Brazilian Army

The Brazilian Army (Portuguese: Exército Brasileiro) is the land arm of the Brazilian Armed Forces. The Brazilian Army has fought in several international conflicts, mostly in South America during the 19th century. In the 20th century, it fought on the Allied side in World War I and World War II.[3] Aligned with the Western Bloc, during the time of military dictatorship in Brazil from 1964 to 1985, it also had active participation in the Cold War, in Latin America and Southern Portuguese Africa,[4][5][6] as well as taking part in UN peacekeeping missions worldwide since the late 1950s.[7]

Brazilian Army
Exército Brasileiro
The Brazilian Army's emblem
Founded1822 (1822)
CountryBrazil
TypeArmy
RoleLand warfare
Size222,732 active (2018)[1]
1,980,000 reserve (2014)[2]
Part ofMinistry of Defence
Command HeadquartersBrasília, DF
Nickname(s)EB
PatronDuke of Caxias
Motto(s)Braço Forte, Mão Amiga
(English: "Strong arm, friendly hand!")
ColorsOlive Green     
MarchCanção do Exército
(English: "Army Song") Play 
Mascot(s)Jaguar
AnniversariesAugust 25 (Soldier's Day)
April 19 (Brazilian Army Day)
Equipment469 main battle tanks, 1,850 armored vehicles, 2,140 artillery pieces, 288 Self-propelled artillery, 220 SAM systems, 38 River Boats, ~21,000 Support vehicles, 90 helicopters
Engagements
(2010–2018)

U.N. missions

Commanders
Commander-in-Chief President Jair Bolsonaro
Minister of Defence Fernando Azevedo e Silva
Commander General Edson Leal Pujol
Notable
commanders
Insignia
Flag
Coat of arms

Domestically, besides having faced several rebellions throughout these two centuries, with support of local political and economic elites, it also ended the monarchy and imposed on the rest of society its political views and economic development projects during the periods that it ruled the country: 1889–94, 1930–50 (First Vargas period and Dutra years), and 1964–85.[8][9]

History

Origins (16th To 18th Centuries)
Main Articles: 1st French-Portuguese colonial war, 2nd French-Portuguese colonial war, Sugar War, French raids (1710–11), Napoleonic Wars in South America and Possession Conflicts for Banda Oriental

Although the Brazilian Army was created during the process of the independence of Brazil from Portugal, in 1822, with the units of the Portuguese Army in Brazil that have remained loyal to Prince Dom Pedro, its origins can date back to Land Forces used by Portuguese in the colonial wars against the French and Dutch, fought in 16th and 17th centuries.[10][11]

In the colonial period, King D. Manuel I ordered military expeditions with the purpose of protecting the Portuguese dominions in America, then newly discovered. As colonization advanced in Pernambuco and São Vicente, the native military authorities and bases of the colony's defensive organization began to be built to meet the ambitions of the French, English, and Dutch.

First major interventions were the expulsion of the French from Rio de Janeiro in the 16th century and the Maranhao in 1615. As internalization progressed through the broad territorial expansion movement in the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, forcing the organization of the defense of the newly conquered territory.

The war against the Dutch, in the 17th century, for the first time mobilized large numbers in the country, and gave rise to a sense of national defense, regardless of the influence of the crown. The first Battle of Guararapes (1648) marks the beginning of the organization of the army as a genuinely Brazilian force formed by local whites, led by André Vidal de Negreiros, Indians, led by Felipe Camarão, and blacks / mulattos, led by Henrique Dias. This date is celebrated as the anniversary of the Brazilian Army.[10][11]

At this time, following the model of organization of the Portuguese Army, implemented during the Portuguese Restoration War starting in 1640, the ground forces in Brazil adopted three lines of organization which were maintained until the 19th century, which includes:

  • 1st line - Paid troops
  • 2nd line - Auxiliary troops (called "militias" from the end of the 18th century)
  • 3rd line - Ordenanças

Throughout 18th century Brazil Colony had serious border problems mainly in the far south. At that time, there were frequent clashes between Luso-Brazilians and Hispano-Platinos, in addition, the land force faced the threat of rebellions of Indians and blacks.[10][11]

19th Century
Main Articles: Imperial Brazilian Army, Brazilian Independence War, Confederation of the Equator, Cisplatine War, Ragamuffin War, Cabanagem Rebellion, Balaiada Revolt, Platine War, Uruguayan War, Paraguayan War, Naval Revolts, Federalist Rebellion and War of Canudos
Official of the Imperial Army in 1866.
Brazilian soldier of the 1st Fatherland Volunteer Battalion.

During the Independence process, the Army was initially composed of Brazilians, Portuguese and foreign mercenaries. Trained in Guerrilla Warfare From then To current Day. Most of its commanders were mercenaries and Portuguese officers loyal to Dom Pedro.[12] Along 1822 and 1823, the Brazilian Army was able to defeat the Portuguese resistance, especially in the North of country and in Cisplatina, having also avoid a fragmentation of the then new Brazilian Empire after its independence war.[13]

After won the Independence War, the Army supported by the National Guard (a paramilitary militia created in 1831 by the big owners of slave and land, known as "Colonels"), destroyed any separatist tendencies of the early years, enforcing central authority of the empire, during the Regency period in the country, repressing across Brazil a host of popular movements for political autonomy or against slavery and the colonels' power.[14]

Brazilian Imperial Army in 1870.

The National Guard was a military force organized in Brazil in August 1831, during the regency period, and demobilized in September 1922. Its creation occurred by means of law of 18 of August 1831 that "Creates the National Guards and extinguishes the bodies of militias, city guards and ordinances. " According to the aforementioned law, in its article 1, "The National Guards are created to defend the Constitution, Liberty, Independence, and Integrity of the Empire, to maintain obedience and public tranquility, and to assist the Line Army in defense of borders and coasts ", based on art. 145 of the Constitution of 1824: "All Brazilians are obliged to take up arms to support the independence and integrity of the Empire, and defend it from its external or internal enemies." In September 1850, through Law No. 602, the National Guard was reorganized and retained its powers subordinated to the Minister of Justice and the provincial presidents.[15]

High command of the Brazilian Imperial Army in 1885.

During the 1850s and early 1860s, the Army along with Navy, entered in action against Argentinian and Uruguayan forces, which opposed to Brazilian empire's interests. The Brazilian success with such "Gun Diplomacy", eventually lead to a shock of interests with another country with similar aspirations, the Paraguay in December, 1864.
On May 1, 1865, Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina signed the Triple Alliance to defend themselves against aggression from Paraguay, which was ruled by the dictator Francisco López. López troops, after invading Brazilian territory through the state of Mato Grosso and the north of Argentina, were heading for the South of Brazil and North of Uruguay. Many slaves had been incorporated into the Brazilian forces to face the increasingly serious situation. As a result of their solid performance during the conflict, the Armed Forces developed a strong sense against slavery. After five years of a terrible warfare (the largest in South American history), the Alliance led by Brazil defeated Lopez.[16][17]

During this war, one of the biggest in history and the largest one occurred in South America, the Brazilian Imperial Army mobilized 200,000 men for the war, divided into the following categories: 18,000 Army personnel who were in Uruguay in 1864; 2,047 in the province of Mato Grosso; 56,000 Fatherland Volunteers; 62,000 National Guardsmen; 11,900 ex-slaves; and an additional 22,000 National Guardsmen who remained in Brazil to defend their homeland.[18]

In November 1889, after a long attrition with the monarchical regime deepened by the abolition of slavery, the army led a coup d'état, that resulted in the end of the empire and the founding of a republic. The implementation of the 1st Brazilian military dictatorship (that ended only in 1894), was followed by a severe economic crisis that deepened into an institutional one with Congress and the navy, which degenerates into a restricted civil war at southern region.[19]

20th Century
Main Articles: Contestado War, Brazil in World War I, 1920s Lieutenants Revolts, Liberal Revolt of 1930, Constitutionalist Revolt, Brazil in World War II, Suez UN Peace Mission, Military Dictatorship (1964–85), Operation Powerpack and Araguaia guerrilla
Coastal artillery officers in 1900, blue jackets and red trousers in the uniform of the Army of the Republic until 1912.

Between 1893 and 1927, in the first Republican Period, the Army had to deal with various movements: some were derived from Navy and Army corps who were unsatisfied with the regime and clamoring for democratic changes, while others had popular origins without conventional political intentions guided by messianic leaders, like in Canudos and Contestado Wars.[20]

The Canudos War, which took place in the northeastern sertão and covered several cities and many sertanejos in Bahia led by Antônio Conselheiro, the Contestado War that developed by dispute of territories of currency of the states of Paraná and Santa Catarina, led by Jose Maria

Brazilian Army officers in World War I, 1918.

