Chilean Army

Chilean Army Ejército de Chile
Army of Chile
Active	2 December 1810 – present
Country	Chile
Type	Army
Size	45,000 (of which 12,700 conscripted)
Part of	Ministry of National Defense (Chile)
Motto(s)	Siempre vencedor y jamás vencido ("Always Victorious and Undefeated")
March	Los viejos estandartes (The Old Standards) by Guillermo Bascuñán Dockendorff (music) and Jorge Inostroza (words)
Anniversaries	19 September (Army Day)
Engagements	War of Arauco Chilean War of Independence Freedom Expedition of Perú War of the Confederation Chincha Islands War War of the Pacific 1891 Chilean Civil War Beagle conflict
Website	http://www.ejercito.cl/
Commanders
Current commander	Juan Miguel Fuente-Alba Poblete
Notable commanders	Bernardo O'Higgins, José Miguel Carrera, Manuel Bulnes, Manuel Baquedano, Juan Emilio Cheyre

The Chilean Army (Spanish language: Ejército de Chile ) is the land arm of the Military of Chile. This 45,000-person army (12,700 of which are conscripts) is organized into six divisions, a special operations brigade and an air brigade.

In recent years and after several major reequipment programs, the Chilean Army has become one of the most technologically advanced and professional armies of the Americas.

The Chilean Army is mostly supported by equipment from Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United States, Israel, France, and Spain.

History

War of Arauco

See also: War of Arauco

19th. Century

See also: Chilean War of Independence

The Army of the Kingdom of Chile was created on December, 2 of 1810 by order of the First National Meeting of Government of Chile. The army participated actively in the independence war, which, was fought against royalist troops in battles such as Yerbas Buenas, San Carlos, Quechereguas, Rancagua, Chacabuco and Maipú. During this period national figures such as José Miguel Carrera, Bernardo O'Higgins and Argentinian General José de San Martín commanded the army toward definitive victory over the Spanish forces ultimately achieving independence for the country. The Army's first commander-in-chief was José Miguel Carrera.
After obtaining independence from Spain, the newly formed Republic tried to reorganize its military structure by inaugurating the War Military academy of Chile, which was founded by General O'Higgins in 1817.

Guardia Nacional

Diego Portales set up a civil militia, the Guardia Nacional, to end one of the worst stages of militarism in Chile's history. The militia was created in 1825 but Portales developed this parallel army to compensate the army's might. The Chilean Conscription Law of 1900 marked the beginning of the end of the Guardia Nacional.

Prussian Influence

The Chilean Army admired the Prussian Army which proved successful in the Franco-Prussian War, and this led to the appointment in 1886 of Captain Emil Körner and 36 Prussian officers and NCOs to train officer cadets in the Chilean Military College. The Chilean Army soon gained such a good reputation that Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and El Salvador, between 1903 and 1913, requested Chilean officers to assist in the training their armies.

20th. Century

Milicia Republicana

The Guardia Republicana or Milicia Republicana was created after the fall of the Socialist Republic of Chile in order to prevent another Coup d'Etat. On 7 Mai 20,000 militiamen marched past President Arturo Alessandri in the streets of Santiago. In Las Mercedes' plot, 1933, Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Pedro Vignola called "to resist the Milicia Republicana by any means" and he was removed of the army She was dissolved in 1936.

US Influence

See also: U.S. intervention in Chile

The Army under Pinochet

Main article: 1973 Chilean coup d'état

1973, in a watershed event of the Cold War and the history of Chile, president Salvador Allende, was overthrown in a coup d’état by the Armed Forces.

Until May 2012, 76 agents of the military Government had been condemned for violations of human rights and 67 were convicted: 36 of the Army, 27 of Carabineros, 2 of the Air Force, one of the Navy and one of the PDI. Three condemned agents died and six agents get conditional sentences. The Chilean justice hold open 350 cases for "disappeared" persons, illegal detainees and torture during the dictatorial rule. In the cases are involved 700 armed forces personnel and civilians.

Neltume

In a massive operation (Operación de Contraguerrilla Machete) spearheaded by Chilean Army Para-Commandos, security forces involving some 2,000 troops., were deployed in the mountains of Neltume from June to November 1981, where they destroyed two Movimiento de Izquierda Revolucionaria (MIR) bases, seizing large caches of munitions and killing a number of guerrillas. In the various military operations carried out in the cities of Talcahuano, Concepcion, Los Angeles and Valdivia between 23 and 24 August 1984, the military and police forces deployed killed several MIR guerrillas and sympathizers.

2013 colonel (retired) Conrado García and captain (retired) Enrique Sandoval Arancibia are being processed in Valdivia for killing of Eugenio Monsalve Sandoval, Próspero Guzmán Soto and Patricio Calfuquir Henríquez. The lawyer solicited also to withdraw immunity of deputy Rosauro Martínez (member of Renovación Nacional). He was the commander of the Army unit.

