Namibian Marine Corps

External video
	Namibian Marines tackling an obstacle course
	A video of the Marines performing tactical demonstration

Namibian Marine Corps
Active	22 July 2016 – present; (4 years, 6 months)
Allegiance	Constitution of Namibia
Type	Amphibious infantry
Role	Special reconnaissance; Deep reconnaissance; Direct Action; Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS); Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO);
Part of	Namibian Navy
Garrison/HQ	Walvis Bay, Namibia
Commanders
Commander In Chief	President Hage Geingob
Minister of Defence	Peter Vilho
Namibian Navy Commander	Rear Admiral Sinsy Nghipandua
Marine Corps Commandant	Captain (naval) Appolos Haimbala

The Namibian Marines Corps is the Naval Infantry of the Republic of Namibia and is part of the Namibian Navy and the Namibian Defence Force.

History

The Marine Corps are a recent addition to the Namibian Defence Force due to the gradual establishment of the Namibian Navy. The first Marines were trained in Brazil in 2005. The Marine Commandant is subordinate to the Commander of the Namibian Navy. The current Marine Corps Commandant is Captain Appolos Haimbala.[1]

Training

Aspirant Marines are trained in Namibia by a combination of Namibian instructors as well as the Brazilian Military Advisory Team (BRAZMATT) based in Walvis Bay at the Naval Training School. The first course to complete before induction as a marine is the Marines Soldier Formation Course that lasts for five months, after completion induction into the marine corps takes place and the marine is promoted to the rank of able seaman. Marines specializing in infantry are required complete a six-month infantry specialization course.[2] The Marine Amphibious Commandos Special Operations Course is the toughest course in the corps and has a one-in-two failure rate; its courses last a year.[2][3]

Force Structure

During its infancy Navy Chief of Naval Support indicated that the short-term goal was to have a force consisting of Marine Corps Infantry Company, Service Support Company, Provost Company and Brass Band. However due operation requirements, a Marine Battalion with own organic rapid Reaction, Operational Boats Unit and Operational Diving teams is envisioned.[4]

Rapid Reaction Force
- Marine Corps Infantry Battalion
- Service Support Company
- Provost Company
- Brass Band
Amphibious Special Operations Unit
Operational Boats Unit
Operational Diving Team

Rapid Reaction Force

Marines from the Operational Boat Unit on parade in downtown Windhoek on 20 March 2015 during Namibia's Independence celebrations

A Light infantry unit responsible for protection of static, forward and naval bases.[5]

Marine Corps Infantry Battalion

The Marine Corps Infantry Battalion is the unit responsible for undertaking armed marine operations. A full marine battalion has been raised initially from a single company.[6]

Service Support Company

Service support company provides direct and indirect sustainment services to the Marine Battalion as it conducts operations. Support service offered by the sub-unit includes but not limited to:

Quartermaster
Finance
Medical
Transportation

Provost Company

The provost company is responsible for the policing of Navy service personnel.

Brass Band

The performs musical duties for military functions and any other apolitical functions for the general public. The band emulates the United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps and the 5 bands of the Royal Marines Band Service. The Brass Band performs at many important events every year, ant is considered and integral state funerals, state arrival ceremonies, state dinners, parades, and other social events. Although it is a naval band in the Namibian Navy, it is a separate unit from the navy's flagship ensemble, the Namibian Navy Band.

Amphibious Commandos

It is the main unit of Special Forces of Namibia, they are responsible for conducting Special Operations activities within the scope of the Marine Corps and the Government of Namibia.

Operational Boats Unit

Conducts small boat patrols.

Operational Diving team

It is a clearance diving unit that specializes in the disposal of hazardous materials.[5] Its role varies depending on the situation, with duties ranging from counter terrorism to explosive ordnance disposal.

Deployments

Marines Corps infantry are deployed on Namibian Navy vessels and shore installations.

Marine Corps equipment

Rifles

Name	Type	Calibre	Origin
AK-47	Assault Rifle	7.62×39mm	Soviet Union
AK-105[7]	Assault Rifle	5.45x39 mm	Russia
AK-103[7]	Assault Rifle	7.62x39 mm	Russia
Norinco CQ-A	Assault Rifle	5.56×45mm	China

Submachine-guns

Name	Photo	Type	Calibre	Origin
Vityaz-SN[7]		Submachine gun	9x19 mm	Russia
FAMAE SAF		Submachine gun	9x19 mm	Chile

Machine-guns

Name	Type	Calibre	Origin
PKP Pecheneg[7]	Machine gun	7.62x54 mm	Russia
RPK[7]	Machine gun	7.62x39 mm	Soviet Union
Kord machine gun[7]	Machine gun	12.7×108mm	Soviet Union

Grenades and Grenade Launchers

Name	Photo	Type	Calibre	Origin
AGS-30[7]		Grenade Launcher	30 mm	Russia
GP-34[7]		Grenade Launcher	40 mm	Soviet Union

Anti-Tank Weapons

Name	Photo	Type	Origin
RPG-7		Grenade Launcher	Soviet Union

Vehicles

RG-32 Scout South Africa[8]

Ranks and Insignia

Marine Corps ranks are based on Commonwealth Navy ranks.

The highest peacetime rank a commissioned officer can attain in the Marine Corps is Captain. Career progression in the force for Marine officers is possible well beyond the rank of Navy Captain. A Marine officer can be posted outside the Marine unit and progress up the ranks to the singular appointment of Chief of Defence Force. The highest rank an enlisted member can attain is Warrant Officer Class 1, but the highest appointment they can hold is the Namibian Defence Force Sergeant Major.

Commissioned officers

Equivalent NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D) and student officer
Namibian Marine Corps	No equivalent
Namibian Marine Corps	No equivalent										Marine Commandant		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Lieutenant (junior grade)			Ensign			Midshipman

Non-commissioned officers/Other ranks

Equivalent NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
Namibian Navy																													No insignia
Namibian Navy	Warrant Officer Class 1						Warrant Officer Class 2		Chief Petty Officer		Petty Officer												Leading Seaman				Able Seaman		Seaman

Gallery

Naval Officers and marines of the Namibian Navy
Marines aboard a Navy craft
Air Force Mil Mi-17 Carrying out exercises with Namibian Marines

External Videos

References

"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 19 February 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
Marketing, Intouch Interactive. "Dungeon inquiry deferred - Local News - Namibian Sun".
"54 Namibian marines graduate". 15 December 2014.
Lotto, S (December 2013). "Marine Corps Undertake Section Commander Course". NDF Journal. 50: 13.
"54 Namibian marines graduate". 15 December 2014.
"- The Namibian".
Defence Web. "Namibia receives Russian small arms". defenceweb.co.za. defenceweb. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
https://www.defenceweb.co.za/land/land-land/denel-vehicles-and-weapons-going-to-namibia/

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[1] "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 19 February 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[auto-2] Marketing, Intouch Interactive. "Dungeon inquiry deferred - Local News - Namibian Sun".

[3] "54 Namibian marines graduate". 15 December 2014.

[4] Lotto, S (December 2013). "Marine Corps Undertake Section Commander Course". NDF Journal. 50: 13.

[newera.com.na-5] "54 Namibian marines graduate". 15 December 2014.

[6] "- The Namibian".

[auto1-7] Defence Web. "Namibia receives Russian small arms". defenceweb.co.za. defenceweb. Retrieved 18 June 2016.

[8] ttps://www.defenceweb.co.za/land/land-land/denel-vehicles-and-weapons-going-to-namibia/