These revolts were serious threats to the stability of the new republican nascent regime and was related to the discontent of the population of the regions more distant of the sertão northeastern and regions of recent colonization like Paraná and West of Santa Catarina with the Republic, since this population was predominantly Catholic and did not accept a Republic that appeared totally dominated by Masonic ideals like the separation of Church of the State.

Brazilian Army officers in Revolution of 1930.

After years of fighting and many deaths both on the side of the federal government soldiers and the rebels, these movements were defeated and the Republic consolidated.[20]

During World War I the Brazilian government sent three small military groups to Europe soon after declaring war upon Central Powers in October 1917. The first two units were from the army; one consisted of medical staff and the other of a sergeants-officers group, and both were attached to the French Army in the Western Front in 1918.[21][22]

From October 1930 to 1945 the army and elites linked to it, by the second time took the control over the country, having the landowner and opposition political leader, Getúlio Vargas, ahead of movement. In this period, the Army defeated the Constitutionalist Revolt in 1932 and two separate coup d'état attempts: by Communists in November 1935 and by Fascists in May 1938. The Army also helped to formalize the dictatorship in 1937.[23][24][25]

Soldiers of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force in Italy during World War II.

In August 1942, after German and Italian submarines sank Brazilian merchant ships, popular mobilization forced the Brazilian government to declare war on Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany. In July 1944, after almost two years of public pressure and negotiations with US authorities, an expeditionary force was sent to join the Allied forces in the Italian campaign. The army's contribution was composed of a full Infantry Division (about 25,000 men, replacements included), commanded by Major-General (later Marshal) João Baptista Mascarenhas de Morais, which in Italy was attached to the US IV Corps at the US Fifth Army, into the 15th Allied Army Group.[26]

Brazilian Artillery on Gothic Line, World War II, Sep. 1944.

With the defeat of totalitarian regimes in World War II, Vargas is removed by the head of the army, General Dutra, who in 1946 won the Election dispute against Air Marshall, Eduardo Gomes. After the Vargas suicide (who succeeded Dutra in 1950), due to an institutional crisis, army sectors led by Marshal Lott, ensured the inauguration of Juscelino Kubitschek's Term, elected in 1955.[27]

With the resignation of Jânio Quadros, who succeeded Kubitschek, a new institutional crisis opens up, exacerbated by the Cold War context, and in late March-early April 1964, the Brazilian Army (then led by General Humberto de Alencar Castelo Branco) seized power through its third coup d'état, inaugurating another dictatorial period, which lasted 21 years.[28]
This coup was the first of a series of coups d'état in South America that replaced democratically elected governments with military regimes. These dictatorships dominated South America until the 1980s. In this period the Brazilian Army employed harsh means to suppress militant dissident groups: changing the law, restricting political rights, after harassing and pursuing dissidents; and militarily, with support of police forces and militias, proceeding with methods of counter-guerrilla and counter-insurgency warfare to defeat the guerrilla movements that tried to combat the regime by force. The urban guerrillas were active in Brazil between 1968 and 1971 while in the rural areas the 2 main movements subdued by the Army were respectively, one in the region where are today the Caparaó National Park (1967) and the other one in the region of Araguaya River (1972–74).[29][30]

Internationally, in 1965 the Brazilian Army joined forces with US Marines intervening in the Dominican Republic, in Operation Powerpack. During the 1970s strengthened interchange and cooperative ties with armies from other South American countries giving and receiving advisement about counter-guerrilla and counter-insurgency methods, as for example in the Operation Condor, a procedural coordination to find, capture and eliminate political dissidents in mainland. From Geisel period, the third Brazilian dictatorship sought greater independence in its foreign policy, leaving of automatically align with the US interests, especially in relation to sub-Saharan Africa and Middle East.[31][32][33][34]

In the mid 1970s, despite the dissent annulled (by elimination, detention or exile), the leftist guerrillas defeated and the legal opposition tamed, repression was not reduced. This added to the vices and the wear and tear of years of dictatorial power, plus the effects of the then oil/energy crisis and the Latin American default, during the late 1970s and early 1980s, led to increasing social pressures for democracy, which slowly but steadily forced the army to return to its professional activities.[35][36]

21st century
Haitian civilians receive assistance in a camp set up by the Brazilian Army in 2010 Haiti earthquake.
Main Articles: East Timor UN Peace Mission, UN Angola 3rd Verification Mission and UN Haiti Stabilization Mission
Paratroopers during patrols in action Rio de Janeiro Security Crisis

Since the late 1950s it has taken part in some United Nations peacekeeping missions as for example: in Suez 1956–67, East Timor 1999–2004, Angola 1995–1997 and Haiti since 2004, being the latest, the most recent outside intervention in that nation, as well as the longest length operation in the history of Brazilian military outside the country.

In the destructive earthquake that occurred in Haiti on January 12, 2010, eighteen Brazilian soldiers died. The Brazilian Army deployed about 2,150 troops to Haiti to help in the country's reconstruction.

The Brazilian Army is trying to renew its equipment and making a redistribution of its barracks in all the Brazilian Regions, prioritizing the Amazon. After the promulgation of Brazilian National Defense Strategy, in December 2008, the Brazilian Government appears to be interested in the Armed Forces modernization.

In 2010, during the Rio de Janeiro Security Crisis, the Brazilian Army sent 800 paratroopers to combat drug trafficking in Rio de Janeiro. Following the invasion, approximately 2,000 Army soldiers were sent to occupy the Complexo do Alemão.

A Brazilian U.N. peacekeeper walks with Haitian children during a patrol in Cité Soleil.
Brazilian Army peacekeeping soldier in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

In 2014, the 2,050 Army troops stormed into a Rio de Janeiro slum complex, Maré, with armoured personnel carriers and helicopters in a bid to improve security two months before the start of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.[37] Due to the 2014 FIFA World Cup the Brazilian Army offers more than 50,000 men for security at the event, is the largest military manpower employed in the security of a FIFA World Cup.[38]

MONUSCO Force Commander Gen. Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz during an observation mission on UN Intervention Brigade as FARDC conduct an attack on M23 rebel positions in Kanyaruchinya near Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo - July 15, 2013

In February 2016, the Brazilian federal government had mobilized 60% of the Armed Forces, or about 220,000 soldiers (including more than 140,000 troops of the Brazilian Army), to go "house to house" in the battle against Zika virus outbreak.[39]

In July 2016, Brazilian Army provided more than 21,000 soldiers, 28 army helicopters and 70 armoured vehicles to ensure the security of the Rio de Janeiro city during 2016 Summer Olympics. Another 20,000 soldiers be on duty in the five cities that will co-host the Rio 2016 Olympic football tournament: Belo Horizonte, Brasília, Manaus, Salvador and São Paulo.[40] 14,800 Army soldiers were also deployed in Rio de Janeiro during the games.[41]

In February 2017, during the Espírito Santo violence outbreak was once again used to contain problems of urban violence that occurred after a strike by the military police of that state. Employing an effective that reached the total of 3000 soldiers.[42]

The Brazilian Army is creating an Expeditionary Force (F EXPD) to provide permanent support for the country's participation in foreign missions. Armed Forces officials expect the F EXPD to respond rapidly, by itself or in cooperation with security forces from partner nations, to safeguard national interests and perform a wide spectrum of operations such as humanitarian actions and peacekeeping missions. It will comply with provisions of Chapter 1 of the White Paper on National Defense, which was published in 2012 and covers the functions and actions of the country's defense forces. With the goal of deploying the force by 2022.[43]

The Expeditionary Force (F EXPD) is initially expected to be made up of one Battalion, with 1,000 Soldiers, in its first year of operation in 2022. In the last phase, scheduled for 2030, it's expected to evolve into a brigade, with 3,000 troops that would add increased capacities, such as Infantry, fire support, and logistics. The F EXPD will also utilize armored vehicles to increase its operational capacity and performance possibilities.[44]

At the beginning of 2018 the Brazilian Army played a fundamental role during the Federal Intervention in the State of Rio de Janeiro, which faced a serious economic and security crisis. General Walter Souza Braga Neto, commander of the Eastern Military Command, which has its headquarters located in the city of Rio de Janeiro, took over the military and public security forces of the state in the name of the Army. He was one of those responsible for security at the 2016 Summer Olympics, based in the same city. The general assumed command of the Military Police of Rio de Janeiro State, the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro State, and the Military Firefighters Corps and responded directly to the President of the Republic in his duty as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces by the Constitution.[45]

Timeline of notable battles
Main article: List of wars involving Brazil

Colonial era:

The two Battles of Guararapes (1648–1649) are considered an important milestone as origin for a Brazilian Army.

