Venezuelan Army

The Venezuelan Army, officially the National Army of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish: Ejército Nacional de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is one of the six professional branches of the Armed Forces of Venezuela. Its role is to be responsible for land-based operations against external, or internal threats that may put the sovereignty of the nation at risk.

National Army of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Ejército Nacional de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela
Venezuelan Army emblem
Founded19 April 1810 (1810-04-19)
Country Venezuela
TypeArmy
RoleTo protect and guarantee the permanent sovereignty of the nation against any external, or internal threats.
Size63,000 (2019)[1]
Part of Ministry of the Popular Participation for the Defense
PatronOur Lady of Mount Carmel
Motto(s)"Forger of liberties"
ColorsBlue, Red   
MarchVenezuelan National Army Hymn (Himno del Ejercito Nacional Bolivariano de Venezuela)
Anniversaries24 June, Army Day and anniversary of the Battle of Carabobo
Engagements
Commanders
Minister of the People's Power for Defense of the Republic of VenezuelaGeneral-in-Chief Vladimir Padrino López
Commandant of the Operational Strategic CommandAdmiral Remigio Ceballos
Commanding General, Venezuelan ArmyMajor General Jesús Rafael Suárez Chourio
Inspector General, Venezuelan ArmyDivisional General Pascualino Angiolillo Fernández
Chief of Staff, Venezuelan ArmyDivisional General Francisco Antonio Espinoza Guyón
Notable
commanders
Insignia
Flag

It is the largest military branch of Venezuela and the second in Latin America, which on 24 June 1821 won a humongous military victory against the Empire of Spain, which led to the independence of the nation. It later contributed to the independence of the present-day countries of Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Bolivia.

Mission and vision

Its mission, as the ground forces of the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela, is to:

  • Secure the ground defenses of the nation,
  • Contribute to the establishment of democratic institutions and build up respect and full compliance to the laws of the Republic as mandated,
  • Support national development and integration,
  • And to participate in programs of international cooperation and peacekeeping.

Functions of the Army

In accordance with the Article 9 of the National Armed Forces Organic Law as amended, the functions of the Army are to

  • Organize, train and equip units for ground forces operations
  • Establish doctrines for the various operations it has to undertake
  • Participate in military mobilization programs
  • Maintain the national borders
  • And actively achieve readiness to develop technologies and scientifically advances for the advancement of national defense

Official hymn

Spanish lyrics

Chorus

Adelante marchemos, valientes, al combate y al rudo fragor
por la patria muy altas las frentes, despleguemos pujanza y valor.
Por la patria muy altas las frentes, despleguemos pujanza y valor.
Nuestra sangre es la savia del pueblo y en el pueblo se plasma en canción
es la rosa más pura del viento que en la historia da brillo a la acción,
En las aguas, el aire y la tierra la victoria es el alba inmortal,
si sublime es el triunfo en la guerra, preservemos la gloria y la paz.

Chorus

Y si el brazo extranjero se atreve a infamar de este suelo el honor
antes muerte mil veces nos llegue que rendirnos al torpe invasor,
pues de todas las patrias que el cielo diera al hombre en morada de amor,
es la nuestra el más hondo desvelo en el sueño de un mundo mejor.

Chorus

Equipment
See also: List of equipment of the Venezuelan Army

Organization

The Venezuelan Army is divided into 4 main commands and 6 army divisions as well as other independent units reporting to Headquarters, Venezuelan Army. The Army's Air Defense Artillery Brigades also report directly, as part of the Venezuelan Air Force Air Defense Forces Command, to the Operational Strategic Command for national defense purposes in air defense matters.

Army General Command
  • Army Headquarters
  • Army HQ Escort and Security Battalion "Lieutenant General Daniel Florence O'Leary"
  • Army General Staff
  • Army Inspector General's Office

Army Logistics Command
  • Command HQ
  • Command HQ Company
  • Inspectoriate General
  • Adjutant General's Corps
  • Acquisitions Office
  • Army Ministers Reception Center
  • Army Armaments Corps
  • Army Intendancy
  • Army Medical Department
  • Army Transportation Corps
  • Army Communications Corps
  • Army Engineers Service
  • 82nd Logistics Support Regiment
  • 83rd Logistics Support Command
  • 84th Logistics Support Command

Army Aviation Command
  • Command HQ
  • Command, Service and Logistics Company
  • Helicopter Battalion
  • Fixed Wing Air Battalion
  • Special Reconnaissance Battalion
  • Multipurpose Helicopter Battalion
  • Army Aviation Maintenance Center
  • Army Aviation School
  • Army Aviation Center of Administration
  • Army Aviation Flight Simulation and Instruction Center

