Central Army / Ejército Central

Military Regions Military region of Matanzas Military region of Villa Clara Military region of Cienfuegos Military region of Sancti Spíritus Military region of Ciego de Ávila

As part of measures to strengthen the FAR, by order of the Commander in Chief, the Army of the Center on April 4, 1961. Under the leadership of Commander Juan Almeida Bosque is created, covering the territory of the provinces of Camagüey, The Villas and the eastern portion of Matanzas. At present, it includes the provinces of Matanzas, Villa Clara, Cienfuegos, Sancti Spíritus and Ciego de Ávila.

This army was formed when the mercenary invasion took place over Playa Girón, the territory of its jurisdiction. Their units were the first to discover the enemy's presence and engage in combat, managing to slow down the actions of the aggressors and enable the entry of revolutionary forces, sent from different parts of the country.

In 1962, during the October Crisis, when the complete militant disposition in the country was decreed, the army put over the arms more than 55 thousand men, of which more than 39 thousand were reservists. This command had a decisive participation in the Fight Against Bandits, which practically covered its territory, especially in the Escambray Mountains. Hundreds of combatants offered their lives in this contest.

Through prominent participation in the Zafras del Pueblo and other productive tasks, it made an important contribution to the country's economy. Between 1968 and 1970, more than 80 percent of its members participated, permanently, in sugarcane cuts. Within the most relevant pages of the Central Army, a significant place corresponds to the fulfillment of the internationalist missions. Tens of thousands of fighters, active and reserve, participated in military missions in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The construction of the Party and the UJC in the army units between October 1964 and August 1965 was a milestone. Since then these organizations have contributed, along with the command, to the accomplishment of tasks.

Since its creation, the activities of combative, political and cultural preparation began. Its members had an average of fourth grade schooling. Mastering the weaponry, technique and methods of struggle has demanded consecration.

Between February of 1965 and January of 1966, Bilateral Divisionial Maneuvers of great importance were made. They participated in the 4th. Permanent Infantry Division, the 8th. Reduced Infantry Division and other units. These maneuvers were the prelude to other equally successful such as the 20th Anniversary of the Assault on the Moncada Barracks, in December 1972, and the XV Anniversary of the Triumph of the Revolution, in December 1973. In 1984 the Mountain Front exercises were carried out, in the Escambray, and Cenagoso Front, in the Ciénaga de Zapata, with the presence of Army General Raul Castro Ruz.

Since 1980, the Army has worked on the implementation of the People's War doctrine. To direct the defensive system, the command and management bodies and the Army Military Council have been created. The latter was constituted on June 22, 1983. Subsequently, the Provincial and Municipal Major States arose. From new conceptions, in 1999 the previous ones became Regions and Military Sectors. Strategic exercises of great importance such as Bastion, were developed in 1983, 1986 and in 2004. The Army has extracted valuable experiences from them, as well as the Granma, Moncada exercises and the Cuban Shield Maneuver.

Significant tasks have been the development of the Movement of Amateur Artists and the sports in all the units. In addition to the search for solutions to defense tasks during the Special Period, workshops on the combative use of weapons and assurances in the mountains, in the defense of the city and in a zone of wear, as well as that of engineers , which have had the presence of Army General Raul Castro Ruz. Faithful to the fight philosophy of the Commander in Chief, the members of the Central Army, work on the improvement of structures, dedicate themselves to the fulfillment of missions and tasks and intend to maintain what has been achieved and continue to advance. In this way, they reaffirm that the central territory is an impregnable bastion in defense of the socialist Homeland.