Empire:

  • Brazilian Independence War;
  • Cisplatine War;
    • Battle of Ituzaingó – Pitched battle between imperial (Brazilian) and republican (Argentine) forces near the Santa Maria River.
  • Revolts of Regency period;
    • Battle of Detrás-da-Serra (BackMountain) – August 1840. Decisive battle during Balaiada revolt.
    • Battle of Porongos – November 1844. Last battle of the Ragamuffin War.
  • Platine War;
  • Uruguayan War;
Brazilian troops during Siege of Paysandu, 1864
The 26th Fatherland Volunteer Corps in anti-guerrilla operations in Paraguayan territory, 1866.
Brazilian infantry moving on battlefield in Paraguay, 1869
  • Paraguayan War;
    • Battle of Yatay – Was the first major land battle of the Paraguayan war, and most important of the war's second phase (August 17, 1865).
    • Battle of Estero Bellaco – This battle took place on 2 May 1866, in which the Allied army repulsed a surprise Paraguayan attack.
    • Battle of Tuyutí – The largest and bloodiest battle in South American history.
    • Battle of Tatayibá – The battle was a cavalry engagement between a Paraguayan force led by General Bernardino Caballero and a Brazilian force led by the Duke of Caxias.
    • Battle of Ytororó – Brazilian forces advanced against Paraguayan positions for control of the river bridge Ytororó.
    • Battle of Avay – Confrontation between Brazilian and Paraguayan forces at Avay stream.
    • Battle of Lomas Valentinas – The battle was fought in the Central Department of Paraguay on December 21–27, 1868. The Paraguayan Army, led personally by President Francisco Solano Lopez, were decisively defeated, though he managed to escape.
    • Battle of Piribebuy – Confrontation on August 12, 1869, in the Paraguayan town of Piribebuy, which was then serving as a temporary capital of the Paraguayan government. The battle lasted 5 hours, with the Brazilian troops, who had an overwhelming numerical advantage, capturing the town.
    • Battle of Acosta Ñu – Brazilian troops against Paraguayan forces in Eusebio Ayala, Paraguay
    • Battle of Cerro Corá – The Brazilian Army's final assault against Paraguayan forces on the banks of the Aquidabán River, Paraguay.

Republic:

Brazilian Army soldiers during the siege of Bage in Federalist war, 1893.
Brazilian Army battery during the Battle of Guanabara Bay, 1894.
  • Second Naval Revolt
    • Battle of Guanabara Bay – The army resists bombardment by rebel warships and defeated the rebels on the ground.
    • Battle of Armação/Niterói – Requiring a foothold on land, the rebels attempted to occupy the city of Niterói, but the army repelled the attack, 9 Feb. 1894.
  • Federalist Revolution
    • The Siege of Lapa – Loyalist troops withstand a siege done by rebel forces for 26 days, until the arrival of reinforcements, at Curitiba. January/February 1894
    • Battle of Carovi – Loyalist troops defeated the rebels, one day after killing the rebel leader, August 10–11, 1895
  • Canudos War;
The 40th Infantry Battalion and the attrition warfare during the hard to campaign in Canudos, 1897.
The 24th Infantry Battalion in the combat zone in Canudos, 1897.
Brazilian troops garrisoning locksmith during attack of Messianic rebels in Três Barras, Santa Catarina in Contestado War, 1915
Brazilian Army soldiers at the front line in the Contestado War, 1914
    • 1st Battle at Canudos (3rd Expedition) – Mar. 2–4 1897. Messianic guerrillas defeated the first Expedition carried out by the Army, killing its commander.
    • Last Battle of Fazenda Velha (Old Farm) – Army's bayonet charge, covered by machine gun fire, decisively defeats the Messianic guerrillas, Sep. 7 1897.
    • Battle of Estrada de várzea da Ema (Emu's floodplain Road) – The Army surrounded the city of Canudos, making the situation untenable for rebels' remaining forces (from then completely encircled), Sep. 23, 1897.
  • Contestado War;
    • Battle of Taquaruçu - August 1914; Infantry, cavalry and artillery Army invests against the fortified rebel stronghold that is completely destroyed.
    • Battle of the Caçador river - April 1915; Army infantry advances the banks of the Caçador river under strong rebel resistance in the hills, combat comes to an end with a large number of dead on both sides and the rebel retreat.
    • Battle of Santo Antônio - January 1915; Rebellious city attacked and occupied by the Army expedition, all defenders were killed or captured.
    • Battle of Santa Maria – February/April 1915; Messianic guerrillas defeated by Army troops in the last major confrontation of Contestado War
  • World War I;
  • Hundred Days Offensive – Final series of battles on the Western Front. The Brazilian military in France in 1918 participated within allied units.
  • 1920s Lieutenants Revolts;
    • Battle of São Paulo – July 1924; After about three weeks of fighting, rebel troops manage to escape the siege done by loyalist troops, in a pattern that would be repeated throughout the country until February 1927.
    • Battle of Óbidos – The Army recovers a fortification taken by mutineers. There were many rebel casualties, 25/August. 1924.
  • Constitutionalist Revolt;
    • Battle of Mantiqueira Tunnel – July/September 1932; in the decisive ground combat of that conflict, National Army troops defeat the insurgent forces of São Paulo State.
Brazilian Expeditionary Force liberating the Italian city of Massarosa, end of September, 1944.
Brazilian soldiers in the difficult Battle of Montese, Italy, 1945.
  • World War II;
    • Gothic Line, Italian Campaign penultimate phase (one of the longest in World War II):
      • Battle of Monte Castello – The longest battle (about 3 months) in which the Brazilian Infantry Division sent to the Italian campaign during World War II were involved.
      • Battle of Castelnuovo – 1945 March, 5–6.
Generals Otto Fretter-Pico (Wehrmacht) and Mario Carloni (Italian Fascist Army) surrender to Brazilian troops during the Battle of Collecchio in April 1945.
Brazilian Army troops in Battle of Monte Castello, Italy, 1944-45
    • Final Allied Offensive in Italy: Was the Allied final attack which started on 6 April 1945 and ended on 2 May with the surrender of German forces in Italy.
      • Battle of Montese – The battle which had the bloodiest day of combat for the Brazilian army in World War II (1945 April, 14–16).
      • Battle of Collecchio-Fornovo – The last battle of the Allied spring offensive in Italy involving large military units. Brazilian troops captured two German divisions (Wehrmacht) and a division of the Italian Fascist Army, the only time before the end of the war in Italy where a German division was captured (April 26–29, 1945).
  • Cold War;
    • Battle of Santo Domingo – May/Aug. 1965. Part of epochal Brazilian military support to U.S. intervention at Dominican Civil War.
    • Araguaia Guerrilla:
      • Operação Papagaio (Parrot Operation) – April/October 1972; Making conventional use of regular troops, the Army's first campaign against rural leftist guerrillas, which fought against the then military dictatorship. Inconclusive outcome.
      • Marajoara Operation – Oct. 1973/Oct. 1974 – Eradication of rural guerrilla warfare in the Araguaia region, carried out by Army small units, specialized in contra-insurgency.

Historical uniforms of the Brazilian Army
  • Native-Brazilian soldiers (Ordenanças) in the service of the Portuguese Colonial Army in 1700.
  • Brazilian Officer of the Portuguese Colonial Army in 1756, period of the Guarani War.
  • Soldiers of the European Portuguese regiments of the garrison of Rio de Janeiro in 1786.
  • Brazilian infantry of the Colonial Army during occupation of the city of Cayenne in French Guiana in 1816.
  • Brazilian imperial black soldier (ex-slave) of the Regular Forces in the Independence Period, 1822.
  • Guard (soldier) and captain (officer) of the Imperial Guard of Honor in 1825.
  • Soldiers of infantry, foreign caçadores (light infantry), foreign grenadiers and caçadores of the Brazilian Imperial Army in the period of the Cisplatine War, 1825.
  • Uniform of the National Guard and volunteers of the Army in Belém during the Cabanagem, 1835.
  • Infantry Officers (left) and cavalry officer (right) in the Platine War period, 1851.
  • Uniform of officers and soldiers of the Regiments of Cavalry in 1852.
  • Infantry uniform of the Brazilian Imperial Army in 1852.
  • From left to right: cavalry hunter, officer colonel and infantry hunters (Army and Auxiliary Forces) in Paraguayan War, 1865–1870.
  • Uniform of officer and soldier of the regular troops in Paraguayan War, 1866
  • Uniform of officer and soldier of the Fatherland Volunteer Corps in Paraguayan War, 1866.
  • Imperial Army at the end of the Paraguayan War in 1870.
  • Officers and Army Soldiers at the end of the Empire in 1884 years.
  • Officers, soldiers and auxiliary forces in the early years of the Republic, 1896.
  • Cuirassier of the Brazilian Army in 1897.
  • Brazilian Army troops (officers and soldiers) in the expedition against Canudos in 1897
  • Brazilian Army infantry in 1903.
  • Brazilian Army field uniform from 1908.
  • Regiment of hunters in 1910, soldiers use this uniform in the Contestado Campaign, 1912.
  • Light Infantry of the Army in the period of the Contestado Campaign, 1912.
  • Brazilian cavalry in 1914.
  • Uniform of the Army in 1917.
  • Brazilian Army light infantry in 1920.
  • Cavalry and Tank Regiment in 1921.
  • Personnel of the Brazilian Army of several units in 1925.
  • Uniforms of Brazilian troops between 1942 and 1944

