Colombian Naval Infantry

The Colombian Naval Infantry and also referred to as Colombian Marines (Infantería de Marina Colombiana) is the marine force of the Colombian National Armada. The 24,000-member Colombian Marine Infantry is organized into a single division with four brigades (one amphibious assault brigade and three riverine brigade), each with several battalions plus numerous small security units.

History
The Marine Corps is a constituent part of the Navy whose origins date back to the wars of independence.

Raised by an order from President Dr. Alfonso López Pumarejo on January 12, 1937, The Colombian Marines started out as a 120-strong Marine Company, located on Naval Base Cartagena.

On March 8, 1940, the 1st Marine Battalion was raised, with three companies to cover Bolivar, Putumayo and San Andres Islands, then in 1943 was assigned to Buenaventura, Barranquilla, Puerto Leguizamo and the eastern plains.

In 1944, a heavy weapons company was raised and the battalion was moved to facilities adjacent to the San Pedro Claver convent in Cartagena, also in 1952, the Marines were reassigned to the Eastern Naval Force due to the appearance of subversives in this area, one year later, the tables are increased with the entry of officers and NCOs from the Army, who after some time it echelons in the Marines.

In July 1955, the first Marines are preparing to implement a harsh doctrines of amphibious warfare, thanks to the instruction of officers and NCOs in the United States in the United States Naval Academy, The Basic School of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Marine Corps School of Infantry and the U.S. mission of the United States Marine Corps aimed for this effort.

On April 9, 1956, the Marine Corps Basic and Formation School was opened, headquartered in Turbaco (Bolivar), then moved to Carne (Cartagena). And now works at Covenas.

A new dimension of warfare appears in 1957, in Puerto Leguizamo, creating the "INLAND COMMANDS", the first unit called "Flotilla Avispa", gives rise to operations in rivers and water bodies in the country.

On July 3, 1958, the Colombian Naval Academy had its first 8 Marine lieutenants commissioned.

In 1964, the Marine Directoriate of the Navy was established and became the Marine Corps Command in 1967.

The specialty of amphibious command born in 1956, with a group of men who received a strong and intensive training, giving rise to the Special Forces Battalion of Marine Infantry, which currently retains title.

Marine Infantry Training Base, based in Covenas, began work in 1975, incorporating conscripts to advance its basic instruction, through the Battalions of Instruction, then moving to the tactical units of Marines.

The Marines arrived at the Operational Unit Mayor, on January 15, 1984, the presence of the Marines, is in the jurisdiction of the Navy land, archipelagos, islands, coastal and river arteries. Its slogan is “LA VOLUNTAD TODO LO SUPERA” "WILL SURPASSES EVERYTHING"

Since then, the Marines have had several changes in line with the operational situation and public order in Colombia.

Personnel
The Colombian Marine Infantry fields approximately 22,000 personnel, among officers and Infantrymen, and it's by far the biggest Corps within the Navy.

Ranks & Insignias
The tables below display the rank structures and rank insignias for the Colombian Marine Infantry personnel.

{|class="wikitable collapsible" style="min-width:50%; border: 2px solid #B22222; " !style="background:#B22222; color:white"| !colspan=12 style="font-weight:bold; font-size:1.2em;text-align:center; background:#B22222; color:white"|Ranks and Insignias - Colombian Marine Infantry
 * colspan=13 style="text-align:center"|
 * colspan=13 style="text-align:center"|
 * colspan=13 style="text-align:center"|

Officers
| |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |General |Teniente General |Mayor General |Brigadier |Coronel |Teniente Coronel |Mayor |Capitán |Teniente |Subteniente
 * - style="background-color:#CCCCCC; font-weight:bold;" align="center"
 * style="white-space:nowrap;"|NATO code ||OF-10||OF-9||OF-8||OF-7||OF-6||OF-5||OF-4||OF-3||OF-2
 * colspan=2 | OF-1
 * - align="center"
 * No equivalent
 * No equivalent
 * - align="center"
 * Spanish
 * - align="center"
 * Abbr.|| - ||GR||TG||MG||BG||CR||TC||MY||CT||TE||ST
 * - align="center"
 * English || -||General ||Lieutenant General ||Major General ||Brigadier ||Colonel ||Lieutenant Colonel
 * Major ||Captain ||Lieutenant ||Sublieutenant


 * - style="border-top:2px solid #B22222;"
 * colspan=13 style="text-align:center"|

Non-Commissioned Officers and Infantrymen
| |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |No Insignia |Sargento Mayor de Comando Conjunto |Sargento Mayor de Comando |Sargento Mayor |Sargento Primero |Sargento Vice Primero |Sargento Segundo |Cabo Primero |Cabo Segundo |Cabo Tercero |Infante Regular
 * - style="background-color:#CCCCCC; font-weight:bold;" align="center"
 * style="white-space:nowrap;"|NATO code ||style="background:lightgray"| ||colspan=2|OR-9||OR-8||OR-7||OR-6||OR-5||OR-4||OR-3||OR-2||OR-1
 * - align="center"
 * style="background:lightgray"|
 * style="background:lightgray"|
 * - align="center"
 * Spanish
 * style="background:lightgray"|
 * - align="center"
 * Abbr.||style="background:lightgray"| ||SMCCCIM||SMCCIM||SMCIM||SPCIM||SVCIM||SSCIM||CPCIM||CSCIM||C3CIM|| -
 * - align="center"
 * English ||style="background:lightgray"| ||Joint Command Sergeant Major||Command Sergeant Major ||Sergeant Major ||First Sergeant ||Sergeant First Class ||Second Sergeant ||First Corporal ||Second Corporal ||Lance Corporal||Private, Marine
 * }

