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Panama Ground Forces
Panama's Ground Forces, officially the Ground Forces for
Defense and National Security (Fuerzas Terrestres de Defensa y
Seguridad Nacional), constituted a critical element within the FDP
in the late 1980s. Their primary mission appeared to be to develop
the capability to defend the canal after the year 2000. However,
these forces had developed historically in response to other needs.
Before the 1931 coup d'état that removed President Florencio H.
Arosemena, the United States had frequently intervened militarily
to oversee elections and quell riots
(see United States Intervention and Strained Relations
, ch. 1). The United States'
decision not to use troops in 1931 to prevent the coup precipitated
a change in the Panamanian military. It was now clearly up to the
national police to guarantee internal security through the
formation of a troop contingent.
Proposals were made to create a militarily trained police
reserve unit of battalion strength, to respond quickly to serious
disorders, but political fears and budgetary limitations prevented
action on the proposals. Renewed efforts through the years met with
the same lack of success. The 1959 amphibious landing of Panamanian
dissidents demonstrated that the National Guard, which was still
primarily a police organization, lacked the training and the
capability to repulse even a small-scale attack. Plans were then
made to create a Public Order Company (Compañía de Orden Público)
that could serve as a field force as well as a police reserve.
A police detachment stationed at Panamá Viejo (Old Panama, a
suburb of Panama City) was used as a cadre in forming of the new
Public Order Company, which was to quell public disturbances and
rebellions; to assist on special occasions, such as sporting
events, parades, and ceremonies; to maintain order during natural
disasters; to accomplish rescues in the jungles and mountains and
at sea; to furnish raiding parties for police actions; and to act
by virtue of its existence as a deterrent to social disorder. Many
of the company's original personnel were sent for special training
to United States Army schools in the Canal Zone.
The Public Order Company was the precursor of the eight
infantry companies (compañías de infantería) that in the
late 1980s constituted the major portion of Panama's Ground Forces.
These companies had been established individually as necessary to
perform a wide variety of tasks in addition to those mentioned
above.
The eight infantry companies, sometimes referred to as combat
companies (compañías de combate) or rifle companies
(compañías de fusileros), were generally patterned on the
standard infantry rifle company of the United States Army, although
the Panamanians did not have the wide range of equipment available
to their United States counterparts. The infantry companies were
usually commanded by captains who had lieutenants as executive
officers and platoon leaders. Squads were led by sergeants.
Directly subordinate to the office of the commander
(comandancía), the infantry companies were deployed at the
discretion of the commander in chief. Although they had on occasion
been used as quick-reaction, antiriot forces, the establishment of
a special unit within the Police Forces (the First Public Order
Company--Doberman) had preempted their use for such purposes. The
strength of the infantry companies was estimated to average 200
personnel each. As of the mid-1980s, the FDP had sixteen V-150 and
twelve to thirteen V-300 armored personnel carriers.
Infantry units were traditionally garrisoned within a thirtykilometer radius of Panama City, with the exception of one rifle
company at David and two at Omar Torrijos Military Base (formerly
Río Hato). This deployment changed, however, with the creation of
new combat battalions. In the late 1980s, the First Infantry
Company, an airmobile company called the Tigres, was stationed at
Tinajita. The Second Infantry Company (Pumas) guarded General Omar
Torrijos International Airport (more commonly known as Tocumen
International Airport). The Third Infantry Company (Diablos Rojos)
was located in David, the capital of Chiriquí Province, near the
Costa Rican border. The Fourth Infantry Company (Urraca) was
stationed at the Central Headquarters in Panama City to protect the
General Staff and comandancía. The Fifth Military Police
Company (Victoriano Lorenzo) was headquartered at Fort Amador in
the canal area. The Sixth Infantry Company (Expedicionaria) and
Seventh Infantry company (Macho del Monte) were headquartered at
Omar Torrijos Military Base; these two companies, which controlled
some of the country's light armored vehicles, once in essence
represented Torrijos's private army. Finally, the Eighth Military
Police Company was stationed at Fort Espinar on the Atlantic side
of the isthmus.
Another component of the Ground Forces was the Cavalry Squadron
(Escuadrón de Caballería), stationed at Panamá Viejo. Although
primarily a ceremonial unit, it was called upon to perform crowdcontrol duties when situations warranted. Cavalrymen assumed
routine police duties when not employed in their mounted roles. The
Cavalry Squadron has a long and colorful history. A mounted unit in
the national police force dates back to the early days of the
republic, when a frontier atmosphere prevailed and mounted troopers
pursued cattle rustlers and other bandits. Through the years the
unit underwent various reorganizations and changes in deployment,
eventually leaving its rural posts for Panama City. Despite its
name, the mounted unit in the mid-1980s bore little organizational
resemblance to the old-time, battalion-size cavalry squadron. The
unit was actually similar to an infantry company in that the
squadron commander was a captain, his executive officer was a
lieutenant, and the platoons and squads were led by lieutenants and
sergeants, respectively.
The new mission assumed by the armed forces in the 1980s--
defense of the canal--prompted the creation of four new combat
battalions. The need for such battalions was premised on the belief
that defense of the canal until the year 2000 and thereafter
required the ability to defend not only the immediate environs of
the waterway but also the various approaches to it. Fearing that
conflicts elsewhere in Central America might spill over into
Panama, the nation wanted to protect its borders with Colombia and
Costa Rica. Of the four battalions envisioned (Battalion 2000,
Peace Battalion, Cemaco Battalion, and Pedro Prestán Battalion),
Battalion 2000 was by far the most fully developed by the mid1980s . It was headquartered at Fort Cimarrón and commanded by a
major who had a captain as his chief executive officer. The heart
of Battalion 2000's combat potential consisted of an airmobile
company, an airborne company, a mechanized company, and an infantry
company; the First Rifle Company at Tinajita provided fire support.
The Peace Battalion, commanded by a captain, was headquartered in
the town of Río Sereno near the Costa Rican border. In theory, the
Cemaco Battalion, also commanded by a captain, was to be
headquartered in Darién Province at La Palma near the Colombian
border. Nevertheless, as of late 1987 its status was uncertain. It
appeared to be only a company-sized element despite its designation
as a battalion, and its actual location had not been finalized.
When established, the Pedro Prestán Battalion was to be
headquartered in Corona. In late 1987, it had not yet taken shape,
however.
Also attached to the Ground Forces were a number of battalions
supplying support services: the Military Police Battalion (Batallón
de Policía Militar), composed of the Fifth and Eighth Military
Police Companies; the Military Health Battalion (Batallón de Salud
Militar); the Transport Battalion (Batallón de Transporte y
Mantenimiento); and the Military Engineering Battalion (Batallón de
Ingenería Militar). The Military Health Battalion was commanded by
a captain and the others by majors.
Data as of December 1987
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