Notable figures
  • Lieutenant Maria Quitéria national heroine who fought in the War of Independence, patron of the Corps of Support Staff Officers of the Brazilian Army.
  • Patron of the Brazilian Army, nicknamed "the Peacemaker" and "Iron Duke", Luís Alves de Lima e Silva, Duke of Caxias
  • Marshal Osório patron of the Brazilian Army cavalry, Paraguayan War hero.
  • Gen. Antônio de Sampaio considered one of the largest independent military in the history of Brazil, he was killed in the Paraguayan War, patron the Brazilian infantry.
  • Marshal Mallet, patron of the Brazilian Army artillery.
  • LtCol. Villagran Cabrita, patron of the Brazilian Army military engineering.
  • Marshal Bittencourt, patron of the Brazilian Army intendancy service.
  • Marshal Andrade Neves, Baron of Triumph.
  • Colonel Gomes Carneiro hero of the Federalist War, killed in action during the siege of the Lapa, was promoted to general posthumously for acts of courage.
  • Marshal Cândido Rondon explorer of the Amazon region. Patron of the communications units of the Brazilian Army.
  • Captain Ricardo Kirk, first Brazilian military pilot and Patron of the Brazilian Army Aviation. He was killed in action during the Contestado War.
  • Marshal José Pessoa Brazilian military commander who was part of the military mission of the Army in France in the First World War
  • General Mascarenhas de Moraes, commander of the Brazilian Expeditionary Forces in World War II
  • Major Elza Medeiros was an officer and deployed to Italy during World War II as a nurse in the Brazilian Expeditionary Force.
  • Sergeant Max Wolff Filho, a member of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force in World War II. First Sergeant Max Wolff died from German machine-gun fire in Riva de Biscaia, near Montese, during a reconnaissance patrol. A few days before his death, Wolff was awarded the Bronze Star Medal by General Lucian Truscott.

Today

Personnel

The Brazilian Army had a recorded personnel strength of 219,585 active personnel in 2014.[1] Another estimate by the IISS in 2014 put that figure at 190,000 active personnel, with 70,000 of those being conscripts.[2] In addition there were approximately 1,340,000 reserve personnel in 2014.[2] This figure was down from 1,800,000 reserve personnel in 2008.[46] In principle, the Brazilian Constitution designates the 400,000-strong Brazilian Military Police as a reserve force of the Army, although in practice they remain separate entities.

As of 2018 the size of the active component of the Brazilian Army was approximately 235,000 personnel in active service.[47]

Conscription
Young men presenting to the Brazilian Army for recruitment, in 2014.

According to Article 143 of the 1988 Brazilian Constitution, military service is mandatory for men, but conscientious objection is allowed. Women and clergymen are exempt from compulsory military service. At the year that they complete age eighteen, men are required to register for the draft and are expected to serve when they reach age nineteen. About 95 percent of those registering receive deferments. A growing number of recruits are volunteers, accounting for about two-thirds of the total. Those who serve generally spend one year of regular enlistment at an army garrison near their home. Some are allowed nine-month service terms but are expected to complete high school at the same time. These are called "Tiros de Guerra" or "shooting schools", which are for high school boys in medium-sized interior towns, run by army senior NCO, first sergeants or sublieutenants, and rarely a second lieutenant. In Brazilian Armed Forces, first sergeants may be promoted to the officers rank, as second lieutenant, first lieutenant and captain, becoming part of the Auxiliary Officers Corps. The army is the only service with a large number of conscripts; the navy and air force have very few.

The conscript system is primarily a means of providing basic military training to a sizable group of young men who then return to civilian life and are retained on the reserve rolls until age forty-five. The army recognizes that it provides a public service by teaching large numbers of conscripts basic skills that can be valuable to the overall economy when the young men return to civilian life.

Officer Recruitment
Field basic period of training sergeants.

Because the only entry into the regular officer corps is the Academia Militar das Agulhas Negras – Military Academy of the Black Needles (AMAN), its records provide an accurate picture of the officer corps. In the decades following World War II, cadets from middle-class families increased, while those from upper-class and unskilled lower-class families declined. The total number of applicants also declined as a result of economic development diversification, which gave high school graduates more attractive options than entering the military. Increasingly, AMAN cadets came from among the graduates of the army-supported Military Schools, which sons of military personnel attended tuition free. Many of these students were sons of NCOs whose own origins were not middle class, so a form of intra-institutional, upward mobility existed.

The trend in the 1960s to recruit from civilian sources has abated. The mental, health, and physical aptitude tests excluded large numbers of civilian school graduates: in 1977 of 1,145 civilians attempting the tests, only thirty-four, or 3 percent, were admitted. In 1985 only 174, or 11 percent, of the AMAN's 1,555 cadets were graduates of civilian schools; the rest were from the army's Military School system, the Cadet Preparatory School (Escola Preparatória de Cadetes—EPC), or air force or navy secondary schools. In the early 1990s, AMAN cadets were drawn exclusively from those who had completed the EPC. By the mid-1990s, the AMAN's cadet population was about 3,000.

In the twentieth century, the officer corps has been composed predominantly of men from the Southeast and South of Brazil, where military units and greater educational opportunities have been concentrated. In 1901–02 the Northeast contributed 38 percent of students at the army's preparatory school in Realengo, whereas in 1982 it provided only 13 percent to the preparatory school in Campinas. In the same years, the Southeast supplied 40.4 percent and 77 percent, while the South gave 8.6 percent and 6.3 percent. Although São Paulo, according to Alfred Stepan and other observers, has not been noted for sending its young men into the officer corps, its contribution increased from 4.3 percent of students in 1901–02 to 33.5 percent in 1982. Regional origins of cadets at the AMAN were fairly consistent in the 1964–85 period. By far the largest contingent came from the state and city of Rio de Janeiro.

Preparatory School of the Brazilian Army (Escola Preparatória de Cadetes do Exército).
Brazilian soldier in training.

Although social theorists might be pleased with indications that the army is serving as a vehicle for social mobility, army leaders are concerned. Officers have remarked on the trend toward lower-class recruitment in the Training Center for Reserve Officers (Centro de Preparação de Oficiais da Reserva—CPOR) and the problems associated with such officers. In a 1986 interview, the former minister of army, General Leônidas Pires Gonçalves, observed that he did not want officers who would give only five or ten years to the army; he wanted individuals with a military vocation, who would stay for a full thirty-plus-year career. Many officers have expressed concern that those seeking to use the army to improve their status are not sufficiently dedicated to the institution. Indeed, some officers seek the earliest possible retirement in order to get a second job (second salary) to make ends meet.

Indigenous people in the Army
Indigenous soldiers of a Special Border Platoon

The genesis of the current Army in the fight against the foreign invader, in the 17th century, counted on the decisive participation of Felipe Camarão, named by the Portuguese court as Captain-Mor among the native indigenous peoples of Brazil. Along with Francisco Barreto de Meneses, André Vidal de Negreiros, Henrique Dias and João Fernandes Vieira, he was one of the patriarchs of the Brazilian Army.

In that sense, in the early 20th century, Marshal Cândido Mariano Rondon, a descendant of the Bororó, Terena and Guará ethnic groups, served in the Army. A pioneer of the Brazilian West and Amazonian frontiers, Rondon was noted for his respect for the indigenous peoples found in his exploratory missions. He is the Patron of the Signals Corps. Today's Army counts a number of ethnic community personnel among its ranks, especially in the western borders and the tough jungles of the Amazon.

Women in the Army
Female soldier of the Brazilian Army in the 72nd Motorized Infantry Battalion.

Women's participation in the Army is not without precedent. In 1823, Maria Quitéria de Jesus fought alongside other soldiers for Brazilian independence; during World War II (1939-1945), 73 Brazilian nurses served in various U.S. Army hospitals; and in 1992, the Brazilian Army Leadership Academy enrolled its first class of 49 women, admitting them into that institution's Auxiliary Officer Corps. Female service members were limited to support duties such as administration, health care, and teaching. The innovation is women's entry into combat career paths.

To begin a career with the army as officers, women must have completed a bachelor's degree in areas such as law, computer science, economics, or accounting. The competition is national in scope, and no applicant may be more than thirty-six years of age. Those accepted into the program study at the Army's School of Complementary Formation (former Army's School of Administration) in Salvador, beginning as first lieutenants (reserve). The School of Complementary Formation is also open to men. At the end of the one-year course, the graduate is promoted to first lieutenant in the permanent ranks. If starting a career in the enlisted ranks, any woman enlistee would be required to at least be a secondary school graduate.

