The Namibian Marines Corps is the
Naval Infantry
Marines, or naval infantry, are typically a military force trained to operate in littoral zones in support of naval operations. Historically, tasks undertaken by marines have included helping maintain discipline and order aboard the ship (refle ...
of
Namibia
Namibia (, ), officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa. Its western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Zambia and Angola to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and ea ...
and is part of the
Namibian Navy
The Namibian Navy is the maritime warfare branch of the Namibian Defence Force.
History
Development of Namibia's navy has been slow, and the force was only formally established on 11 September 1998 as a maritime wing and in 2004 as a fully f ...
and the
Namibian Defence Force
The Namibian Defence Force (NDF) comprises the national military forces of Namibia. It was created when the country, then known as South West Africa, gained independence from South Africa in 1990. Chapter 15 of the Constitution of Namibia establ ...
.
History
The Marine Corps are a recent addition to the Namibian Defence Force due to the gradual establishment of the
Namibian Navy
The Namibian Navy is the maritime warfare branch of the Namibian Defence Force.
History
Development of Namibia's navy has been slow, and the force was only formally established on 11 September 1998 as a maritime wing and in 2004 as a fully f ...
. The first Marines were trained in
Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
in 2005. The Marine Commandant is subordinate to the Commander of the Namibian Navy. The current Marine Corps Commandant is Captain Appolos Haimbala.
Training
Aspirant Marines are trained in Namibia by a combination of Namibian instructors as well as the Brazilian Military Advisory Team (BRAZMATT) based in
Walvis Bay
Walvis Bay ( en, lit. Whale Bay; af, Walvisbaai; ger, Walfischbucht or Walfischbai) is a city in Namibia and the name of the bay on which it lies. It is the second largest city in Namibia and the largest coastal city in the country. The c ...
at the
Naval Training School
The Naval Training School is the main training institution of the Namibian Navy. It was created in 2009, and is located at the Wilbard Tashiya Nakada Military Base, Walvis Bay.
History
Recognizing the need to locally train its personnel as it was ...
. 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.
The Marine Amphibious Commandos Special Operations Course is the toughest course in the corps and has a one-in-two failure rate; its courses last a year.
Force Structure
During its infancy Navy Chief of Naval Support indicated that the short-term goal was to have a force consisting of Marine Corps Infantry Company, Service Support Company, Provost Company and Brass Band. However due operation requirements, a Marine Battalion with own organic rapid Reaction, Operational Boats Unit and Operational Diving teams is envisioned.
*Rapid Reaction Force
**Marine Corps Infantry Battalion
**Service Support Company
**Provost Company
**Brass Band
*Amphibious Special Operations Unit
*Operational Boats Unit
*Operational Diving Team
Rapid Reaction Force
![Namibian Marines manning a boat](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/07/Namibian_Marines_manning_a_boat.jpg)
A
Light infantry
Light infantry refers to certain types of lightly equipped infantry throughout history. They have a more mobile or fluid function than other types of infantry, such as heavy infantry or line infantry. Historically, light infantry often fought ...
unit responsible for protection of static,
forward
Forward is a relative direction, the opposite of backward.
Forward may also refer to:
People
* Forward (surname)
Sports
* Forward (association football)
* Forward (basketball), including:
** Point forward
** Power forward (basketball)
** Sm ...
and naval bases.
Marine Corps Infantry Battalion
The Marine Corps Infantry Battalion is the unit responsible for undertaking armed marine operations. A full marine battalion has been raised initially from a single company.
Service Support Company
Service support company provides direct and indirect sustainment services to the Marine Battalion as it conducts operations.
Support service offered by the sub-unit includes but not limited to:
*Quartermaster
*Finance
*Medical
*Transportation
Provost Company
The provost company is responsible for the policing of Navy service personnel.