The Chilean army today

As a result of tensions with neighbors during the conflictprone 1970s and early 1980s, the Chilean army refined existing strategic concepts and eventually formulated a plan to restructure the army’s forces. Though wars were avoided, the threats from the 1970s and 1980s encouraged the army to address more effectively its major defense disadvantage: lack of strategic depth. Thus in the early 1980s it looked to outward for a model of army organization that would best advance defensive capabilities by restructuring forces into smaller, more mobile units instead of traditional divisions. The resulting Plan Alcazar, envisions three military zones in Chile, with the bulk of forces concentrated in the north, and reinforces the center and south. The plan was implemented in stages, and the first began in 1994. Thus Alcazar, based on threat scenarios of the past, is one of the most durable “lessons” of the past. Even with the resolution of almost all remaining territorial disputes, the restructuring agenda remained on track and structurally reinforces a conflict-based mindset in the army.

Peacekeeping

See also: Chilean Joint Peacekeeping Operations Center

1964-2013 UNFICYP 1969 El Salvador-Honduras conflict (Misión OEA). 1978-2013 UNIFIL 1989-1992 ONUCA 1991-1992 UNIKOM 1992-1993 UNTAC 1992-1995 ONUSAL 1995-1999 MOMEP (Military Observers Mission in the Ecuador-Peru conflict) 1996-1998 UNSCOM 1997-2002 UNMIBH 2000-2002 UNTAET

2000-2003 UNMOVIC 2000-(2013) UNMIK 2001-(2013) UNFICYP 2002-2003 UNMISET 2003-2006 DPKO 2003-(2013) MONUC 2003-2004 UNAMA 2004-(2013) EUFOR - ALTHEA 2004-(2013) MIFH (Fuerza Multinacional Interina par Haití) 2004-(2013) MINUSTAH 2007-(2013) UNLOG (UN Logistics Base in Brindisi, Italy)

Organization

Main article: Chilean Army order of battle

Structure of the Chilean Army (click on image to enlarge)

Order Of Battle

Army Commandant Office in Santiago, where the main decisions of the Chilean Army are given

Army Ground Operations Command, headquartered in Concepcion, the HQ garrison of the Chacabuco 7th Reinforced Regiment

• I Army Division Regions II and III, with headquarters in Antofagasta.
• II Motorized Division Regions IV, V, VI, VII and Santiago Metropolitan Region with headquarters in Santiago de Chile. This is the largest of the six Army Divisions, serving five regions and is where the Army Headquarters is located alongside some of the military academies that the Army operates in the Santiago Metropolitan Region and nearby Valparaiso Province.
• III Mountain Division Serving Regions VIII, IX, XIV, and X with headquarters in Valdivia
• IV Army Division Region XI with headquarters in Coyhaique
• V Army Division Serving Region XII with headquarters in Punta Arenas, the division assigned to protect the Chilean Antarctic and the world's southernmost city.
• VI Army Division Serving Regions I and XV, with headquarters in Iquique.
• Army Aviation Brigade with headquarters in Rancagua. (Brigada de Aviación del Ejército) It is the Army's aviation forces, composed of 4 battalions and a logistics company.
• Special Operations Brigade "Lautaro" with headquarters in Peldehue (Brigada de Operaciones Especiales "Lautaro")It is the Army's special forces brigade, named after one of Chile's national heroes.

Army Institution and Doctrine Command (Comando Instituto y Doctrina)

• Army Schools Division (Division Escuelas)
• Army Education Division (Division de Educacion)
• Army Doctrine Division (Division de Doctrina)

Army Force Services Command (Comando Apoyo de la Fuerza)

• Army Logistics Division. with headquarters in Santiago (División Logística del Ejército)
• Army Engineering Command
• Army Communications Command
• Army Infrastructure Command
• Army Military Engineering and Industry Command

Army Independent Commands

• Army General Garrison Command in Santiago, serving the Santiago Metropolitan Region, reports directly to Army Headquarters
• Army Medical Command in Santiago
• Army Administration Command

Army General Staff Office (Estado Mayor General del Ejercito)

• Chilean Military Mission to Washington
• Directorate of Intelligence
• Directorate of Operations
• Finance Directorate
• Logistics Directorate

Military Equipment

The Chilean Army has acquired a number of new systems with the goal of having a completely modernized, and largely mechanized army by 2015. The military has also modifying the operational structure, creating armoured brigades throughout the entire territory, and a new special operations brigade while conserving the current divisional scheme.