Organization, formations and structure
Structure of the Brazilian Army

High Command
Brazilian Army headquarters in Brasília.
  • Army General Headquarters (Quartel-General do Exército) – Brasília
    • Land Operations Command (Comando de Operações Terrestres) – Brasília
    • Army General Staff (Estado Maior do Exército) – Brasília

Military Commands

The Army is structured into eight military commands. Each of the eight military commands is responsible for one or more military regions.

Military Regions

The Brazilian territory is further divided into twelve military regions. Each military region provides logistical support to operational units within its area of responsibility. Therefore, Military Regions are usually composed of units responsible for providing administration, logistics, transport, health and education. Military Regions are Division-sized units, commanded by Lieutenant Generals (Generais de Divisão). The current military regions are:

1st Division of the Brazilian Army in 1921.
1st Army Division in Rio de Janeiro, 1943.
Troops of the 2nd Army Division in São Paulo state, 2016
3rd Army Division soldiers in combat training in southern Brazil.

Main units

Divisions

The Brazilian Army currently has four army divisions:

  • 1st Army Division based in Rio de Janeiro and subordinated to the Eastern Military Command,
  • 2nd Army Division, based in São Paulo and subordinated to the Military Command of the Southeast,
  • 3rd Army Division, based in Santa Maria - RS,
  • 5th Army Division based in Curitiba - PR, and
  • 6th Army Division based in Porto Alegre - RS, the last three are linked to the Southern Military Command.

The other military forces of the Brazilian Army are subordinated directly to the area military commands, not having a commanding division. In this case, the employment of these troops is coordinated by the operations coordinating center of the area military commands.

Brigades
  • 1x Parachute Infantry Brigade, with:
    • 3x Parachute Infantry Battalions
    • 1x Parachute Cavalry Squadron
  • 1x Special Operations Brigade, with:
    • 1x Special Forces Battalion, with 12 SF detachments
    • 1x Commando Battalion
    • 1x Psychological Operations Battalion.
  • 1x Light Infantry (Air Assault) (Airmobile) Brigade, with:
    • 3x Light Infantry Airborne Battalions
    • 1x Light Cavalry Airborne Regiment (Battalion sized).
  • 1x Light Infantry Brigade, with:
    • 3x Light Infantry Battalions
    • 1x Mechanized Cavalry (Wheeled) Regiment (Battalion size).
  • 1x Frontier Infantry (Wetlands Infantry) Brigade, with:
    • 3x Frontier Infantry Battalions.
  • 1x Armoured Cavalry Brigade, with:
    • 2x Tank Regiments (Battalions size)
    • 2x Armoured Infantry Battalions
    • 1x Mechanized Cavalry (Wheeled) Squadron
  • 1x Armoured Infantry Brigade, with:
    • 2x Armoured Infantry Battalions
    • 2x Tank Regiments (Battalions size)
    • 1x Mechanized Cavalry (Wheeled) Squadron
  • 4x Mechanized Cavalry (Wheeled) Brigades, each with:
    • 3x Mechanized Cavalry Regiments (Battalions size)
    • 1x Armoured Cavalry Regiment (Battalion size).
  • 6x Jungle Infantry Brigades, each with:
    • 3 – 4 Jungle Infantry Battalions
    • 1x Mechanized or Jungle Cavalry Squadron
  • 5x Light Infantry (Motorized) Brigades, each with:
    • 3x Motorized Infantry Battalions
    • 1x Mechanized Cavalry Squadron
  • 4x Mechanized Infantry (Wheeled) Brigades, each with:
    • 3x Mechanised Infantry Battalions
    • 1x Mechanized Cavalry Squadron
  • 1x Mountain Infantry Light (Motorized) Brigades, each with:
    • 3x Mountain Infantry Battalions
    • 1x Mechanized Cavalry Squadron
  • 4x Divisional Artillery Brigades, each with:
    • 4 – 5 Field or Rocket Artillery Battalions (Agrupements, in Brazilian Army).
  • 4x Construction Engineer Regiments, each one with:
    • 3x to 5x Construction Engineer Battalions
  • 1x Air Defence Artillery Brigade, with:
    • 5x Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion
  • 1x Army Aviation Command(Brigade), with:
    • 4x Army Aviation Battalions (Anti-tank, reconnaissance, multi-purpose, transport, utility).

Strategic Mobile Action Forces

Airmobile Infantry Brigade
Airmobile infantry training.
Troop aeromobiles

The 12th Aeromobile Brigade is a major elite unit of the Brazilian Army. Headquartered in Caçapava in São Paulo. Its operation area covers the whole country. It is under the 2nd Army Division / Southeastern Military Command, based in São Paulo.

It is organized, equipped and trained for rapid-response missions at any point of the country. They can move by air using business jets and civilian aircraft, but their primary means of transportation are the Brazilian Air Force's rotorcraft, from the Command Army Aviation, usually based near their barracks. By performing their main function, the airborne assault, the Airmobile Brigade constitutes an effective, permanently available instrument of strategic reach, being an integral unit of the Strategic Task Force (Força de Ação Rápida Estratégica) of the Brazilian Army.[48]

Army Aviation Brigade
Panther armed assault helicopter in Brazilian Army.
Brazilian army aviation Black Hawk in Amazon region.

The Army Aviation Command, also known as Ricardo Kirk Brigade, is a brigade of the Brazilian Army, located in Taubaté and linked to the Land Operations Command and the Southeastern Military Command. Its historical name is a reference to Captain Ricardo Kirk, pioneer of military aviation in Brazil, killed in battle in the Contestado War.

The task of the Brazilian Army Aviation Command is to provide organic airmobility and support the ground forces by providing tactical air support, close air support and reconnaissance.[48]

Law and Order Operations Brigade
Law and order troops

The 11th Infantry Brigade is one of the brigades operating in the Brazilian Army. Its headquarters is located in Campinas, São Paulo.

This infantry brigade is specialized in operations in urban terrain, being able to act in cases of severe instability or danger to public order. The brigade is used in Brazil often in actions against organized crime and drug trafficking, especially in large urban centers.

It also has a Law Enforcement Operations Instruction Center and the Order is a School Subunit. Peculiar Employment Unit of the Brazilian Army in Law Enforcement and Order Operations and Military Operations in Urban Environments.

It is trained to operate both in case of riots and in the fight against organized crime and drug trafficking, when the local law enforcement agencies are unable to do so by themselves. Recently it has operated alongside other elite Army forces in the pacification of communities that were previously under control of drug traffickers in Rio de Janeiro.[48]

Jungle Warfare Brigades
Brazilian Army Soldier, jungle warfare.
Jungle infantry in defensive formation.

The Jungle Warfare Training Centre – Centro de Instrução de Guerra na Selva (CIGS), also known as the Colonel Jorge Teixeira Centre, is a military organisation based in Manaus, intended to qualify military leaders of small groups, as wilderness warriors, fighters able to accomplish military nature missions in the most inhospitable areas of the Brazilian rainforest.

Courses are taught in jungle operations scenery in different categories – Senior Officers, Officers, Senior Non-Commissioned Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, Medical and Health Care Personnel, and small courses for the military, police forces and civilians. Its symbol is the jaguar.

Facial camouflage jungle warrior.

The Jungle Warfare Training Center (CIGS) is structured as Department of Education, a Department of Doctrine and Research, a Student Division, a Department of Veterinary Medicine, a Department of Administration and a Support Company.[49]

Although officers and NCOs from all over Brazil can apply to take courses at CIGS, most of the troopers that support training are locals, natives from the area that are mainly privates and corporals. Because they are adapted to the conditions of the life inside the forest, they are more capable of performing a vast array of activities, such as hunting, hiding and moving through the forest with ease. Many foreigners and Brazilian military personnel that underwent training at CIGS have described the impressive abilities shown by these soldiers during operations. Their experience and skills in jungle survival certainly help shaping the Brazilian Jungle Warfare Brigades into deadliest units of its kind in the world.

The Brigades also have experience in combat. Engaged in protecting the northern borders of Brazil, the troops are constantly exposed to attacks from border countries' guerrillas, drug dealers, and criminals of all kinds. The Brazilian Army commonly acts along with other law enforcement organisations in order to fight not only the drugs trafficking, but also animals, weapons, people and several other illegal deeds.

Paratroopers Brigade
Brazilian paratroopers on exercise
Brazilian paratroopers

The Paratroopers Brigade is a major elite unit of the Brazilian Army. Its headquarters is located in Vila Militar, in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Subordinate to the Eastern Military Command, based in Rio de Janeiro, in conjunction with the Land Operations Command, based in Brasilia.

