• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Modern History
Infanteria de Marina [Naval Infantry]
Colombian Marine Corps - ColMar

The Marine Corps is constituent part of the Navy whose traditions date back to the wars of independence. The first Naval Infantry was disbanded by decree signed 25 November 1845 during the administration of General Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera The second creation of the Marines came about in 1933. By decree 1705 of 11 October of 1933, there was organized a naval infantry company, integrated by 01 Captain, 02 Lieutenants Squad leaders of Disembarkation, 01 Sergeant Primero, 12 Sergeants Segundos, 18 Cabos First, 22 Seaman second classes and 190 Infants of Navy. Later according to the 1934 decree 1384, it was suppressed. Continuing with the reorganization of the National Navy, on 29 April 1936, law 105 was approved by the National Congress at the request of the English Mission, which in its Chapter VIII “Of the Infantry officers of Navy”, gives the fundamental forms for the creation of the Marines without specifying units.

On 12 January 1937 the creation of the Marines was made official by Decree Nº 050 of 12 January of 1937. The first Organization of the Marines was created by Decree Nº 93 of 14 January of 1937, organic one of the Infantry of the Colombian Marines, in which the organization of two Naval infantry companies considered destined, one in Naval Base MC “Bolivar” and the other on Ospina Port (Putumayo). From January 12, 1937 the first company with 120 young people was formed at the Cartagena Naval Base.

The decade 1930-1940 was very significant for the progress of the Marines. The work developed by the Officials and Sergeant majors of the Army, who with great enthusiasm entered the Marines, fulfilled its assignment. With its experience and lessons, they commanded and they manned units like the Cannoneers “Cartagena”, “Santa Marta” and “Barranquilla”; they established the training, instruction and instilled in the personnel the esprit de corps that the Infant of Navy characterizes. The Marines were organized, with advising of an American mission that oriented about basic principles to act as Force of Task in amphibious combat. Mainly the disposition of the gentleman is emphasized Minister military José Joaquin Castro, to make known and to emphasize the work of the Infantry of Navy in the coastal defense and islands, being established the bases for the gradual increase of the force.

The same political turmoil between Liberals and Conservatives that afflicted the country in the early 1830s flared up once again in 1940s Colombia. The struggle between the two political adversaries had been brewing since the early 1920s and revolved primarily around land reform. The Conservatives were vilified following their involvement with the United Fruit Company against the banana unions in 1928. The presidency of Liberal Alfonso López Pumarejo (1934-1938) promoted a series of land reforms. The ascent to the presidency of Conservative Mariano Ospina Pérez in 1946 opened the door to a series of crude reprisalsagainst the Liberals.

The Colombian Armada, up until that time, was the service least involved in the internal political problems of the country. As a result, the national government assigned them the mission of restoring the order and guaranteeing the peace along the rivers along the eastern plains. Institutionally, the Colombian Armada created the Commando de la Fuerza Naval de Oriente (FNO). On March 8, 1940, the government authorized the first battalion of infantry of Navy, with three companies to cover Bolivar, Putumayo and San Andrés Islands. Two marine infantry platoons were assigned to the region equipped with transport ships, canon boats (cañoneros) and motor boats. Soon after, the NavalBase ARC “Santander,” along the river Meta, and the Advanced Post Puerto Carreño were created.

Later in 1943 personnel were assigned to the foundations of Buenaventura, Barranquilla, Puerto Leguizamo and the Eastern Plains. A heavy weapons company was created in 1944 and moved the battalion to facilities adjacent to the San Pedro Claver convent in Cartagena, also in 1952, assign missions to the Marine Corps in the Naval Force of the East, due to the appearance of subversives in this area, one year more then increase the tables with the entry of officers and NCOs from the army, who after a while is escalafonan in the Marine Corps.