FN FAL

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In Their Own Story

The roots of the Naval Infantry Corps trace to the independence of Mexico in 1821. Between 1821 and 1822, independent Mexico created the Secretariat of the Admiralty headed by Don Agustín de Iturbide, who assigned the first units of the Mexican Army, consisting of four battalions, two of them classified as 'Marina' stationed in San Blas and Veracruz. Since the start of President Felipe Calderón's war on the drug cartels, the Infantería de Marina's role grew from maritime and port security to land-based operations combating organized crime, drug trafficking, and extermination of marijuana fields. In late October 2007, Navy personnel in a joint operation seized 23 tons of cocaine in the port city of Manzanillo, Colima. On July 16, 2008, the Navy intercepted a 10-meter-long narco submarine 200 kilometres off the southwest of Oaxaca; Navy Special Forces rappelled from a helicopter onto the deck and arrested four smugglers before they could scuttle the vessel, which was loaded with 5.8 tons of cocaine. Mexico sent marines to the U.S. in 2005 for disaster relief after Hurricane Katrina.

Reader's Guide

The Naval Infantry Corps is organized into 30 Naval Infantry Battalions, a paratroop battalion, a battalion attached to the Presidential Guard Brigade, two fast reaction forces with six battalions each, and three special forces groups. After reorganization, the Marine forces include two Amphibious Reaction Forces deployed along the country's coastline, each comprising two Amphibious Infantry Battalions, Artillery Battalions, Amphibious Commando Battalions, Boat and Vehicle Battalions, and Amphibious and Services Battalions. The 30 Naval Infantry Battalions are organized into eight regional Brigades: three on the Gulf coast (1st, 3rd, and 5th each with four battalions), four on the Pacific coast (2nd with one battalion, 4th with five battalions, 6th and 8th with four battalions each), and one (the 7th) in Mexico City with two battalions. There is also one Presidential Guard Battalion (24th Batallón de Infantería de Marina de Guardias Presidenciales), one Paratrooper Battalion (BIMFUSPAR), two small Commando Battalions (BATCOGO and BATCOPA), three Special Forces Groups (FESGO, FESPA, FESCEN), one Naval Police Battalion, and 24 Marine (National Service) Battalions. There are two Marine Amphibious Groups (the Gulf and Pacific), each with a total manpower of 3,000 men, composed of two Amphibious Battalions of Marines, a Battalion of Marines Commandos, a Marine Artillery Battalion, and an Amphibious Vehicles and Vessels Battalion.

Did You Know?

• The Naval Infantry Corps traces its roots to 1821, the year of Mexico's independence.
• In late October 2007, Navy personnel seized 23 tons of cocaine in the port city of Manzanillo, Colima.
• On July 16, 2008, Navy Special Forces rappelled from a helicopter onto a narco submarine and arrested four smugglers, seizing 5.8 tons of cocaine.
• Mexico sent marines to the U.S. in 2005 for disaster relief after Hurricane Katrina.
• The Corps manages the Mexican Navy Special Operations Unit, itself responsible for the Fuerzas Especiales (Special Forces).