The brigade is one of the elite forces of the Brazilian Army prepared to act on within 48 hours anywhere in the country, is in the jungle, savanna, marsh and mountain, and remain without logistical support for up to 72 hours, being able to parachute jump quickly to the frontlines or behind enemy lines. After completion of the mission, handing territory to another conventional unit to maintain the position gained, according to the doctrine of the Brazilian Army training, usually a unit or a brigade of armoured Infantry will be responsible for replacing the Paratrooper Brigade field after the transfer of the territory to another unit of the Ground Force. The Paratrooper Brigade is then thrown back behind enemy lines once more to make way for the Allied troops.

The Brigade is a fundamental part of the Strategic Task Force (Força de Ação Rápida Estratégica), by being able to quickly operate in any part of the national territory in case of war or invasion.

Due to the deadly and dangerous nature of this brigade's missions, the Brazilian paratroopers have a unique ethos. For instance, while regular infantry troops use black boots and green berets, the paratroopers use brown boots and red berets. They consider themselves superior to the "Pé pretos" (black foots), which are the regular infantrymen. The Brazilian Army's motto, "Brasil acima de tudo!" (Brazil, above everything else) was originally the paratroopers' war cry before it was popularized (nowadays, it's a common greeting between the military to say this motto). The paratroopers are very proud of themselves, and they always stand out when they are among other troops.[50]

Special Operations Brigade
The soldiers of psychological operations.
Parade of Special Forces Command in Brasilia.

The Special Operations Brigade is Brazil's special operations force. Although administratively assigned to the Plateau Military Command, the brigade's operations are under the direct control of the Land Operations Command.[51] The Special Forces were initially formed in 1957 as a parachute trained rescue unit, which specialized in conducting deep jungle rescues along the Amazon basin. After conducting its initial selection, a US Army Special Forces Mobile Training Team (MTT) conducted the unit's first training course.[52]

Nowadays, it is specialized in non conventional warfare, performing psychological operations and harassing bigger enemy units, such as Brigades and Divisions. Acting in smalls cells and detachments (usually no more than 20 men), the Special Forces act deep behind enemy lines, and are capable of fighting in extremely unfavorable situations.

Brazilian Special Force counter-terrorism unit

For its creation, the Army Command issued decrees organizing the core of the Brigade (Nu Bda Op Esp), reporting initially to the Brigade Parachute Infantry. Most of its subordinate organizations were stationed in the area of Camboatá (West Zone of Rio de Janeiro), where he was the 1st BFEsp, whose commander served, cumulatively, in the initial phase, the command of Nu Bda Op Esp and management of project deployment.

Its motto "any mission, in any place, at any time, by every way" tells all. Related Commandos troops, a battalion the size of Special Operations Brigade, has an analogous motto: "The maximum confusion, death and destruction in the deep rear of the enemy".

Special command unit, elite troops to operate behind enemy lines

It is also capable of performing other types of missions, such as counter-terrorism, strategic scouting, finding and attacking high-value targets and stealing, extracting and evading. Due to the extremely high level of danger of those missions, this unit is composed of only a few members, who must have completed the Comandos and Paraquedista (Commandos and Paratroopers). They are highly specialized and ready to operate anywhere in the world in less than 45 hours. Because of this, they are recognized as one of the most prestigious units in the Brazilian Army.

The unit's baptism of fire took place in the 1970s during operations against the force of the Araguaia Guerrilla, when the hitherto Detachment Special Forces, with their effective command and special forces, was the only unit that fought almost uninterruptedly throughout the campaign, whether in combat actions, or espionage, without the engagement of the controls and special forces of the army, the defeat of the guerrillas would have been more difficult, since such military are experts in counter-guerrilla of the Brazilian Army.

In 1991, guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, entered the Brazilian territory and attacked a small Brazilian Army border contingent, the response was immediate, and the then Special Forces Battalion held in conjunction with other units, retaliation operation, Operation Traira, and the result was 12 dead guerrillas, captured numerous, most of the weapons and equipment recovered.

Recently under the aegis of the United Nations, the Special Operations Brigade played a decisive role in combating the paramilitary groups that plagued the Haitian territory and caused great political instability in the country, and the 1st Special Forces Battalion, 1st Command Action Battalion and the 1st Psychological operations Battalion the only army units that send military in all contingent to MINUSTAH since the beginning of the mission, and special operations performed by these units were fundamental to the pacification of Port-au-Prince.[53]

Mountain Operations Brigade
Mountain light infantry
Mountain soldiers.

It's a specialized infantry brigade of the Brazilian Army. Its headquarters is located in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais. Its catchment area covers the state of Minas Gerais and Petropolis. It is administered by the 1st Army Division / Eastern Military Command, headquartered in Rio de Janeiro.

4th Mountain Infantry Brigade, a unit of the Brazilian Army specializing in mountain combat operation, improving and developing special techniques of mountain operations, and using equipment and weapons specific to this theater of operations, has established itself over the years as an elite troop, even multiplying their special techniques to other Brazilian military units, which will attend their courses and internships, assisting the training of the members of the Strategic Task Force (Força de Ação Rápida Estratégica) of the Brazilian Army.

During World War II, the Brazilian infantry had a major highlight in the conquest of the town of Montese situated in mountainous terrain and heavily defended by the Germans as the last bastion to stop the advancing allied troops toward the Po Valley. On April 14, 1945, the massive Montese became the scene of the most arduous and bloody battle of Brazilian arms in Italy, in the words of their own Commander Brazilian Expeditionary Force Marechal Mascarenhas de Morais. Having eleven main effort of the attack as fighting in dense minefields and under heavy fire from German machine guns, they were finally able to conquer Montese.

Fast Motorized Operations Brigade
Large infantry Brazilian Army 3rd Brigade in Brasilia, 2014.

The 3rd Mechanized Infantry Brigade, also known as the Viscount of Porto Seguro's Own Brigade, is one of the Brigades of the Brazilian Army. Its headquarters is located in Crystal, in Goiás State. It is subject to the Planalto Military Command, with headquarters in Brasilia. Its subordinate military organizations are located in the Federal District and the states of Goiás, Tocantins and Minas Gerais region known as Triangulo Mineiro. Its historic name is a tribute to the Viscount of Porto Seguro, Francisco Adolfo Varnhagem.

The 3rd Brigade is part of the strategic reserve of the Brazilian Army, but should be able to be employed at any time and in any part of Brazil. Being a mechanized formation, it can be deployed fast enough anywhere nationwide either for conventional operations or to reinforce the military police in keeping public order, and can still perform promptly any motorized, airmobile or airborne action.

Specialized Battalions and Regiments

1st Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense Battalion
Troops of the Brazilian Army prepared for biological warfare

The 1st Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defesne Battalion, raised in 2012 by the redesignation of the Army CBRN Defense Company, is the only one of its kind in the Brazilian Army, and its members are trained for combat in chemical, biological and nuclear warfare (as the name suggests), mainly in control and decontamination of weapons, local and military equipment.

The battalion's origin dates back to 1953, when the Chemical Warfare Company, originally subject to the Reverse Split Units-School (RSUS) was set up on the premises of the Special Education School (SES)

On December 31, 1987, the Chemical Warfare School was extinguished and, in its place, the CBRN Company was created, based in the city of Rio de Janeiro and subordinated to the Board of Specialization and Extension.

17th Border Battalion (Swamp Operations )
Infantry border Pantanal.

The 17th BB is an elite unit of the Brazilian Army, specializing in swamp operations that is located in the city of Corumbá, state of Mato Grosso do Sul.

Its main missions, ensuring the western border of Brazil, the development and improvement of technical and operational doctrines and special combat specific swampy environment (present in many places in the world) and also multiply its technical operations in wetland units members Strategic Task Force (Força de Ação Rápida Estratégica)of the Brazilian Army, but specifically, offering a course of Wetland Operations (Operações no Pantanal) to the Special Operations Brigade, Parachute Infantry Brigade and the 12th Light Infantry Brigade (airborne), units within the Strategic Task Force, and also military from other regions, particularly the Western Military Command, which is responsible for the protection of the western border of the Brazilian territory. Besides that, there are also exchanges of techniques and experiences with the Brazilian Marines, which also apply to the Wetland Operations course and are remarkably skilled in amphibious operations.

72nd Motorized Infantry Battalion (Caatinga/Savanna Operations)
Fighters of Caatinga.

The 72nd MIB is an elite unit of the Brazilian Army based in Petrolina, being the only unit of the Brazilian Army to train the warfighter to the operating environment of Caatinga and Savanna.

Has a Caatinga Operations Instructions Center, covering an area of approximately 28,000 km².

