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Guatemala Navy / Fuerzas de Mar - Organization

Naval Commands are in the charge of an officer with the rank of Captain of Ship, exerting the command, supervision, control and coordination of the area of assigned operational responsibility, as well as contributing to the exercise of the maritime authority, providing basic administrative and logistical support to the naval units, Naval police and marines assigned. Naval commands are composed of surface units, naval police, marine infantry, maintenance, logistical support and headquarters.

The Caribbean Naval Command is based in Santo Tomás de Castilla port, Izabal; Its area of responsibility includes the inland waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone of the Caribbean Sea, as well as rivers and lakes that flow into the gulfs of Mexico and Honduras. Caribbean Naval Command surface units navigate deterrence of threats to the State such as drug trafficking, trafficking in persons, predation of national resources, incursion of foreign ships, piracy, terrorism, threats to critical port infrastructure, control of fishing closures and The violation of the laws applicable to the marine environment in general, but mainly guaranteeing the safety of human life in aquatic spaces, carrying out activities of humanitarian aid, protection of the marine environment and supporting with our naval means other State institutions.

The Pacific Naval Command works in Puerto Quetzal, Escuintla, And its operational area of responsibility includes the inland waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone of the Pacific Ocean, as well as lakes and rivers within the Southern Watershed. he Pacific Naval Command's crew is committed and trained to carry out operations to support the population in case of disasters, Search and Rescue operations, as well as naval operations to control maritime, lake and river traffic, in order to deny The use of these Guatemalan aquatic spaces to organized crime, complying with the constitutional precepts, national laws and in accordance with the different agreements and treaties at the international level that the State of Guatemala has signed and ratified, such as participation in the Local Oil Spill Response Committee in the Sea and Coastal Pacific Coastal Regions (COLDEMAR).

The Fuerza Naval Especial (FEN - Special Naval Force) has as its mission the maritime interdiction, operating on both coasts with subtle forces. Its headquarters is located in Puerto Quetzal, Escuintla and is under the command of a Captain of Ship. Naval commands provide the logistical support and security required. The Special Naval Force is in charge of the fight against drug trafficking in the sea is the best weapon that counts the country, and develops both in the Pacific and Atlantic ocean. Thousands of kilos of drugs pass through the Guatemalan ocean and develop operations of maritime security, naval security, and maritime patrol. The Pacific Ocean is the platform used by drug traffickers to bring the drug north. It works so that the drugs do not arrive at Guatemalan territory' It has seized almost 50% of the drug that is seized in the country. They also cross rivers and canals of the country that are used as means of transport.

The Special Forces Group (GOE - Grupo de Operaciones Especiales) GOE has its origins in the two Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols (PRALs - Patrullas de Reconocimiento y Alcance Largo), established in a single company with assistance from the CIA in November 1982. By early 1983, the Army had established the “Hatchet” units, exploiting the special techniques of the PRALs to create a strike commando unit. Today, the GOE comprises a reconnaissance company with two PRALs, and two “Hatchet” reaction companies. The PRALs are divided in teams of six men, while the strike forces utilize three teams of 20 men each. The Naval Commando Company that survived the war was added to the GOE’s order of battle. The black beret is worn by these commandos due to their affinity with the LRRPs of the US Rangers.