4002 Veinticuatro de Junio / Maracay
Field Artillery Group 403 / Maracay
Signals Company 4004 / Maracay
Table8.5th Division (HQ Ciudad Bolívar)
Unit / Base51st Jungle Infantry Brigade / HQ Guasipati
HQ Company 5101 / Luepa
Jungle Infantry Battalion 511 / Caicará
Jungle Infantry Battalion 512 / Fuerte Tarabay
Jungle Infantry Battalion 513 / Luepa
Motorised Cavalry Squadron 5102 / Luepa
Heavy Mortar Battery 5104 / Fuerte Cayaurima
52nd Jungle Infantry Brigade (HQ Puerto Ayacucho, Amazonas) / HQ Puerto Ayacucho, Amazonas
HQ Company 5201 / Puerto Ayacucho
Jungle Infantry Battalion 521 / Ciudad Bolívar
Jungle Infantry Battalion 522 / Puerto Ayacucho
Jungle Infantry Battalion 523 / Ciudad Bolívar
Heavy Mortar Battery 5204 / Puerto Ayacucho
Combat Engineer Battalion 524 / Puerto Ayacucho
Replacement Training Centre 53 / HQ Ciudad Bolívar
Replacement Battalion 531 / Ciudad Bolívar
Replacement Battalion 532 / Ciudad Bolívar
Replacement Battalion 533 / Ciudad Bolívar
Maintenance and Service Battalion 534 / Ciudad Bolívar
Division support units
HQ Battalion 5001 / Ciudad Bolívar
Special Operations Battalion 507 “Coronel Domingo Montes” / Fuerte Guraguao, El Gury
Combat Engineer Battalion 505 / Fuerte Tarabay
Signals Company 5002 / Ciudad Bolívar
Military Police Company 5003 / Ciudad Bolívar
Maintenance and Support Battalion 5006 / El Gury
Table 9. 6th Engineer Corps
Unit / Base61st Construction and maintenance Engineer Regiment “Agustin Codazzi” / Fuerte Tiuna, Caracas
62nd Construction and maintenance Engineer Regiment “General de Brigada Luciano Urdaneta” / San Cristobal, Tachirá
621st Rail Road Engineers Battalion / Barquisimento, Lara
622nd Construction and maintenance Engineer Battalion “Coronel Pedro Aldao” / San Fernando de Apure
63rdConstruction and maintenance Engineer Regiment “General de Brigada Juan José Aguerrevere y Echenique” / Maturin, Monagas
Table9.9th Mechanised and Horse Cavalry Divison (HQ, Apure)
Unit / BaseMotorised and Horse Cavalry Brigade 91 / San Fernando de Apure
HQ Squadron 9101 / San Fernando de Apure
Mortar Battery 9104 / San Fernando de Apure
Motorised Cavalry Battalion 911 / San Fernando de Apure
Motorised Cavalry Battalion 912 / San Fernando de Apure
Caribes Brigade 92 / Guadaualito
HQ Company 5201 / Guadaualito
Caribes Battalion 921 / Guadaualito
Caribes Battalion 922 / Guadaualito
Caribes Battalion 923 / Guadaualito
Heavy Mortar Battery 5204 / Guadaualito
Combat Engineer Battalion 524 / Guadaualito
Security and Special Development Brigade 93 “General en Jefe Ezequiel Zamora” / Barinas
HQ and Service Company 9301 / Barinas
Mountain Infantry Battalion 931 / Barinas
Caribes Battalion 932 “Coronel Vicente Campo Elías” / Barinas
Caribes Battalion 933 / Barinas
Civil Affairs Battalion 934 / Barinas
5.3. Army Aviation Order of Battle
Table10.
Unit / Base / TypeBatallón de Helicópteros Multi-propósitos“General de Brigada Florencio Jiménez” / Tavacaré, Barinas / Mi-17V-5
Tavacaré, Barinas / Mi-26T2
Tavacaré, Barinas / Mi-35M2
Batallón de Helicópteros “General de Brigada Florencio Jiménez” / San Felipe, Yaracui / AS-61D
San Felipe, Yaracui / B412EP
Batallón de Aviones “General de Brigada Tomás Montilla” / Valle de la Pascua, Guárico / Arava
Valle de la Pascua, Guárico / M28 Skytruck
Valle de la Pascua, Guárico / Super King Air 200
Valle de la Pascua, Guárico / King Air C90
Valle de la Pascua, Guárico / Ce-206
Batallón Especial de Reconocimiento “General de Brigada Francisco Conde” / La Carlota, Caracas / n/a
Centro de Mantenimiento de la Aviación del Ejército “General de Brigada Francisco de Paula Alcántara” / Charallave, Miranda / n/a
Centro de Abastecimieto de la Aviación del Ejército "General en Jefe Juan Antonio Sotillo" / La Carlota, Caracas / n/a
Escuela de Aviación del Ejército “General de Brigada Juan Gómez” / San Felipe, Yaracuy / Ce-172L
B206B
San Felipe, Yaracuy / Ce-182T
San Felipe, Yaracuy / B206B
5.4. Operational Art and Tactical Doctrine