The facilities of the Caatinga Operations Instructions Center are comprised in an area which belongs to the Ministry of Defence, named the Field Instruction Iron Tank Farm, responsible for the formation of the Caatinga battle combatant in this environment. The vegetation is aggressive and thorny, the sun is very harsh for most of the daytime and water is sparse. The conditions of this area are very difficult to withstand and soldiers who finish this course are acknowledged as Caatinga Warriors of the Brazilian Army, as described by the Brazilian Army in its website (in Portuguese).[54]

Presidential Guard
Presidential Guard Battalion during a flag ceremony at the Plaza of the Three Powers

The Presidential Guard Battalion is a unit of the Brazilian Army and honor guard to the President of Brazil. Two other units, the 1st Guards Cavalry Regiment and the Cayenne Battery, are also part of the presidential honor guard unit, and they all report to Army HQ.

The PGB had its origins in the Emperor's Battalion, organized in 1823 during the peace campaigns that followed the Declaration of Independence as the guards unit for the Imperial Family of Brazil, and as such wears its 19th-century uniforms. Disbanded in 1827, it was reformed in 1933.

1st Guards Cavalry Regiment.

The 1st Guards Cavalry Regiment, also known as the "Dragões da Independência" (Independence Dragoons), is the squadron-sized horse guards regiment of the Army. The name was given in 1927 and refers to the fact that a detachment of dragoons escorted the Prince Royal of Portugal, Pedro VI, at the time when he declared Brazilian independence from Portugal, on September 7, 1822. The Independence Dragoons wear 19th century uniforms similar to those of the earlier Imperial Honor Guard, which are used as the regimental full dress uniform since 1927. The uniform was designed by Debret, in white and red, with plumed bronze helmets. The colors and pattern were influenced by the Austrian dragoons of the period, as the Brazilian Empress Consort was also an Austrian Archduchess. The color of the plumes varies according to rank. The Independence Dragoons are armed with lances and sabres, the latter only for the officers and the colour guard.

Presidential Guard Battalion anti-riot suit.

The regiment was established in 1808 by the Prince Regent and future king of Portugal, John VI, with the duty of protecting the Portuguese royal family, which had sought refuge in Brazil during the Napoleonic wars. However, dragoons had existed in Portugal since at least the early 18th century, and in 1719, units of this type of cavalry were sent to Brazil, initially to escort shipments of gold and diamonds and to guard the Viceroy who resided in Rio de Janeiro (1st Cavalry Regiment – Vice-Roy's Horse Guard Squadron). Later, they were also sent to the south to serve against the Spanish during frontier clashes. After the proclamation of Brazilian independence, the title of the regiment was changed to that of the Imperial Honor Guard, with the role of protecting the Imperial Family. The guard was later disbanded by Emperor Pedro II and would be recreated only later in the republican era, this time as the horse guards unit mandated to defend and protect the President of Brazil and his First Family, the Vice President of Brazil and all offices of the national government. At the time of the Republic proclamation in 1889, horse #6 of the Imperial Honor Guard was ridden by the officer making the declaration, Second Lieutenant Eduardo José Barbosa, with the permission of Field Marshal Deodoro da Fonseca. This is commemorated by the custom under which the horse having this number is used only by the commander of the modern regiment, usually a superior officer with the rank of a lieutenant colonel.

The regiment maintains its own band, which also serves as the official presidential band.

Army Police Battalions and Platoons
Army Police soldiers at the Complexo da Maré pacification.
Army Police riot control platoon

See article: Army Police (Brazil)

The Army Police Branch is composed of specialized units of the Brazilian Army Infantry, who develop and perform the mission of military police along the headquarters of major commands and major units of Land Force garrisons.

As operating units of the Army Police, there are several battalions, companies, and platoons, including riot control, K-9, motorcyclists, and regular troops. Military Police of the Brazilian Army are identified by the use of black armband with the letters "PE" in white (or white armband with red letters).

Commonly, the term "Military Police" is used to refer to the State Military Police Forces.

Current Equipment
Further information: Modern equipment of the Brazilian Army and Brazilian Army Aviation

In addition the Brazilian Army Aviation Command operates 90 helicopters.

Current Equipment of the Brazilian Army
  • M-60A3 TTS winning ground
  • EE-11 Urutu transporting riflemen.
  • Agrale Marruá AM23 convoy in Brazilian northeast
  • A Brazilian Leopard 1A5 transposing watercourse
  • M108 armored Brazilian Army column
  • EE-9 Cascavel reconnaissance mission
  • A Brazilian Leopard 1A1 in formation
  • Armored M-113 car advances on terrain
  • AV-VBL light armored vehicle
  • Armored Vehicle VBTP-MR Guarani mechanized infantry
  • EC 725 Caracal helicopter
  • Brazilian Flakpanzer Gepard in shooting exercise
  • AS-532 Cougar helicopter.
  • ASTROS 2020 multiple rocket launcher in action
  • Bofors 40 mm AA gun in action
  • Igla System
  • AT4 System
  • 81mm mortar
  • UH-60 Black Hawk in Brazilian Army Aviation.
  • Vehicle light Agrale Marruá AM2 reconnaissance mission
  • LPR-40 river patrol boat.
  • AS565 Panther helicopter.
  • Brazilian sniper with an M40 rifle

Ranks, uniforms, and insignia
Main article: Military ranks of Brazil

The senior-most commissioned rank in the Brazilian Army is the "General de Exército" (English: Army General), a "four-star" general. In times of war, or in exceptional circumstances, a fifth star may be worn by the highest-ranking officer in the army, who is then promoted to "Marechal", (English: Marshal of the Army). Brazilian Army officers wear rank insignia on shoulder boards and the army has ten officer ranks, also known as "grades", excluding that of an officer candidate.

Camouflage uniform standard Brazilian army.
Current camouflage pattern.

Brazilian Army officer ranks from second lieutenant to colonel equate directly with counterparts in the United States Army, but thereafter the systems diverge. A Brazilian "General de Brigada" (English: brigade general) wears two stars, with duties equivalent to a U.S. Army major general, the next higher rank, "General de Divisão" (English: divisional general), equivalent to an American lieutenant general, wears three; their United States counterparts have only two and three stars, respectively. The next higher rank, designated by four stars, is "General de Exército" (English: Army General). The Marshal wears five stars, but that rank is rarely attained on active duty. This rank is corresponds to an American general of the army. The last Marshal of Brazilian Army was Waldemar Levy Cardoso, that died in 2009, with 108 years old.

Brazil's army has strict up-or-out retirement rules, which were developed in the mid-1960s by President Castelo Branco. The internal command structure determines all promotions through the rank of colonel. The president is involved in the promotions to general and chooses one candidate from a list of three names presented to him by the High Command. Once passed over at the Presidential Promotion Board, the non-promotable colonel must retire. All colonels must retire at age fifty-nine and all four-star generals must retire at age sixty-six, or after twelve years as general.

Army sergeant cap.

Despite the up-or-out system, under President José Sarney the army became top-heavy as generals began to occupy many positions that previously had been reserved for colonels. In 1991 there were fifteen four-stars, forty three-stars, and 110 two-stars generals. The figure for four-stars generals did not include four who were Ministers in the Superior Military Court (Superior Tribunal Militar—STM). Thus, in the mid-1990s the army sought to reduce the number of active-duty generals. In 2014, there are fifteen four-stars, forty five three-stars, and eighty nine two-stars generals in active service.

The highest Brazilian Army enlisted rank is "Sub Tenente", which is the equivalent of an American command sergeant major and sergeant major ranks. The other NCOs are Primeiro Sargento equivalent of an American first sergeant or master sergeant, "Segundo Sargento" (English: second sergeant) equivalent to a sergeant first class and staff sergeant, Terceiro Sargento equivalent to sergeant. Then there is the Cabo corporal with the same duties as a sergeant in a regular Army Infantry Platoon, acting as the Squad Leader. The Brazilian Army has no corresponding equivalent to the U.S. Army's specialist rank. The "Soldado" is equivalent to a private first class or to a private depending on the length of service time.

