Namibian Marine Corps

Namibian Marine Corps
Allegiance Constitution of Namibia
Type Amphibious infantry
Part of Namibian Navy
Garrison/HQ Walvis Bay, Namibia
Commanders
Commander In Chief President Hage Geingob
Minister of Defence Penda ya Ndakolo
Namibian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Peter Vilho
Marine Corps Commandant Captain (naval) Appolos Haimbala

The Namibian Marines Corps is the Naval Infantry of the Republic of Namibia and is part of the Namibian Navy and the Namibian Defence Force.

History

The Marine Corps are a recent addition to the Namibian Defence Force due to the setting of the Namibian Navy which took some time. The first Marines were trained in Brazil in 2005. The Marine Commandant is subordinate to the Commander of the Namibian Navy. The current Marine Corps Commandant is Captain Appolos Haimbala.[1]

Training

Aspirant Marines are trained in Brazil or by a combination of Namibian Brazilian trained instructors as well as the Brazilian Military Advisory Team (BRAZMATT) based in Walvis Bay. The first course to complete before induction as a marine is the Marines Soldier Formation Course that lasts for five months, after completion induction into the marine corps takes place and the marine is promoted to the rank of able seaman. Marines specializing in infantry are required complete a six-month infantry specialization course.[2] The Marine Amphibious Commandos Special Operations Course is the toughest course in the corps and has a one-in-two failure rate and its course's last a year.[3][4]

Force Structure

Navy Chief of Naval Support indicated that the short-term goal is to have a force consisting of Marine Corps Infantry Company, Service Support Company, Provost Company and Brass Band. A Marine Battalion with own organic rapid Reaction, Operational Boats Unit and Operational Diving teams is envisioned.[5]

Marine Corps Infantry Company

Marine corps Infantry Company is the unit that is responsible for undertaking armed marine operations.The infantry company will over time be expanded until a full marine battalion is raised.

Composite units

Marines from the Operational Boat Unit on parade in downtown Windhoek on 20 March 2015 during Namibia's Independence celebrations

Light infantry unit responsible for protection of static, forward and naval bases[6]

The elite commandos responds to asymmetric threats and conducts Special Operations Forces activities[7]

Conducting small boat patrols

Clearance diving and hazardous material disposable.[8]

Deployments

Marines Corps infantry are deployed on Namibian Navy vessels and shore installations

Marine Corps equipment

Light Infantry weapons:

Machine guns:

Anti Tank weapons:

Ranks and Insignia

Marine Corps ranks are based on Commonwealth Navy ranks.

The highest rank in peace time a commissioned officer can attain in the Marine Corps is Captain. Career progression in the force for Marine officers is possible well beyond the rank of Navy Captain.A Marine officer can get posted outside the Marine unit and progress up the ranks to the singular appointment of chief of Defence Force. The highest rank an enlisted member can attain is Warrant Officer Class 1 but the highest appointment they can hold is the Namibian Defence Force Sergeant Major.

Flag Officer Ranks

Marine Commandant is always a Captain(Navy)

Senior Officers

Junior Officers

Non-commissioned officers/Other ranks

NCO Insignia
Warrant Officer Class 1 Warrant Officer Class 2 Chief Petty Officer Petty Officer Leading Seaman Able Seaman Seaman

Warrant Officers

Senior Rating's

Junior Rating's

The rank of seaman is practically non existent in the Corps as after successful training and induction into the corps all recruits are elevated to the rank of Able Seaman

Gallery

External video
Namibian Marines tackling an obstacle course
A video of the Marines performing tactical demonstration

References

  1. ↑ http://www.mod.gov.na/pages/news_marine.html
  2. ↑ http://www.namibiansun.com/local-news/ready-serve-and-protect.74870
  3. ↑ http://www.namibiansun.com/local-news/ready-serve-and-protect.74870
  4. ↑ https://www.newera.com.na/2014/12/15/54-namibian-marines-graduate/
  5. ↑ Lotto, S (December 2013). "Marine Corps Undertake Section Commander Course". NDF Journal' 50: 13. line feed character in |title= at position 31 (help)
  6. ↑ http://www.newera.com.na/2014/12/15/54-namibian-marines-graduate
  7. ↑ http://www.newera.com.na/2014/12/15/54-namibian-marines-graduate
  8. ↑ http://www.newera.com.na/2014/12/15/54-namibian-marines-graduate
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Sunday, May 01, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.