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Colombian National Army Ejercito Nacional de Colombia
Colombian Army Emblem
Active	August 19, 1819 - Present
Country	Colombia
Role	Foreign and Domestic Defense
Garrison/HQ	Colombian Ministry of Defense
Colors	Colombian Flag; yellow, blue and red.
March	"Himno del Ejercito"
Anniversaries	August 7
Battles/wars	Independence War against Spain, Thousand Days War (Civil war), War Against Peru, Korean War, Colombian Armed Conflict
Commanders
Current commander	Gen. Mario Montoya Uribe
Notable commanders	Simon Bolivar, Francisco de Paula Santander, Gustavo Rojas Pinilla, Harold Bedoya, Manuel José Bonett Rafael Reyes Prieto

The Colombian National Army (Spanish: Ejercito Nacional de Colombia) is the land force of Colombia and the largest branch of the Colombian Armed Forces. It has the responsibility for land-based military operations along with the Infanteria de Marina (Marine Corps) to protect Colombia against national or international threats. Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Image File history File links Information_icon. ... August 19 is the 231st day of the year (232nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1819 common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Combatants Colombian Liberal Party Colombian Conservative Party Commanders Rafael Uribe Uribe Benjamín Herrera Próspero Pinzón Ramón González Valencia Pedro Nel Ospina The Thousand Days War (1899-1902) (Spanish: Guerra de los Mil Dias), was a civil armed conflict in the newly created Republic of Colombia... Combatants United Nations:  Republic of Korea,  Australia,  Belgium,  Luxembourg,  Canada,  Colombia,  Ethiopia,  France,  Greece,  Luxembourg,  Netherlands,  New Zealand,  Philippines,  South Africa,  Thailand,  Turkey,  United Kingdom,  United States Medical staff:  Denmark,  Australia,  Italy,  Norway,  Sweden Communist states:  Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,  Peoples Republic of China,  Soviet Union Commanders... Colombian Armed Conflict or Colombian Civil War are terms that are employed to refer to the current low intensity conflict in Colombia that has existed since approximately 1964 or 1966, which was when the FARC and later the ELN were founded and subsequently started their guerrilla insurgency campaigns against successive... Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios (July 24, 1783 – December 17, 1830) was a South American revolutionary leader. ... Francisco de Paula Santander (1792-1840), was a Colombian Revolutionist. ... Gustavo Rojas Pinilla was a former military dictator (1953-1957) and Colombian political figure, as well as a former 1966 and 1970 presidential candidate on behalf of the National Popular Alliance, Alianza Nacional Popular, (ANAPO). ... Colombias Ministry of Defense, charged with the countrys internal and external defense and security, has an Army, Navy (which includes both marines and coast guard) Air Force, and National Police under the leadership of a civilian Minister of Defense. ...

The modern Colombian Army has its roots in the Ejercito de los Comuneros or Army of the Commoners which was formed on August 7, 1819, before the establishment of the present day Colombia to meet the demands of the Revolutionary War against the Spanish Monarchy.

The Congress of Angostura created that same day the Greater Colombian Army after the triumph over the Spanish, to replace the disbanded Commoners Army. However, the Colombian Army considers itself to be an evolution of the Commoners Army, and thus dates its inception from its origins. Angostura was the name of the town in Eastern Venezuela that was renamed Ciudad Bolívar in 1846. ... Capital Bogotá Created December 1819 Dissolved November 1831 Demonym Colombian Departments of the Republic Greater Colombia (Gran Colombia in Spanish) is the name given to the Republic of Colombia of 1819-1830, which was a short-lived republic in South America consisting of present-day Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama. ...

History

The Colombian Army trace its history back to the 1770s and 1780s, when the comuneros (Commoners) (mostly descendants of Spanish and Amerindians) decided to separate from the Spanish crown to create their own country and initiated a revolutionary war. The Greater Colombian Army is consolidated on August 7, 1819 by defeating the Spaniards at Boyacá in the Battle of Boyacá and under the command of Simon Bolivar. Since then the Colombian Army has been the biggest organization of Colombia. Events and Trends For more events, see 18th century United States Declaration of Independence ratified by the Continental Congress (July 4, 1776). ... Nothing much really happened in the 1780s only that Mary-Anne Tobin was hung in public for wearing a flase beard and voting. ... A Sioux in traditional dress including war bonnet, circa 1908. ... Capital Bogotá Created December 1819 Dissolved November 1831 Demonym Colombian Departments of the Republic Greater Colombia (Gran Colombia in Spanish) is the name given to the Republic of Colombia of 1819-1830, which was a short-lived republic in South America consisting of present-day Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama. ... Motto: Capital Tunja Governor Area 23,189 km² Population  - Total (2003)  - Density   1,411,239 61 people/km² Adjective Boyacá is a department of Colombia, one of the original nine states of the United States of Colombia. Boyacá is centrally located within Colombia, almost entirely within the mountains of Eastern... Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios (July 24, 1783 – December 17, 1830) was a South American revolutionary leader. ...