99th Army Special Forces Brigade

Under the direct control of the Army but operationally deployed with the Army Divisions

  • Brigade HQ
  • 991st Special Operations Battalion "General in Chief Jose Gregorio Monagas"
  • 992nd Special Operations Battalion (Jungle) "Colonel Domingo Montes"
  • 993rd Special Operations Battalion "LTCOL Eliezer Otaiza Castillo"
  • Service Support Company

1st Infantry Division
  • HQ Battalion
  • 11th Armored Brigade "Brigadier Pedro Ruiz Rondon"[2]
    • Brigade HQ
    • 111th Armor Battalion
    • 112th Armor Infantry Battalion
    • 113th Armor Battalion
    • 114th Armor Battalion
    • 115th Field Artillery Battalion
    • 116th Air Defense Artillery Battalion
    • 1103rd Reconnisance Squadron
  • 12th Caribbean Ranger Brigade
    • Brigade HQ
    • 121st Infantry Battalion "Venezuela"
    • 122nd Ranger Battalion
    • 123rd Ranger Battalion
    • 124th Field Artillery Battalion
  • 13th Infantry Brigade
    • Brigade HQ
      • 131st Infantry Battalion
      • 132nd Infantry Battalion
      • 133rd Infantry Battalion
      • 135th Field Artillery Battalion "Battle of Lake Maracaibo"
      • 136th Air Defense Artillery Battalion
  • 14th Mechanized Infantry Brigade
    • Brigade HQ
    • 141st Infantry Battalion
    • 143th Infantry Battalion
    • 145th Field Artillery Battalion
    • 146th Air Defense Artillery Battalion
  • 19th Western Air Defense Artillery Brigade
  • 105th Combat Engineers Battalion

2nd Infantry Division
  • HQ Battalion
  • 21st Motorized Infantry Brigade
    • Brigade HQ
    • 211th Infantry Battalion "COL Antonio Ricaurte"
    • 212th Infantry Battalion "Carabobo"
    • 213th Infantry Battalion
    • 215th Field Artillery Battalion
  • 22nd Mountain Infantry Brigade
    • Brigade HQ
    • 221st Infantry Battalion
    • 222nd Infantry Battalion
    • 2205th Mortar Battery (Mountain)
  • 23rd Development and Security Brigade
  • 24th Infantry Brigade
  • 25th Mechanized Infantry Brigade
    • Brigade HQ
    • 251st Infantry Battalion
    • 253th Infantry Battalion
    • 225th Field Artillery Battalion
  • 29th Plains Air Defense Artillery Brigade
  • 205th Divisional Combat Engineering Battalion
  • Military Police Company

The 79th Andes Air Defense Artillery Brigade reports directly to the Operational Strategic Command, while being in the 2ID's territorial jurisdiction.

3rd Infantry Division
  • HQ Battalion
  • 31st Mechanized Infantry Brigade Group "Major General Lucas Carvajal"
    • Brigade HQ
    • 311th Armor Infantry Battalion "Simon Bolivar"
    • 312th Armored Cavalry Squadron "Juan Pablo Ayala"
    • 316th Air Defense Artillery Group
  • 32nd Caribbean Ranger Brigade "General-in-Chief José Antonio Páez"[3]
    • Brigade HQ
    • 321st Ranger Battalion
    • 322nd Ranger Battalion
    • 323rd Ranger Battalion
    • 325th Field Artillery Battalion (Ranger) (to be stood up soon)
  • 33rd Combat Communications Brigade
  • 34th Combat Communications Brigade (newly raised)[4]
    • Brigade HQ
      • 341st Signals Battalion
      • 342nd Signals Battalion
      • 343rd Signals Battalion
      • 344th Signals Battalion
      • 345th Signals Battalion
      • 346th Signals Battalion
      • 347th Signals Battalion
  • 35th Military Police Brigade "General Jose de San Martin"[5]
    • Brigade HQ
      • 351st MP Battalion
      • 352nd MP Battalion
      • 353rd MP Battalion
      • 354th MP Battalion (Replacement and Training Battalion)
  • 39th Central Air Defense Artillery Brigade "Colonel Juan Perez Ovalles"
  • 305th Combat Engineers Battalion

Since 2016 the newly created 34th CCB reports also to the Operational Strategic Command.

