Land component of Ecuadorian Armed Forces
Military unit
The Ecuadorian Army () is the land component of the Ecuadorian Armed Forces. Its 25,650 active soldiers are deployed in relation to its military doctrine. The contemporary Ecuadorian Army incorporates many jungle and special forces infantry units into its structure.
Mission.
To develop territorial power, in order to accomplish institutional objectives, which guarantee the integrity and sovereignty of the national territory and contribute to the security and development of the nation, as well as to accomplish all objectives indicated by military strategic planning.
Vision.
To be an institution of the highest level and credibility, systematically integrated, with professional military personnel, orientated on ethics and moral. Capable of adapting itself to new requirements which guarantee peace, security and the nations development.
History.
The Ecuadorian Armed Forces' history could be traced as early as 1531, when civil war ravaged through the Inca Empire. In a key battle near Riobamba, where Huascar's troops were met and defeated by Atahualpa's troops. This did not save Atahualpa and his army from total defeat, only a year later at the Battle of Cajamarca against the Spanish conquerors.
It would take almost 300 years, when Ecuador's struggle for emancipation from the Spanish colonial rule would reach its peak at the Battle of Pichincha. Following a victory, Ecuadorian troops would become part of the "Gran Colombian" coalition. These were years in which warfare dominated. First, the country was on the front line of Gran Colombia's efforts to free Peru from Spanish rule between 1822 and 1825; then, in 1828 and 1829, the Ecuadorian troops would be in the middle of an armed struggle between Peru and Gran Colombia for the location of their common border. After the naval victory and the blockade of Guayaquil by the Peruvian army the land campaign became favorable to the great Colombians, the forces of Gran Colombia, under the leadership of Marechal Sucre and the Venezuelan general Juan José Flores, were victorious in the battle of the Portete de Tarqui but this result did not define the final result of the war. Months later, Gran Colombia dissolved for good. The Treaty of 1829 fixed the border on the line that had divided the and the Viceroyalty of Peru before independence.
By 1859 the nation was on the brink of anarchy. This led to a civil war and the first war between Ecuador and Peru, the Ecuadorian–Peruvian War of 1857–1860. Backed by Guillermo Franco (an Ecuadorian General) the Peruvian army led by General Ramón Castilla arrived in Guayaquil and forced Ecuador to sign the Mapasingue Treaty which declared the allocation of Peruvian lands null and forced the suspension of the Ecuadorian-English business. Accusing Guillermo Franco of treason for signing a treaty with the Peruvians, Gabriel García Moreno, allied with former enemy General Juan José Flores, attacked Franco's forces. After several battles, García Moreno's forces were able to force Franco's troops to retreat back to Guayaquil, the site of the final battle.
Ecuadorian troops would face their greatest challenge and defeat, when in 1941, under controversial circumstances, another Ecuadorian–Peruvian War erupted. A much larger and better-equipped Peruvian force, quickly overwhelmed the Ecuadorian forces, driving them back from Zarumilla and invading the Ecuadorian province of El Oro. The government of Ecuador saw itself forced to accept Peru's territorial claims. Subsequently, Peruvian troops withdrew from the invaded El Oro province. However, occasional clashes kept occurring and flared into another outbreak of serious fighting in January 1981 called the Paquisha War, for the control of three watch posts set up by Ecuadorian troops inside a disputed border area. The conflict ceased with the Peruvian army controlling the disputed area, evicting the Ecuadorian troops.
In 1995, Ecuadorian troops would become part of the longest-running source of armed international conflict in the Western Hemisphere when both sides encountered again in the . The focus of all fighting would become a small outpost called by the Ecuadorians (and or by the Peruvians) until the signing of a ceasefire. In 1998 the Brasilia Act was signed, where Perú was granted the disputed territory (Tiwinza).
Structure.
Already back in 1989 the Army was with around 40.000 troops nearly four times the combined strength of the Navy and air force. In 2003, it was structured into four independent Army Divisions operating around 25 Infantry Battalions. These battalions were implemented in Brigades which were not numbered consecutively but carried odd numbers in the series 1 to 27. All Brigades had also a Special Forces and engineer, or at least a communications and Logistic Support Company. As of 2008, along with the Air Force and Navy, the Army (also referred to as Land Forces) is undergoing a reform in order to maximize is joint capability. This process involves the creation of U.S. like Operational Commands. There are 4 Operational Joint Commands to be geographically distributed.
Leadership.
The General of the Army is the highest rank of the Ecuadorian Army. Usually the Chief of Staff of the Army is also the General of the Army, and it is common for this general to hold the Chief of the Joint Staff position as well.
PATRIA I.
Since 2009 a restructuring within the Ecuadorian Armed Forces has been launched under the name of PATRIA I. It was to be completed by 2011 and improve military structure, equipment, and operations within the Ecuadorian territory. The Ecuadorian territory has been also newly divided into five Joint Task Force Zones or , four on mainland Ecuador, with the fifth being the maritime territory (including the Galapagos Islands). Changes concerning structure and troop deployment as of 2010 are not available due to the fact that the Ecuadorian Armed Forces keep such information restricted.
Specialties.
Speciality badges mirror the US practice.
Army aviation.
The aviation element of the Army was formed in 1954 and originally named . It was renamed in 1978. From 1981 onward the flying elements were concentrated into an aviation brigade, effectively transforming the army aviation into an operational brigade within the army structure. Honouring the army aviation's role in the Paquisha War in 1981, the unit was renamed on July 1, 1987. Finally, in 1996 the BAE gained the status of a full arm within the army recognising its vital role in the Cenepa War of 1995. At present the BAE No.15 consists of:
Organization.
As of November 2004, the Ecuadorian Land Forces Order of Battle was:
Equipment.
Historically, the Army depended on a wide variety of foreign suppliers for virtually all of its equipment needs. Only in the 1980s did it begin to develop a modest domestic arms industry as the Directorate of Army Industries manufactured rifle ammunition, uniforms, boots, and other consumable items. The Army's present day equipment is mostly of western origins.
References.
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