During the 19th century the military reform carried out by General Rafael Reyes Prieto in the year 1907 would denote the professionalization of the Colombian Armed Forces.

Recent History

See also: Colombian armed conflict (1960s–present)

Colombian National Army soldier searching for landmines by a highway.

The Colombian Army is at present at war with leftist rebels of the FARC, ELN and EPL, as well as other minor groups. Throughout the war, military personnel have usually maintained a level of professionalism. Colombian Armed Conflict or Colombian Civil War are terms that are employed to refer to the current low intensity conflict in Colombia that has existed since approximately 1964 or 1966, which was when the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and later the National Liberation Army (ELN) were founded and... The FARC-EPs flag The Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia – Ejército del Pueblo (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – Peoples Army, or FARC-EP) is a militant and revolutionary guerrilla group established in 1964-1966 as the military wing of the Colombian Communist Party, and is Colombias... Ejército de Liberación Nacional (usually abbreviated to ELN), or National Liberation Army, is a revolutionary, Marxist, insurgent guerrilla group that has been operating in several regions of Colombia since 1966. ... The abbreviation EPL may stand for: English Premier League, another name for the FA Premier League Popular Liberation Army (Colombia), a Colombian guerrilla group. ...

Members of the military have been accused or condemned for collaborating with the activities of right wing paramilitaries, such as the AUC and others. The BBC and other sources have reported on cases of corruption in the military, as well as other scandals. AUC is a Latin abbreviation for calculation of dates. ...

The United States government approved the Plan Colombia initiative. Part of the resources provided by this initiative would be directed to the support of the Colombian Army by strengthening its combat and logistics capabilities. The government of the United States, established by the United States Constitution, is a federal republic of 50 states, a few territories and some protectorates. ... Plan Colombia is a controversial initiative aimed at resolving the ongoing, fifty-year civil war in Colombia. ...

The Colombian Army is led by the President of Colombia (a civilian) and directed as well by a "three suns" general. List of Heads of State (Presidents etc. ...

The training of Colombian soldiers is world recognized due to its demanding features. The promotion courses (courses that the candidate has to take in order to be promoted to a higher rank) are usually tough and physically demanding.

A "Lancero" training course in counterinsurgency warfare is held in Tolemaida, 150 miles (240km) from Bogotá, where temperatures range between 85 and 100 degrees F. (29.5-38 degrees C.) throughout the year. The course, which has been called the toughest in the world, is run by the Colombian army with U.S. military instructors also playing a role. According to Paris Match (no. 2964, March 9-15, 2006) the course lasts 73 days and trains Bolivian, Ecuadorean, and Panamian troops as well as Colombian soldiers; some French and American soldiers are also trained there.[1] The course, founded in 1955, derives from the Ranger program of the US Army. Reportedly, severe techniques and live ammunition are used. Because of its exceptional nature, the course has gained international prestige. Nickname: Athens of Latin America Motto: Bogotá, 2600 metros más cerca de las estrellas Bogotá, 2600 meters closer to the stars Municipalities of Bogotá Country Colombia Department Bogotá, D.C.* Foundation August 6, 1538  - Mayor Luís Eduardo Garzón, PDA Area    - City 1,587 km²  (Expression error: Unrecognised... Official force name 75th Ranger Regiment Rangers Other names Airborne Rangers Army Rangers Task Force Ranger U.S. Army Rangers Branch U.S. Army Chain of Command USASOC Description Special Operations Force, rapidly deployable light infantry force. ... The United States Army is one of the armed forces of the United States and has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ...