4th Armored Division
  • HQ Battalion
  • 41st Armored Brigade
    • Brigade HQ
    • 411th Armor Infantry Battalion "Major General Jose Antonio Anzoategui"
    • 412th Armor Battalion "Major General Jose Francisco Bermudez"
    • 413th Armor Battalion "Brigadier Pedro León Torres"
    • 414th Armor Battalion "Apure Braves"
    • 415th Field Artillery Battalion (Mixed) "Major General Juan Jacinto Lara"
    • 416th Air Defense Artillery Battalion (MANPAD & Towed) "Lieutenant Colonel Alejandro Salazar"
    • 4012nd Armored Reconnisance Squadron "Sacred Cavalry Squadron"
  • 42nd Airborne Brigade "Aragua"
    • Brigade HQ
    • 421st Parachute Infantry Battalion "José Leonardo Chirinos"
    • 422nd Parachute Infantry Battalion "Colonel Antonio Nicolas Briceno"
    • 423rd Parachute Infantry Battalion "Colonel Ramon Garcia de Sena"
  • 43rd Field Artillery Brigade "Grand Marshal of Ayacucho Antonio Jose de Sucre"[2][6][7]
    • Brigade HQ
    • 431st Field Artillery Battalion (Self-Propelled)
    • 432nd Field Artillery Battalion (Self-Propelled) "General in Chief & President Ciprano Castro"
    • 433rd Field Artillery Battalion (Multiple Rocket Launcher)
    • 434th Field Artillery Battalion (Multiple Rocket Launcher)
    • 435th Field Artillery Battalion (Multiple Rocket Launcher) "Colonel Juan Vicente Bolivar"
  • 44th Light Armored Brigade
  • 49th Air Defense Artillery Brigade
  • 402nd Anti-tank Artillery Battalion "Major General Ezequiel Zamora"
  • 405th Combat Engineers Battalion
  • Combat Training Center "Lieutenant General Gabriel Laurencio Silva"

5th Jungle Infantry Division
  • HQ Battalion
  • 5002th Maintenance and Services Coy.
  • 51st Jungle Infantry Brigade
    • Brigade HQ
    • 511th Infantry Battalion (Jungle)
    • 512th Infantry Battalion (Jungle)
    • 513th Infantry Battalion (Jungle)
    • 5102nd Reconnisance Company
    • 5105th Mortar Battery (Jungle)
  • 52nd Jungle Infantry Brigade
    • Brigade HQ
    • 521st Infantry Battalion (Jungle)
    • 522nd Infantry Battalion (Jungle)
    • 5202nd Cavalry Troop
  • 53rd Jungle Infantry Brigade
    • Brigade HQ
    • 531st Infantry Battalion (Jungle)
    • 532nd Infantry Battalion (Jungle)
    • 533rd Infantry Battalion (Jungle)
    • 5302nd Cavalry Troop
  • 59th Air Defense Artillery Brigade
  • 505th Combat Engineers Battalion
  • 508th Service Support Battalion
  • 507th Communications Battalion

9th Cavalry Division
  • Division HQ
  • HQ Squadron
  • 91st Armored Cavalry Brigade "Major General Pedro Perez Delgado"
    • Brigade HQ
    • HQ Troop
    • 911th Armored Cavalry Squadron "Brigadier Ambrosio Plaza"
    • 912th Armored Cavalry Squadron
    • 913th Armored Cavalry Squadron
  • 92nd Caribbean Ranger Brigade
    • Brigade HQ
    • 921st Ranger Battalion
    • 922nd Infantry Battalion
    • 923rd Ranger Battalion
    • 926th Field Artillery Battalion "Battle of Ayacucho" (Ranger)
    • 927th Air Defense Artillery Group
    • 9202nd Cavalry Troop
  • 93rd Caribbean Ranger Brigade (Mechanized)
    • Brigade HQ
    • 931st Infantry Battalion
    • 932nd Ranger Battalion
    • 933rd Ranger Battalion
    • 934th Infantry Battalion
    • 937th Ranger Battalion
    • 9302nd Cavalry Troop
  • 905th Combat Engineers Battalion

6th Corps of Engineers
  • Corps HQ
  • HQ Battalion
  • 61st Engineers Training Brigade
    • Brigade HQ
    • 611th Engineer Battalion
    • 612th Engineer Training Battalion
    • 613th Engineer Training Battalion
    • 614th Engineer Training Battalion
  • 62nd Construction and Maintenance Regiment
    • Regiment HQ
    • 621st Engineer Training Battalion
    • 622nd Engineer Battalion
  • 63rd Construction and Maintenance Regiment
    • Regiment HQ
    • 631st Engineer Battalion
    • 632nd Engineer Training Battalion
  • 64th Railroad Engineering Brigade
    • Brigade HQ
    • 641st Railroad Engineer Battalion
    • 642nd Railroad Engineer Battalion
    • 643rd Railroad Engineer Battalion


