Haitian Army

Originating from the Army of Saint-Domingue (1791–1803), then the Indigenous Army (1803–1915), the Haitian Army (''Armée d'Haiti'') is the land component of the Armed Forces of Haiti. It is the largest branch of the armed forces since its reinstatement in 2017 by then President Jovenel Moïse.

Mission

History

Organization

Bases

* Headquarters of the Armed Forces of Haiti (''Grand Quartier des Forces Armées d'Haiti''), Champ de Mars, Port-au-Prince
* ''"Anacaona" Base'', Léogâne.
** Previously housing the South Korean Army contingent of the MINUSTAH
** Serves as the recruitment and formation center of the Armed Forces.
* ''Military Aviation'' (''Aviation Militaire'') Base, Clercine, Port-au-Prince
** next door to Toussaint Louverture International Airport
** The Main Garrison of the Aviation Corps, it also houses the National Guard Unit. Previously housing a Chilean Air Force battalion of the MINUSTAH
* ''Corps of Engineers'' Base, La Saline Boulevard, Port-au-Prince.
** ''Ministry of Defense Annex''
* ''"Vertières"'' Base'','' Tabarre, Port-au-Prince
** largest base of the FAD'H (2.5+ acres), will also be used as basic training camp to train approximately 2,500 recruits over the next year.
** formerly "''General Bacellar"'' Base of the Brazilian Army infantry battalion. It also housed the Paraguayan Army Corps of Engineers battalion, and Argentine Air Force Mobile Field Hospital.
* "''Colora''" Military base, outside Belladère, Haiti
** near the Belladère-Elias Pina land border crossing

Personnel

Officers

NCOs and Enlisted

Training and Formation

The initial troops were formed in Ecuador between 2012 and 2017, during the Michel Martelly administration, as part of a cooperation accord between the two countries dating back to 2010, and revised in 2015. The soldiers of the Corps of Engineers (''Corps du Génie, CORGE''), were formed at the "''Escuela Superior Militar Eloy Alfaro''" in Quito, including 4 commissioned officers. Additionally, in 2015, 40 Commissioned Officers were formed at the "''Escuela de Formación de Soldados"'' in Ambato and 27 enlisted would obtain an 8 months formation at the "''Escuela de Formación Militar de Santo Domingo de Los Colorados''" in Santo Domingo, Ecuador.

As part of the bilateral cooperation accord between Mexico and Haiti, signed on October 7th 2018, 50 Non-commissioned officer of the Armed Forces of Haiti get a formation at the "''Escuela Militar de Sargentos''" of the Mexican Army, in Puebla, Mexico. On August 16, 2019, the first class of servicemembers formed in Haiti, composed of 248 soldiers, 50 NCOs, and 15 officers, would graduate from the recruiting depot at the ''Anacaona'' Military Training Center, in Léogâne. That class was trained by Mexican military instructors.

In 2022, 29 NCOs would get trained at the "''Centro de Adiestramiento de Fuerzas Especiales''" in Temamatla, Mexico to become drill instructors in order to facilitate the formation of new soldiers on Haitian soil. Another company of 150 soldiers would go to Mexico to get a formation by the Mexican Army and Mexican National Guard, in subjects including drone warfare, guerilla warfare, Sniper training, Demolition. That company upon their return to Haiti would become the National Guard Unit (''Unité de Garde Nationale'') that was trained. In December of that year, the second class of soldiers formed in Haiti, composed of 409 soldiers (92 being women), swore allegiance as member of the Armed Forces on the grounds of the Military Aviation Base, in the presence of then Prime Minister Ariel Henry. The class was baptized "'' Dutty Bookman''" after one of the originators of the Haitian Revolution.
In 2023, 113 soldiers from the National Guard Unit travelled to Mexico for special operations training, becoming the first Special forces unit of the new ''FAd'H''. On August 1, 2024 a recruitment campaign for enlisted troops was launched by the Ministry of Defense as part of the transitional government's objective to tackle insecurity plaguing the country; a goal to recruit at least 1500 troops was set.

On August 29, 2024, 20 officers and NCOs graduated from a training course on Human Rights, International Humanitarian Rights, as well Gender Equity. The training manual in human rights of the National Guard Unit was also revealed. The program was initiated by former PM Ariel Henry, orchestrated by the Ministry of Defense in collaboration with the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH). This manual is indented to train current and future soldier on topics including rules of engagement, protection of human rights in conflict and combat zones, Geneva Conventions provisions, and judicialization of the field of military operations. Lt. Gen. Guerrier stated that this manual will be the basis on which military law enforcement will be based. In his speech, Minister Berthier Antoine emphasized that the Haitian military must operate to the level and norms similar to those of the neighboring nations, while protecting human rights and promoting democratic values.

On September 18, 2024, Defense Minister Berthier Antoine, French Ambassador Antoine Michon, and Lt. Col. Laoufi of the French Forces in the Antilles would announce that 50 or so members of the FAd'H would be traveling to Martinique for continuing formation with the French Armed Forces to the Antilles. The first contingent of 25 soldier flew to Le Lamentin on November 3, 2024, where they trained with the 33rd Marine Infantry Regiment of the French Navy for 2 weeks, from the 4th to the 16th. The training covered urban warfare, combat rescue & first aid, weapon handling, familiarization with the FAMAS, vehicle search, combat in open area, individual combat, and other techniques.

Equipment

Uniform

Combat Utility Uniform

The uniform used by servicemen at work on the field varies, having been introduced at different times.

The first elements of the armed wore a variant of woodland MARPAT. Later, recruits would be issued a solid olive green color uniform during basic training, which work carry over into service.
On January 1, 2024, during the Independence Day ceremony, U.S. Woodland pattern uniforms would put on display by troops, worn with green ballistic helmets, OD green plate carriers and combat boots, as part of an acquisition of equipment by the Haitian government. This pattern has since become standard issue for combat uniforms for both the Army and the Aviation Corps. It is said that the change was to differentiate from units of the Haitian National Police, mainly the Presidential Palace Guard Unit (USGPN), which also uses a woodland MARPAT variant. The M71 variant is now the predominant pattern used by the Armed Forces.

Service Uniform

The traditional khaki shirt and pants (skirt optional for women) returned to service, as seen commonly worn by the Chiefs of Staff, with black shoes (or combat boots), and a khaki garrison cap. A cap frame with a black visor, khaki cap cover, is also part of the uniform, where officers have a gold strap, and enlisted have a black strap.

Service Dress Uniform

For ceremonies and parades, enlisted member wear long-sleeved khaki shirts with khaki ties. Officers wear a khaki jacket, with a red blue and red chord on the left shoulder, a white shirt and a black tie.

Dress Blues

There are 2 types of Dress Blues seen worn by the Armed Forces.

The first is the traditional dark blue cover, dark blue jacket with gold cuffs, light blue pants with gold side lining, gold belt, gold chord, and gold epaulettes.

The other is worn by the enlisted members of the Corps of Engineers who were trained in Ecuador. It is made up of a dark blue cover with red trims; dark blue jacket; blue and red chords; white shirt and black tie; white pants with a red side lining; and black shoes. The uniform is highly inspired by the Ecuadorian Army dress uniform.

Dress Whites

Seen only worn by High ranking Officers, during celebrations of national holidays such as Flag Day or Battle of Vertières day. The dress whites are composed of a white cover, jacket and shirt; black tie and shoes; and gold belts, chords, and epaulettes.

See also

* Armed Forces of Haiti
* Aviation Corps (Armed Forces of Haiti)
* Military history of Haiti
* Haitian National Police

References

{{reflist

Military of Haiti