Military overseas operations

The Colombian National Army deploys soldiers in the Sinai since the United Nations Emergency Force was assembled in 1956[2]. It has also joined forces many times with different armies around the world under the UN mandate. Sinai Peninsula, Gulf of Suez (west), Gulf of Aqaba (east) from Space Shuttle STS-40 For other uses of the word Sinai, please see: Sinai (disambiguation). ... The first United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) was established by United Nations General Assembly to secure an end to the 1956 Suez Crisis with resolution 1001 (ES-I) on November 7, 1956, and in large measure as a result of efforts by secretary general Dag Hammarskjöld and a proposal... 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Organization

Regiments

• Infantería (Infantry)
• Caballería (Cavalry)
• Artillería (Artillery)
• Ingenieros (Infantry)
• Intelligence (Intelligence)
• Comunicaciones (Communications)
• Cuerpo Logístico y Administrativo (Logistics and Administrative Corps)
• Aviación (Army Aviation)

Divisions

• 1st Division
• 2nd Division
• 3rd Division
• 4th Division
• 5th Division
• 6th Division
• 7th Division

Special Units

The Colombian National Army Flag.

The Colombian Army has created new programs in order to fight terrorism and leftist guerrillas that during the last 40 years have fought a war to overthrow the Colombian government.

Fast Deployment Force

• Colombian National Army Rapid Deployment Force or Fuerza de Despliegue Rapida abr. FUDRA, was created as a modern quick reaction force to deploy to different regions and to all types of weather. Currently, its function is to solely carry out ofensive operations against insurgents or outlaws.

Brigade Against Narcotics

• Colombian National Army Counternarcotics Brigade or Brigada Anti-Narcoticos. This unit was especially activated for operations against the trafficking of narcotics. It was created on December 8, 2000 and has its main headquarters in the Guaviare Department.

Retail selling Street selling is the bottom of the chain and can be accomplished through purchasing from prostitutes, through cloaked retail stores or refuse houses for users in the act located in red-light districts which often also deal in paraphernalia, dealers marketing merriment at night clubs and other events... December 8 is the 342nd day (343rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Motto: Capital San José del Guaviare Governor Area 53,460 km² Population  - Total (2003)  - Density   133,236 2,5 people/km² Adjective Guaviare is a department of Colombia. ...

Army Aviation Unit

• Colombian National Army Aviation or Unidad de Aviacion del Ejercito, The Colombian Army has an aviation branch that works autonomously from the Colombian Air Force. It's part of the Colombian Army Cavalry Corps and its main mission is to support the army's ground operations. The unit has recently focused in the security of the Colombian border and Colombia's sovereignty.

This Unit was created on September 7 of 1916 and it is managed by the Colombian Cavalry. The Colombian Air Force or FAC (Fuerza Aerea Colombiana) is the Air Force of The Republic of Columbia. ...

AFEUR unit

• Colombian National Army Special Forces Anti-Terrorist Group

Colombian Army AFEUR Badge The Agrupación de Fuerzas Especiales Antiterroristas Urbanas (Urban Counter-Terrorist Special Forces Group, AFEUR) is an elite unit of the Colombian Army, whose primary mission is to perform counter-terrorist operations and hostage rescues based on stealth, surprise and team work. ...

Special Forces Brigade

• Colombian National Army Special Forces Brigade

GAULA groups

GAULA is an acronym for Grupos de Acción Unificada por la Libertad Personal (Spanish for Unified Action Groups for Personal Freedom (GAULA) specialized on hostage rescues.

Schools and Courses

Courses

• Cursos de Capacitación y Especialización de las Armas y Servicios (Arms and Services Capacitation and Specialization Courses)

• Especialidades de Combate (Combat Specialties)
• Lanceros
• Contraguerrillas
• Paracaidista (Parachutist)
• Fuerzas Especiales (Special Forces)
• Desempeño Meritorio en Unidades Especiales (Merit Conduct for Special Units)

• Others:

• • Intelligence
  • Special Land Commandos
  • Urban Commandos
  • Urban Counter-guerrilla
  • Psychological Operations
  • Military Police

• Profesorado Militar (Military Professorate)
• Por Acción Contra el Enemigo (For Actions against the Enemy)
• Desempeño Profesional y Deportivo (Sports and Profesional Achievements)

See also

• Military of Colombia

Colombias Ministry of Defense, charged with the countrys internal and external defense and security, has an Army, Navy (which includes both marines and coast guard) Air Force, and National Police under the leadership of a civilian Minister of Defense. ...

References

External links

• Colombian Armed forces official wesite (available in spanish, english and german)
• Colombian Army official website (available in spanish and english)
• General information about Colombian Armed Forces