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 (refl ...

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 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 estab ...

History

The Marine Corps are a recent addition to the Namibian Defence Force due to the gradual establishment of the Namibian Navy. 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 ci ...

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

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 foug ...

unit responsible for protection of static, forward 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 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 o ...

, state arrival ceremonies, state dinners, parades, and other social events. Although it is a naval band in the Namibian Navy, 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 capi ...

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 ...

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 unde ...

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

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