Historical Equipment

Tanks
Row of M-41 tanks from the Brazilian Army in 1968.
  • M3 Lee: 104 units 1942–1969
  • M4 Sherman A1: 85 units 1944–1972
  • M41 B/C: 340 units 1960–2010 (100 in storage)
  • EE-T1 Osório: 02 prototypes 1982–2004
  • Leopard 1A5: 250 units 1980-Present
  • Leopard 1BE: 128 units 1977-Present

Armoured vehicle
A M8 Greyhound crew of 1st Brazilian Division, Northern Italy, WWII.
  • M20 Armoured Car: 20 units 1945–1985
  • M3 Scout Car A1: 100 units 1942–1979
A Brazilian Recon Team poses in front of their M3 halftrack.
  • M2 Half Track Car: 437 units 1943–1980
  • M3 Half-track: 49 units 1944–1976
  • M59 APC: 500 units 1960–1982

Artillery

Historical Vehicles
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See also
Units
Generic

References
  1. Decree 9.249, December 26, 2017.
  2. International Institute for Strategic Studies (3 Feb 2014). The Military Balance 2014. London: Routledge. pp. 371–375. ISBN 9781857437225.
  3. Donato, 1996. Sumário (Summary sections)
  4. Teixeira, 2013. Pages 83 to 110, Section "Brazil's 'Regional Imperialism' in the Cold War"
  5. Dávila, 2010. Chapters 5, 7 & 8.
  6. Guerra, 2012. VI, seções "A Operação Condor no Brasil" e "A explosão da Rádio Nacional de Angola" (VI, sections "Operation Condor in Brazil" and "The explosion of the Angola's National Radio")
  7. Kenkel, 2013. Page 76
  8. Smallman, 2002. Introduction.
  9. Skidmore, 1967. P.3 "The revolutions of the elite".
  10. Castro, 2002. Pages 71 to 76.
  11. Christiane Mello, 2009.
  12. Hendrik, 2001. Introduction & Chapter 5.
  13. Donato, 1996. Pages 105–106.
  14. Faoro, 1957. Chapters VIII & IX
  15. Lei nº 602, de 19/09/1850 - Dá nova organisação á Guarda Nacional do Imperio. [...] Art. 6º A Guarda Nacional será subordinada ao Ministro da Justiça, e aos Presidentes de Provincia.
  16. Kraay, 2004. Intro
  17. Donato, 1996. Pages 129–132.
  18. Salles (2003), p.38
  19. Smallman, 2002. Chapter 1 "Officers versus Politicians, 1889–1930".
  20. Ibidem, Smallman 2002.
  21. Donato, 1996. P.153
  22. McCann, 2004. P.181, 2nd §.
  23. Smallman, 2002. Chapters 2 & 3.
  24. McCann, 2004. Chapters 7 to 11.
  25. Skidmore, 1967. Chapters I & II.
  26. Lochery, 2014. Parts 3 to 5.
  27. Skidmore, 1967. Chapters II to V.
  28. Skidmore, 1967. Chapters VI to VIII.
  29. Skidmore, 1988. Chapters II to V.
  30. Gaspari, 2002. "The Armed Illusions" Vol. II.
  31. Ibidem Teixeira, 2013.
  32. Ibidem Guerra, 2012.
  33. Ibidem Dávila, 2010.
  34. Skidmore, 1988. Chapter VI.
  35. Skidmore, 1988. Chapter VII.
  36. Gaspari, 2016. Chapter I
  37. "Brazil military continues raids on slums before World Cup - CBC News". CBC. 2014-04-05. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
  38. "Segurança terá o maior efetivo da história das Copas - 13/04/2014 - Folha na Copa - Esporte". Folha de S.Paulo.
  39. "Brasil destina 60% das suas Forças Armadas na luta contra um mosquito". El País. 2016-02-13.
  40. "Extra 3,000 soldiers deployed to support Olympic security effort". Archived from the original on 2016-07-08. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  41. "Terroristas divulgam 'manual' para ataques nos Jogos do Rio". Terra.
  42. "Brazil's Espirito Santo state says reaches deal to end police strike". February 11, 2017 – via www.reuters.com.
  44. "DefesaNet - Defense - Brazil Creates Expeditionary Force to Serve in International Missions". DefesaNet.
  45. "Brazil army ordered to take over security in violent Rio de Janeiro". February 16, 2018 – via www.reuters.com.
  46. Os pés de barro de um gigante Archived 2010-08-25 at the Wayback Machine Revista Época. Retrieved on 2009-02-01. (in Portuguese)
  47. "Governo Federal - Governo do Brasil. — Português" (in Portuguese). Brasil. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
  48. "Exército Brasileiro". Exército Brasileiro.
  49. Jungle Warfare Training Center Archived 2007-06-04 at the Wayback Machine Brazilian Army, accessed on May 8, 2008. (in Portuguese)
  50. "Exército Brasileiro". Exército Brasileiro.
  51. Land Operations Command Brazilian Army, accessed on May 8, 2008. (in Portuguese)
  52. Special Operations Brigade Archived September 23, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Brazilian Army, accessed on May 8, 2008. (in Portuguese)
  53. Brazilian Special Operations Command
  54. "Estágio de Adaptação à Caatinga". Archived from the original on 2014-11-29. Retrieved 2014-09-29.

Bibliography
  • Celso Castro, Vitor Izecksohn and Hendrik Kraay "Nova História Militar Brasileira" (New Brazilian Military History) (in Portuguese) Getúlio Vargas Foundation 2004 ISBN 8522504962
  • Christiane Figueiredo Pagano de Mello "Forças Militares no Brasil Colonial" (Military Forces in Colonial Brazil) (in Portuguese) E-papers 2009 ISBN 9788576502050
  • Dávila, Jerry. "Hotel Tropico: Brazil and the challenge of African Decolonization, 1950–1980." Duke University Press 2010 ISBN 978-0822348559
  • Dudley, William Sheldon "Reform and Radicalism in the Brazilian Army, 1870–1889" Columbia University 1972
  • Donato, Hernâni "Dicionário das Batalhas Brasileiras" (Dictionary of Brazilian Battles) (in Portuguese) IBRASA 1996 (2nd edition ) ISBN 8534800340
  • Faoro, Raymundo "Os Donos do Poder" (Owners of Power) (in Portuguese) Globo 2012 (1st edition 1957) ISBN 9788525052964
  • Fishel, John T. & Sáenz, Andrés "Capacity Building for Peacekeeping; The case of Haiti" NDU Press & Potomac Books 2007 ISBN 9781597971232
  • Gaspari, Elio – A widely documented series containing 5 volumes (divided into 3 parts: "The Armed illusions" Volumes I-II, "The Priest and Warlock" volumes III-IV, and "The End" volume V), about Brazilian Army and the last military dictatorship in Brazil:
    • Volume I "A Ditadura Envergonhada" (The Dictatorship Embarrassed) (in Portuguese) ISBN 8535902775
    • Volume II "A Ditadura Escancarada" (The Dictatorship Revealed) (in Portuguese) ISBN 8535902996
    • Volume III "A Ditadura Derrotada" (The Dictatorship Defeated) (in Portuguese) ISBN 853590428X and
    • Volume IV "A Ditadura Encurralada" (The Dictatorship Trapped) (in Portuguese) ISBN 853590509X.
    • Volume V "A Ditadura Acabada" (The Dictatorship Finished) (in Portuguese) ISBN 8580579155 All books by Companhia das Letras, 2002–2004 (Volumes I to IV) and 2016 (Volume V).
  • Guerra, Cláudio "Memórias de uma Guerra Suja" (Memoirs of a Dirty War) (in Portuguese) TopBooks 2012 ISBN 8574752045
  • Hooker, Terry "The Paraguayan War: Armies of the Nineteenth Century; The Americas" Foundry 2008
  • Joes, Anthony James "Urban Guerrilla Warfare" University Press of Kentucky 2007 on Google Books
  • Kenkel, Kai Michael. "South America and Peace Operations: Coming of Age" Routledge, 2013. ISBN 9780415663267
  • Kraay, Hendrik "Race, State and Armed Forces in Independence-Era Brazil" Stanford University Press 2001 ISBN 0804742480
  • Kraay, Hendrick & Whigham, Thomas "I Die with My Country: Perspectives on the Paraguayan War, 1864–1870" University of Nebraska, 2004 ISBN 0803227620
  • Lochery, Neill. "Brazil: The Fortunes of War, War II and the Making of Modern Brazil" Basic Books, 2014 ISBN 9780465039982
  • López, Adriana "Franceses e Tupinambás na Terra do Brasil" (French and Indigenous in land of Brazil) (in Portuguese) SENAC 2001 ISBN 857359179X
  • McCann, Frank D. "Soldiers of the Patria, A History of the Brazilian Army, 1889–1937" Stanford University Press 2004 ISBN 0804732221
  • Mello, Evaldo Cabral de "Olinda restaurada; Guerra e Açúcar no Nordeste, 1630–1654" (Olinda restored: War and Sugar in Northeast Brazil, 1630–1654) (in Portuguese) Editora 34 Ltda 2007 (1st edition 1975)
  • Salles, Ricardo. "Guerra do Paraguai: memórias & imagens" (Paraguayan War: Memories and Images) (in Portuguese) Edições Biblioteca Nacional, 2003
  • Smallman, Shawn C. "Fear & Memory: in the Brazilian Army & Society, 1889–1954" University of North Carolina Press 2002 ISBN 0807853593
  • Teixeira, Carlos Gustavo Poggio. "Brazil, the United States, and the South American Subsystem: Regional Politics and the Absent Empire" Lexington Books, 2012 ISBN 9780739173282
  • Skidmore, Thomas E.:
    • "Politics in Brazil 1930–1964: An Experiment in Democracy" Oxford University Press 1967
    • "The Politics of Military Rule in Brazil: 1964–85" Oxford University Press 1988
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