Ranks
Equivalent
NATO code		OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer
 National Army of Venezuela
 No equivalent Unknown
General en Jefe Mayor General General de Division General de Brigada Coronel Teniente Coronel Mayor Capitán Primer Teniente Teniente
Technical Non-commissioned officers and Warrant officers (Army shoulder boards)
Sargento Técnico
de Tercera
(Junior Warrant
Officer)		Sargento Técnico
de Segunda		Sargento Técnico
de Primera
(Third Warrant
Officer)		Maestro Técnico
de Tercera
(Second
Warrant Officer)		Maestro Técnico
de Segunda
(First
Warrant Officer)		Maestro Técnico
de Primera		Maestro Técnico
Mayor		Maestro Técnico
Supervisor
(Chief Warrant
Officer)
Equivalent
NATO code		OR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1
 National Army of Venezuela
 No insignia
Sargento Supervisor Sargento Ayudante Sargento mayor de Primera Sargento mayor de Segunda Sargento mayor de Tercera Sargento Primero Sargento Segundo Cabo Primero Cabo Segundo Distinguido Soldado Raso

Commanding Generals of the Army
Commanding Generals of the Venezuelan Army
Commanding General Term in office
MGEN Francisco Rodríguez del Toro April 1810– July 1811
Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda Jul 1811 – Aug. 1812
Office of Commanding General of the Army was vacant from 1812 to January 1813.
GEN Santiago Mariño Jan. 1813 – Jun. 1813
GEN Simón Bolívar (first term) May 1813 – Dec 1814
Office of Commanding General of the Army was vacant from December 1814 to May 1815.
General in Chief José Tadeo Monagas May 1815
Office of Commanding General of the Army was vacant from May 1815 to May 1816.
GEN Simón Bolívar (second term) May 1816 – Aug. 1821
GEN Carlos Soublette Ago. 1821 – Dic. 1822
GEN José Antonio Páez Dec. 1822 – Jan 1847
General in Chief José Tadeo Monagas (2nd term) May 1847 – May 1858
GEN Santiago Mariño (acting) Jun 1848 – August 1848
GEN Julián Castro March 1858 – August 1859 (acting till May 1858)
GEN Pedro E. Ramos Aug 1859 – Dec 1859
GEN León de Febres Cordero Dec 1859 – May 1861
GEN José Antonio Páez (2nd term) May 1861 – Jul 1863
GEN Juan Crisóstomo Falcón Jul. 1863 – April 1868
GEN León Colina (acting) 1864
GEN Antonio Guzmán Blanco (acting) 1866
GEN Manuel Ezequiel Bruzual April 1868 – Jul. 1868
GEN José Tadeo Monagas (3rd term) Jul. 1868 – Nov. 1868
GEN Juan Antonio Sotillo Nov. 1868 – May 1869
GEN José Ruperto Monagas May 1869 – April 1870
GEN Antonio Guzmán Blanco (2nd term) April 1870 – Feb. 1877
GEN Francisco Linares Alcántara Feb. 1877 – Feb. 1879
GEN José Gregorio Valera Nov. 1878 – Feb. 1879 (acting till early February 1879)
GEN José Gregorio Cedeño Feb. 1879 (acting, served 12 days)
GEN Antonio Guzmán Blanco (3rd term) Feb. 1879 – May 1884
GEN Joaquín Crespo May 1884 – April 1886
GEN Antonio Guzmán Blanco (4th term) April 1886 – August 1887
GEN Hermógenes López August 1887 – June 1888
Doctor Juan Pablo Rojas Paúl Jul. 1888 – Mar. 1890
Doctor Raimundo Andueza Palacio Mar. 1890 – Oct. 1892
GEN Joaquín Crespo (2nd term) Oct. 1892 – Feb. 1898
LTGEN Ignacio Andrade Feb. 1898 – Oct. 1899
LTGEN Cipriano Castro Oct. 1899 – Nov. 1908
LTGEN Juan Vicente Gómez Nov. 1908 – Dec. 1935
LTGEN Eleazar López Contreras Dec. 1935 – May 1941
