Military Zones

Mexico in 1996 was divided into twelve military regions with thirty-nine military zones. Zone boundaries usually correspond with those of the country's thirty-one states, with the headquarters of the military zone located in the state capital. Some states, including Veracruz, Guerrero, and Chiapas, which have been the scene of disturbances by peasant and Indian groups, have more than one military zone apiece. The Federal District, where Mexico City is located, is the seat of the First Military Zone and also serves as headquarters of the First Military Region.

Military zone commanders are appointed by the president, usually on the recommendation of the secretary of national defense. The senior zone commander in a given area also acts as the commander of the military region in which the zone falls. Zone commanders hold jurisdiction over all units operating in their territory, including the Rural Defense Force. They occasionally have served the federal authorities as a political counterweight to the power wielded by state governors. Zone commanders provide the secretary of national defense with valuable intelligence regarding social and political conditions in rural areas, and traditionally have acted in close coordination with the Secretariat of National Defense on resource planning and deployment matters.

Military Zones / Zona Militar

Zona Militar	Ubicación	Región Militar
1^a	Tacubaya, D.F.	I
2^a	Tijuana, B.C.	II
3^a	La Paz, B.C.S.	II
4^a	Hermosillo, Son.	II
5^a	Chihuahua, Chih.	XI
6^a	Saltillo, Coah.	XI
7^a	Escobedo, N.L.	IV
8^a	Reynosa, Tamps.	IV
9^a	Culiacán, Sin.	III
10^a	Durango, Dgo.	III
11^a	Guadalupe, Zac.	V
12^a	San Luis Potosí, S.L.P.	IV
13^a	Tepic, Nay.	V
14^a	Aguascalientes, Ags.	V
15^a	La Mojonera, Jal.	V
16^a	Sarabia, Gto.	XII
17^a	Querétaro, Qro.	XII
18^a	Pachuca, Hgo.	I
19^a	Tuxpan, Ver.	VI
20^a	Colima, Col.	V
21^a	Morelia, Mich.	XII
22^a	Toluca, Mex.	I
23^a	Panotla, Tlax.	VI
24^a	Puebla, Pue.	VI
25^a	Puebla, Pue.	VI
26^a	El Lencero, Ver.	VI
27^a	Ticui, Gro.	IX
28^a	Ixcotel, Oax.	VIII
29^a	Minatitlan, Ver.	VIII
30^a	Villahermosa, Tab	VII
31^a	Rancho Nuevo, Chis.	VII
32^a	Valladolid, Yuc.	X
33^a	Campeche, Camp.	X
34^a	Chetumal, Q.R.	X
35^a	Chilpancingo, Gro.	IX
36^a	Tapachula, Chis.	VII
37^a	Santa Lucía, Mex.	I
38^a	Tenosique, Tab.	VII
39^a	Ocosingo, Chis.	VII
40^a	Guerrero Negro, B.C.S.	II
41^a	Puerto Vallarta, Jal.	V
42^a	Hidalgo del Parral, Chih.	XI
43^a	Apatzingan, Mich.	XII
44^a	Miahuatlan, Oax.	VIII
45^a	Nogales, Son.	II
46/a Z.M.	Ixtepec, Oax	VIII

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