Adaptability Sustainment

The tactical and operational doctrines of the Mexican Army have evolved mainly domestically, although there is some inevitable US influence.

Personnel            TOP

Demographics            TOP

There are no active conscripts in the Mexican armed forces. However, there is a token, part-time National Military Service programme which is compulsory for all males who are 18-years-old and is voluntary for females. The weekend conscripts are assigned through a lottery and they undergo very basic instruction (comprising marching and exercise but no small arms or weapons training).

The army has a heavy General quota, with 537 Division, Brigade and Brigadiers in service. The officer corps is divided among "Chiefs" or "Commanding Officers" (Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels and Majors) who make up less than 3 per cent of the manpower total. Junior Officers (Captains and Lieutenants) make up 15 per cent while NCO's and enlisted personnel form 81 per cent of the manpower total. Civilian and other support personnel comprise the remaining 1 per cent.

Recruitment            TOP

There is an ongoing recruitment campaign as the number of deserters (numbering approximately 15,000 a year for the past eight years) are sought to be replaced. The expansion of the army is also continuing. The majority of these desertions take place during the first 10 weeks of basic training for new recruits. There is no information on the actual goal of the expansion; it depends on the funding allocated to SEDENA each year by Congress.

Morale            TOP

Morale has historically been reported as low among the troops and NCO's, yet quite high among the officer corps. SEDENA has implemented a number of measures in order to increase morale at the base level, comprising improved levels of pay, increased family benefits, expanding healthcare benefits, better pensions, leadership training courses and so on. Popular support for the army leading the way in the fight against organised crime remains high, with recent polls listing an 85 per cent approval rate, while the same polls show a 69 per cent rate in favour of the army taking over police duties.

Professionalism            TOP

The Mexican National Defence Secretariat (SEDENA) published its Programa Sectorial de Defensa Nacional 2007-2012 (PSDN - National Defence Sectorial Programme) which outlines a number of changes that are taking place within a force that has been traditionally secretive and inward looking. This is in alignment with President Calderon's integral Plan Nacional de Desarrollo (National Development Plan) and Visión México 2030 (Vision of Mexico for 2030).

The PSDN identifies six main objectives, however, the most important is the aim to create better trained troops with high morale and a solid esprit de corps as well as consolidating its operational capabilities in an effort to have a modest sized force with a much higher operational capability.

Training            TOP

All officers are trained at the Heroíco Colegio Militar outside Mexico City. Officers continue to undergo professional training at specific stages throughout their careers, and specialist training is provided by the Centro de Aplicación para Oficiales de las Armas in Mexico City, which includes the Escuela Militar de Aplicación de Infantería (infantry), Escuela Militar de Aplicación de Artillería (artillery), Escuela Militar de Aplicación de Zapadores (combat engineers), Escuela Militar de Aplicación de Ingeniería (engineers), Escuela Militar de Aplicación de Transmisiones (signals), Escuela Militar de Aplicación de Servicios, Escuela Militar de Aplicación de Materiales de Guerra and the Escuela Militar de Aplicación de Medicina Militar (medical). The only major branch school not located at Mexico City is the Escuela Militar de Aplicación de Caballería (cavalry), which is located at Irapuato (Guanajuato). The Escuela Superior de Guerra, in Mexico City, trains highly ranked officers for staff appointments. There is also a comprehensive system of specialist schools for other ranks, including the Escuela de Clases de las Armas Mariano Matamoros at Puebla.

The Colegio de Defensa Nacional was founded in 1981 as an institution of the Ministry of National Defence. It is the most prestigious school for military education and teaches in the fields of international, political and socio-economic affairs. Students are members of the army and air force (with rank of colonel and above), of the navy (rank of rear admiral), or civilian employees of the government (Ministry of External Relations, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Interior or Secretariat of the Presidency).

The Escuela de Fuerzas Especiales (special forces) was inaugurated in 1998 and is responsible for all army special forces training, comprising jungle, desert, mountain, amphibious and urban warfare courses.

Training Areas            TOP

The major training areas are all in the vicinity of Mexico City, except for the NCO School at Puebla and the Cavalry School at Irapuato.

The Special Forces Schools have the following training areas:

• 
  Laguna Salada in Baja California Sur for desert training;
  
• 
  El Salto, Pueblo Nuevo, Durango for mountain training;
  
• 
  Xotomoc, Quintana Roo for amphibious and jungle training; and
  
• 
  Temamatla, state of Mexico for urban warfare training.
  

The land forces have no modern tracked armour and, despite fairly extensive recent acquisitions of wheeled Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs), the army still requires both armoured and other vehicles of all kinds. Inventories of both anti-tank guided weapons are paltry, and surface to air missiles are non-existent.

However, the main requirements regard the army's continued internal security roles. Mention has been given to acquiring an extra 1,000 HMMWVs to augment the current ageing fleet. Tactical radios and communication equipment were acquired in 2008 through a large USD192 million order placed with Harris for Falcon II tactical radios and other communication equipment.

Light trucks and logistic support trucks, including commercial off the shelf vehicles are being acquired by the army at a constant rate, mainly from local (commercial) suppliers.

Protected vehicles are also required, with the armoured HMMWV being the most likely option to standardise the fleet. HMMWVs have been modified locally to carry the M106A1 and other types of recoiless rifles.

Armour            TOP

Armour holdings are unlikely to change in the near future, with the Panhard fleet (ERC 90, VBL and VCR) expected to continue in service for at least a decade. The AMX-VCI has been considerably upgraded and is also likely to continue in service for another decade. Local construction of some 1,000 vehicles of the DN-series was cancelled in the late 1980s. There are some 190 ageing armoured personnel carriers of various types that immediate require replacement.

Local production of the G-36V assault rifle continues, under the designation FX-05, and a second batch of 10,000 rifles began production in 2009.

Artillery            TOP

Recent acquisitions have included a large artillery cache obtained in the Gulf, comprising 559 MILAN missiles and 18,000 120-mm mortar rounds. The acquisition of 13 NORINCO 105 mm howitzers (reportedly designated M-90 and thought to be an un-licensed copy of the OTO Melara M-56) for USD13.8 million was officially reported since 2004, however the plan to acquire up to 96 examples has been cancelled after the type was found ineffective for requirements.

There is a requirement for a regiment of 155 mm artillery, although this has lagged in priority and is now not likely to be funded until 2012.

Modernisation            TOP

All of the older existing armoured fighting vehicles (M-8 Greyhound, MAC-1, HWK-11, M2A1/M9A1 half tracks) have undergone several modernisation programmes, including the installation of new engines, night vision systems and armaments. The GIAT 20 mm gun has become the standard fit, a South African-built version is also in service.

Mexico acquired a total of 409 AMX-VCI tracked APCs from Belgium and France, which were heavily converted into the DNC-1, with new Detroit diesel engines, NVG and a number of different armament fixes. So far eight vehicles have been used to form a DNC-1 simulator complex.

Equipment in service            TOP

Armour            TOP