Firearms

Weapon	Caliber	Origin	Notes
Pistols and Submachine Guns
CZ-75	9x19 mm NATO	Czechoslovakia	Pistol
FAMAE FN-750	9x19 mm NATO	Chile	Main pistol
HK MP5	9x19 mm NATO	Germany
FAMAE SAF	9x19 mm NATO	Chile	Standard issue submachine gun. Locally designed variation on the SG 540.
FAMAE SAF-200	9x19 mm NATO	Chile	Testing. Tactical variation of the regular SAF.
Assault Rifles, Battle Rifles and Carbines
SIG SG 540	5.56mm NATO	Chile	Built under license by FAMAE. Standard issue rifle.
SIG SG 542-1	7.62mm NATO	Chile	version of the SG 540. Manufactured in Chile by FAMAE. For use by mountain troops.
M4 carbine	5.56x45mm NATO	United States	Special Forces
SIG SG 543	5.56x45mm NATO	Chile
SIG SG 556-1	5.56x45mm NATO	Chile
Sniper Rifles
FAMAE FD-200	7.62 x 51 mm NATO	Chile	Locally produced version of the SG 540 modified as a sniper rifle
Barrett M82A1M	12.7 x 99 mm NATO	United States
SIG-Sauer SSG 3000	7.62mm NATO	Switzerland
Machine Guns
Heckler & Koch HK21	7.62x51 mm NATO	Germany	Magazine-fed light machine gun
FN MINIMI	5.56x45 mm NATO	Belgium	Light machine gun
MG3	7.62x51 mm NATO	Germany	General-purpose machine gun
M60E4	7.62x51 mm NATO	United States	General-purpose machine gun
FN M2HB-QCB	12.7 x 99 mm NATO	United States	Heavy Machine Gun
Grenade Launchers
M203	40x46 mm	United States	Designed to be attached to a rifle
Milkor MGL	40x53 mm	South Africa	Automatic grenade launcher
Mk 19 Mod 3	40x53 mm	United States	Automatic grenade launcher

Infantry Support Weapons

Quantity	Weapon	Origin	Notes
Anti-tank Guided Missile Launchers
2,700	Spike	Israel	MR/LR/ER missiles
Anti-tank Recoilless Rifles
-	Carl Gustaf M2 Recoilless Rifle	Sweden	84 mm
-	M40 recoilless rifle	United States	106 mm / some of them are mounted on Jeeps
-	M67 recoilless rifle	United States	90 mm
Anti-tank Rocket launchers
	AT4	Sweden	84 mm
	M72 LAW	United States	66 mm
300+	FIM-92 Stinger	United States	84 mm

Armour

Quantity	Type	Origin	Notes
Tanks
172	Leopard 2A4CHL	Germany	120 mm gun
100	Leopard 1V	Germany Netherlands	105 mm gun
Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs)
280	Marder 1A3	Germany
319	AIFV-B/YPR-765	Belgium Netherlands	Some equipped with missiles Spike LR
Armored personnel carrier (APCs)
427	M113A1/A2	United States
280	MOWAG Piranha	Chile	Built under license in Chile FAMAE, in various configurations.
Armored Wheeled Vehicles
200+	HMMWV	United States
180	Land Rover Defender
400+	AIL Storm	Israel
Self-propelled Artillery
8	LAR-160	Israel
24	M109A5	United States
24	M109 KAWEST	United States Switzerland

Aircraft

Quantity	Aircraft	Origin	Service versions
Fixed Wing
2	C-212 Aviocar	Spain	C-212-300 Aviocar
3	CN-235	Spain	CN-235 M-100
3	Cessna 208 Caravan	United States	Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
1	Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign	United States	Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign
Helicopters
4	Aerospatiale SA 330 Puma	France	Aerospatiale SA-330L Puma
12	Eurocopter AS532 Cougar	France	Eurocopter AS-532AL Mk-1 Cougar
4	Eurocopter AS350	France	Eurocopter AS-350B3 Ecureuil
1	Eurocopter AS355	France	Eurocopter AS-355N Ecureuil 2
9	McDonnell Douglas MD 500 Defender	United States	McDonnell Douglas MDD-369FF Defender
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
6 +	BlueBird SpyLite	Israel

Military ranks

An aspiring non-commissioned officer or officer of the Chilean Army undergoes studies at these two schools, both located in the Santiago Metropolitan Region:

• Bernardo O'Higgins Military School (for officers)
• Sgt. Daniel Rebolledo Sepulveda Sub-officers School (For non-commissioned personnel)

Upon graduation, he/she becomes a military officer (Ensign) or non-commissioned officer (Corporal), and the moves on to the branch of his or her choice, except for newly recruited soldiers, whose primary rank is Soldado Dragonante or Soldier Dragonite, and are immediately enrolled as part of the Army Sub-Officer School in Maipu.

Military ranks are similar to the Prussian and later German Armies, but also has the British/Prussian Ensign rank for officers. The Captain General rank, first used by Bernardo O'Higgins and later by Presidents Ramon Freire and Augusto Pinochet Ugarte, is now inactive.

