The Azores Military Zone ( pt, Zona Militar dos Açores) or ZMA, headquartered in
Ponta Delgada, is the
Portuguese Army
The Portuguese Army ( pt, Exército Português) is the land component of the Armed Forces of Portugal and is also its largest branch. It is charged with the defence of Portugal, in co-operation with other branches of the Armed Forces. With its ...
's command responsible for the readying, the training and the operational command of the ground forces stationed in the archipelago of the
Azores.
Until 2006, the ZMA was considered a territorial command. Presently, it is an element of the operational component of the system of forces of the Portuguese Army.
The ZMA is commanded by a
brigadier-general
Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...
, administratively dependent on the Army's Land Forces Command, but operationally dependent on the joint Azores Operational Command.
History
The Military Zone of the Azores originates from the 10th Military Division, created in 1836, with headquarters in Angra do Heroismo. It has since been successively reorganized, adopting various denominations:
*1868 - 5th Military Division;
*1884 - Central Command of the Azores;
*1901 - Military Command of the Azores;
*1926 - Military Government of the Azores;
*1937 - Military Command of the Azores;
*1960 - Independent Territorial Command of the Azores.
In 1977, it adopted its present name.
Organisation
The Military Zone of the Azores is organised as:
* QGZMA - ZMA Headquarters, Ponta Delgada
* RG1 - 1st Garrison Regiment,
Angra do Heroísmo
Angra do Heroísmo (), or simply Angra, is a city and municipality on Terceira Island, Portugal, and one of the three capital cities of the Azores. Founded in 1478, Angra was historically the most important city in the Azores, as seat of the Roma ...
* RG2 - 2nd Garrison Regiment, Ponta Delgada
Each Garrison Regiment maintains one
infantry battalion. Additionally the 1st Garrison Regiment maintains a heavy
mortar company and the 2nd Garrison Regiment an
anti-aircraft
Anti-aircraft warfare, counter-air or air defence forces is the battlespace response to aerial warfare, defined by NATO as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action".AAP-6 It includes surface based, ...
battery. The two Garrison Regiments are supported by a Support Unit under the direct control of the 'Commander Azores Military Zone'.
The ZMA deploys the ZMA Forces (FZMA) as its operational force. The FZMA is made up of operational units fielded by the RG1 and RG2 and can be reinforced by additional elements deployed from units not belonging to the ZMA. Permanently, it includes an infantry battalion from the RG1 and an infantry battalion and an anti-aircraft battery from the RG2.
See also
*
Military history of Portugal
*
Portuguese Military Academy
References
External links
Portuguese Army Portal
{{coord missing, Portugal
Army units and formations of Portugal
Azores
Military districts of Portugal
Military of Portugal