MGEN Isaías Medina Angarita May 1941 – Oct 1945
LTCOL Carlos Delgado Chalbaud Oct. 1945 – Nov. 1948
LTCOL (later COL, BRIG and MGEN) Marcos Pérez Jiménez Nov. 1948 – Aug 1954
BRIG Hugo Fuentes Aug 1954 – Dec. 1957
BRIG Rafael Virgilio Vivas Dec. 1957 – Jan. 1958
Office of Commanding General of the Army was vacant from January 1958 to January 1959.
BRIG Marco A. Moros A. Jan 1959 – Feb. 1960
MGEN Pedro J. Quevedo D. Feb. 1960 – Jul. 1964
BRIG Pablo A. Flores A. Jul. 1964 – Ene. 1968
MGEN Roberto Morean Soto Ene. 1968 – Feb. 1970
MGEN Víctor M. Maldonado Feb. 1970 – Sep. 1971
MGEN Homero I. Leal T. Sep. 1971 – Feb. 1973
BRIG Juan Manuel Sucre Figarella Feb. 1973 – April 1974
MGEN Manuel I. Bereciartu P. Apr. 1974 – Oct. 1975
MGEN Víctor M. Molino V. Oct. 1975 – Jun. 1977
MGEN Ernesto Brandt T. Jun. 1977 -Jun. 1978
MGEN Arnaldo Castro Jun. 1978 – May 1979
MGEN Ángel V. Berrio Brito May 1979 – Jun. 1979
MGEN Tomás Abreu R. Jun. 1979 – Jan. 1980
MGen Rafael G. Marín. G. Jan. 1980 – Jun. 1981
MGEN Vicente L. Narváez O. Jun. 1981 – Jun. 1982
MGEN Luis Octavio Romero Jun. 1982 – Jun. 1983
MGEN Luís J. Silva Tirado Jun. 1983 – Jun. 1984
MGEN José A. Olavarría Jun. 1984 – Jun. 1985
MGEN José Humberto Vivas Jun. 1985 – Jun. 1986
MGEN Elidoro A. Guerrero Jun. 1986 – Jun. 1987
MGEN Italo del Valle Alliegro Jun. 1987 – Jun. 1988
MGEN José María Troconis Peraza Jun. 1988 – Jun. 1989
MGEN Carlos J. Peñaloza Z. Jun. 1989 – Jun. 1991
MGEN Pedro. R. Rangel R. Jun. 1991 – Jun. 1993
MGEN Jorge I. Tagliaferro De Lima Jun. 1993 – Jan 1994
MGEN Moisés A. Orozco Graterol Feb 1994 – Dec 1994
Office of Commanding General of the Army was vacant from December 1994 to January the following year.
MGEN Pedro N. Valencia V. Jan. 1995 – Jul. 1996
MGEN Pedro Hernández G. Jul. 1996 – Jul. 1997
MGEN Wilfredo J. Guerrero Z. Jun. 1997 – Jul. 1998
MGEN Rubén M. Rojas Pérez Jul. 1998 – Feb. 1999
MGEN Noel E. Martínez Ochoa Feb. 1999 – Aug. 1999
MGEN Lucas Rincón Romero* Aug. 1999 – Jun. 2001
MGEN Víctor A. Cruz Weffer Jun. 2001 – Dec 2001
BRIG (later MGEN) Efraín Vásquez Velasco Dec. 2001 – Apr. 2002
MGEN Julio J. García Montoya April 2002 – Jan. 2003
MGEN Jorge Luis García Carneiro* Jan. 2003 – Jan. 2004
MGEN Raúl Isaías Baduel* Jan. 2004 – Jul. 2006
MGEN Pedro Azuaje Apitz Jul. 2006 – Jul. 2007
LTGEN Carlos José Mata Figueroa* Jul. 2007 – Mar. 2009
LTGEN Juan Vicente Paredes Torrealba Mar. 2009 – Jul. 2010
LTGEN Euclides Campos Aponte Jul. 2010 – Jul. 2012
LTGEN Carlos Alcalá Cordones Jul. 2012 – Jul. 2013
LTGEN Alexis Ascension López Ramírez Jul. 2012 – Jul. 2014
LTGEN Gerardo Izquierdo Torres Jul. 2014– July 2015
LTGEN Juan de Jesús García Toussaintt July 2015 – June 2017
LTGEN Jesús Rafael Suárez Chourio June 2017 –

(*): Marks promotion to the rank of full General (and appointment as Minister of Defense) after serving term as Commanding General of the Army

References
  1. "2019 Venezuela Military Strength". Global Firepower. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 20 January 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 July 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 May 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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