The ranks used today in the Army are from the 2002 reorganization. It keeps the old enlisted ranks (Privates, Corporals, Sergeants and Sub-officers) but a new officer rank scheme is used, with 3 general officers instead of four general officers.

Enlisted ranks

All Privates and Student NCOs studying in the Army NCO School wear no rank insignia.

Rank	Subofficer Majors	Sub-officers		Classes
Full Dress uniform and Service Uniform (Office, Garrison, Outdoor/Mess Wear, Parade Dress)
Battle Duty Uniform (Center and South)	50px	50px	50px	50px	50px	50px	50px
Battle Duty Uniform (North)	50px	50px	50px	50px	50px	50px	50px
Grade	Warrant Officer Class 1	Warrant Officer Class 2	Staff Sergeant	Sergeant	Master Corporal	Corporal	Lance Corporal
Abbreviation	SOM	SOF	SG1	SG2	CB1	CB2	CBO
Name in Spanish	Suboficial Mayor	Suboficial	Sargento Primero	Sargento Segundo	Cabo Primero	Cabo Segundo	Cabo
NATO pay grade Code	OR-8	OR-7	OR-6	OR-5	OR-4	OR-3	OR-2

Rank	English translation	Years of service	US Army Equivalent rank/British Army Equivalent rank
Suboficial Mayor	Sub-officer Major	30 years	Command Sergeant Major/Warrant Officer Class 1
Suboficial	Sub-officer	27–29 years	Sergeant Major/ Warrant Officer Class 2
Sargento Primero	First Sergeant	24–26 years	Master Sergeant/Staff Sergeant
Sargento Segundo	Second Sergeant	19–23 years	Sergeant First Class/Sergeant
Cabo Primero	First Corporal	11–18 years	Staff Sergeant/Lance Sergeant, Master Corporal
Cabo Segundo	Second Corporal	4–10 years	Sergeant/Corporal
Cabo	Corporal	2–3 years after graduation	Corporal/Lance Corporal
Soldado	Soldier	1–5 years after recruitment, one year after graduation	Private First Class
Cabo Dragonante (student)	Corporal Dragonite (student)	2 years of study	Private
Soldado Dragonante/Alumno (student)	Soldier Dragonite (student)	1 year of study (save when recruited into the Army)	Private Basic/NCO Candidate

Officer ranks

Officer ranks are derived from those of the German and French Armies. While field grade and senior grade officer rank insignia show German influence, general officer rank insignia are similar to those used in the French Army but in red shoulder straps (similar to those used by the United States Army) with two to four golden stars.

Rank	General Officers			Superior Officers		Chief Officers		Subaltern/Junior Officers
Full dress uniform				50px	50px	50px
Duty dress uniform
Battle Duty Uniform (Center and South)
Battle Duty Uniform (North)
Grade	General of the Army	Divisional General	Brigade General	Brigadier	Colonel	Lieutenant Colonel	Major	Captain	Lieutenant	Sub-lieutenant	Ensign
Abbreviation	CJE	GDD	GDB	BGR	CRL	TCL	MAY	CAP	TTE	STE	ALF
NATO pay grade code	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1	OF-1	N/A

Rank	English translation	Years of service	US Army Equivalent rank/British Army Equivalent rank
Capitan General	Captain General	now inactive	General of the Army/Field Marshal/Marshal
General de Ejercito	General of the Army		General
General de Division	Divisional General		Lieutenant General
General de Brigada	Brigade General	31–32 years	Major General
Brigadier	Brigadier, Colonel Commandant		Brigadier General, Brigadier/ Colonel Commandant (honorary rank for senior Colonels)
Coronel	Colonel	26–30 years	Colonel
Teniente Coronel	Lieutenant Colonel	21–25 years	Lieutenant Colonel
Mayor	Major	16–20 years	Major
Capitan	Captain	10–15 years	Captain
Teniente	Lieutenant	5–9 years	First lieutenant/Lieutenant
Subteniente	Sublieutenant	2–4 years	Second lieutenant
Alferez	Ensign	1 year of service after graduation	Acting Lieutenant/3rd Lieutenant/Ensign
Subalferez	Junior Ensign, Sub-ensign (student)	3–4 years of study	Officer Cadet/Student Officer 1
Cadete	Cadet Officer (student)	1–2 years of study	Officer Candidate/Student Officer 2

Commanders-in-chief

Main article: List of commanders-in-chief of the Chilean Army

See also

• List of Chilean coups d'état

External links

• Official Chilean Army site (Spanish)
• "Ranks of Chilean Army site". Chilean Army. Archived from the original on 28 August 2010. http://classic-web.archive.org/web/20100828173143/http://www.ejercito.cl/nuestro_ejercito/grados.php. Retrieved 28 August 2010. 
• Latin American Light Weapons National Inventories