Marine Infantry Training Base
Base de entrenamiento de infanteria de marina "BEIM". Is located in a small town called Coveñas, Sucre Department, in the caribbean north of Colombia. It has 3 battalions for recruits' boot camp training called BINIM 1, BINIM2 and BINIM3 (BINIM, Batallón de Instrucción de Infantería de Marina). A 13-week training program is performed under supervision of the United States Naval Mission by a Gunnery Sergeant of the United States Marine Corps.

The BEIM also has an Specialists Center (CESIM: Centro de Especialistas de Infantería de marina), where professional marines and sub-officers (Coporals - Sergeants) receive special training courses: Drill instructor, Anti-explosives, Canine guide, Personal defense, Shooter and Water survival. The training in this center is also supervised by the Gunnery Sergeant of the US Naval Mission.

There is also the Batallón de Comando y Apoyo de IM Nº 2 (BACAIM2) in charge of the watch and security of the surrounding areas of the base and some sectors of the Sucre Department.

First Marine Infantry Brigade
Is a minor operative unit with the main purpose of neutralizing narcoterrorism. Mainly operated in the Caribbean Region of Colombia, in the area of Montes de María.
 * Brigada de Infantería de Marina No.1


 * BATALLÓN DE FUSILEROS DE IM N° 2
 * BATALLÓN DE FUSILEROS DE IM N° 3
 * BATALLÓN DE FUSILEROS DE IM N° 4
 * BATALLÓN DE CONTRAGUERRILLAS DE IM N° 1
 * BATALLÓN DE CONTRAGUERRILLAS DE IM N° 2
 * BATALLÓN DE COMANDO Y APOYO DE IM N° 1

First Riverine Marine Infantry Brigade

 * Brigada Fluvial de Infantería de Marina No. 1

The First Fluvial Brigade of the Naval Infantry was founded with the main purpose of grouping the direction, organization and control of all fluvial units of the former Fluvial Fleet of Magdalena and the Oriente.


 * BATALLÓN FLUVIAL DE I.M. NO.20 TURBO – ANTIOQUIA
 * BATALLÓN FLUVIAL DE I.M. NO.30 YATI – BOLIVAR
 * BATALLÓN FLUVIAL DE I.M. NO.40 PUERTO CARREÑO - VICHADA
 * BATALLÓN FLUVIAL DE I.M. NO.50 PUERTO INIRIDA – GUAINIA

Second Riverine Marine Infantry Brigade

 * Brigada Fluvial de Infantería de Marina No.2

The Second Fluvial Brigade of the Naval Infantry is based in Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca Department.


 * BATALLÓN DE ASALTO FLUVIAL DE IM N° 1 BUENAVENTURA-VALLE
 * BATALLÓN DE ASALTO FLUVIAL DE IM N° 3 BAHIA SOLANO - CHOCO
 * BATALLÓN DE ASALTO FLUVIAL DE IM N° 4 BAHIA MALAGA – VALLE
 * BATALLÓN FLUVIAL DE IM N° 10 GUAPI - CAUCA
 * BATALLÓN FLUVIAL DE IM N° 70 TUMACO – NARIÑO
 * BATALLÓN FLUVIAL DE IM N° 80 BUENAVENTURA-VALLE
 * BATALLÓN DE COMANDO Y APOYO DE IM N° 3 BUENAVENTURA-VALLE

Third Riverine Marine Infantry Brigade

 * Brigada Fluvial de Infantería de Marina No.3

The Third Fluvial Brigade of the Naval Infantry is based in Puerto Leguizamo, Putumayo Department.


 * Batallón Fluvial de I.M. Nº 60 Puerto Leguízamo - Putumayo
 * Batallón Fluvial de I.M. Nº 90 Tres Esquinas - Caquetá
 * Batallón Fluvial de I.M. Nº 100 Barrancón - Guaviare
 * Batallón de Asalto Fluvial I.M. Nº 2 Tres Esquinas - Caquetá

Riverine Task Group

 * Grupo de Tarea Fluvial

The Fluvial Tasks Group is a minor operative unit created on February 16, 2004 to participate in the Joint Task Force OMEGA which participates in operations part of the Plan Patriota.


 * UNIDAD DE TAREA FLUVIAL DEL CAQUETA. TRES ESQUINAS – CAQUETA
 * UNIDAD DE TAREA FLUVIAL DEL GUAVIARE. SAN JOSE DEL GUAVIARE
 * BATALLÓN DE ASALTO FLUVIAL DE IM N° 2. TRES ESQUINAS – CAQUETA

APCs

 * BTR-80 Caribe: 20 In Service 🇷🇺
 * Zibar Mk II: Under consideration 🇮🇱

Hovercraft

 * Griffon 2000TD hovercraft: 2 in service, 6 more in order

Trucks

 * Navistar 7000MV: 24 In Service 🇺🇸