Brass Band
The performs musical duties for military functions and any other apolitical functions for the general public. The band emulates the
United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps
The United States Marine Drum & Bugle Corps is the drum and bugle corps of the United States Marine Corps. The D&B is now the only full-time active duty drum corps in the United States Armed Forces. As one of many United States military bands, the ...
and the 5 bands of the
Royal Marines Band Service
The Royal Marines Band Service is the musical wing of the Royal Navy and an independent element of the Royal Marines. It currently consists of five bands plus a training wing – the Royal Marines School of Music at HMS ''Nelson'' – and its ...
. The Brass Band performs at many important events every year, ant is considered and integral
state funerals
A state funeral is a public funeral ceremony, observing the strict rules of protocol, held to honour people of national significance. State funerals usually include much pomp and ceremony as well as religious overtones and distinctive elements of ...
,
state arrival ceremonies,
state dinner
A state banquet is an official banquet hosted by the head of state in his or her official residence for another head of state, or sometimes head of government, and other guests. Usually as part of a state visit or diplomatic conference, it is ...
s, parades, and other social events. Although it is a naval band in the
Namibian Navy
The Namibian Navy is the maritime warfare branch of the Namibian Defence Force.
History
Development of Namibia's navy has been slow, and the force was only formally established on 11 September 1998 as a maritime wing and in 2004 as a fully f ...
, it is a separate unit from the navy's flagship ensemble, the Namibian Navy Band.
Amphibious Commandos Unit
Provides Amphibious
Special Operations
Special operations (S.O.) are military activities conducted, according to NATO, by "specially designated, organized, selected, trained, and equipped forces using unconventional techniques and modes of employment". Special operations may include ...
capability to the Navy.
Operational Boat Unit
Conducts small boat patrols particularity in the riverine area's of the
Zambezi Region
The Zambezi Region is one of the 14 regions of Namibia. It is located in the north-eastern part of the country. It is largely concurrent with the major Zambezi River where it gets its name from. The region has eight constituencies and its capit ...
's
Zambezi River
The Zambezi River (also spelled Zambeze and Zambesi) is the fourth-longest river in Africa, the longest east-flowing river in Africa and the largest flowing into the Indian Ocean from Africa. Its drainage basin covers , slightly less than hal ...
and
Chobe River
The Cuando River (or Kwando in the non-colonial spelling) is a river in south-central Africa flowing through Angola and Namibia's Caprivi Strip and into the Linyanti Swamp on the northern border of Botswana. Below the swamp, the river is called t ...
.
Operational Diving Unit
It is a
clearance diving
A clearance diver was originally a specialist naval diver who used explosives underwater to remove obstructions to make harbours and shipping channels safe to navigate, but the term "clearance diver" was later used to include other naval und ...
unit that specializes in the disposal of hazardous materials.
Its role varies depending on the situation, with duties ranging from counter terrorism to explosive ordnance disposal.
Deployments
Marines Corps infantry are deployed on Namibian Navy vessels and shore installations.
Marine Corps equipment
Rifles
Submachine-guns
Machine-guns
Grenades and Grenade Launchers
Anti-Tank Weapons
Vehicles
*
RG-32 Scout
The RG-32 Scout is a family of mine-resistant 4×4 light armoured vehicles made by BAE Systems Land Systems South Africa (formerly Land Systems OMC) in South Africa. It is based on the RG-31, which is already deployed worldwide with peace-keeping, ...
Ranks and Insignia
Marine Corps ranks are based on Commonwealth Navy ranks.
The highest peacetime rank a commissioned officer can attain in the Marine Corps is
Captain
Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
. Career progression in the force for Marine officers is possible well beyond the rank of Navy Captain. A Marine officer can be 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.
;Commissioned officers
;Non-commissioned officers/Other ranks
Gallery
File:Namibian Navy Members.jpg, Naval Officers and marines of the Namibian Navy
File:Namibian Marines manning a boat.jpg, Marines aboard a Navy Interceptor
File:Namibian Air Force Mil Mi-17.jpg, Air Force Mil Mi-17 Carrying out exercises with Namibian Marines
External Videos
References
{{Underwater diving, prodiv
Military of Namibia
Marines
Military units and formations established in 2016
2016 establishments in Namibia