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Haitian Army
Armée d'Haïti (French)
Lame d'Ayiti (Haitian Creole)
Emblem of the Armed Forces of Haiti
Emblem of the Armed Forces of Haiti
Combat Patch of the Armed Forces of Haiti
Combat Patch of the Armed Forces of Haiti
Active1791–1994
2017–present
Country Haiti
BranchArmy
RoleLand warfare
Part ofArmed Forces of Haiti
HQGrand Quartier Général, Champ de Mars, Port-au-Prince
Motto(s)"Serve and Defend"
(«Servir et Défendre»)
EngagementsSee Military history of Haiti
Gang war in Haiti
Commanders
PresidentTransitional Presidential Council
Minister of Defense Jean Michel Moïse
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Lt.Gen. Derby Guerrier (acting)
Deputy Commander-in-Chief Maj.Gen. Jonas Jean
Chief of the General Staff Brig.Gen. Emmanuel Azémar

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

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History

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See also: Armed Forces of Haiti and Military history of Haiti

Organization

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Bases

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Army Branch Insigna Logo Combat Patch Role Current Commander Home Station
Corps of Engineers (Corps du Génie Militaire)
Sleeve Patch Armed Forces of Haiti Corps of Engineers (FADH CORGE)
Sleeve Patch Armed Forces of Haiti Corps of Engineers (FADH CORGE)
 Military engineering Major Wolsby Ted Tesnor [2] Bicentenaire, Port-au-Prince
National Guard (Garde Nationale)
Infantry Military Aviation Base, Tabarre
Special Forces (Forces Spéciales)
Combat Patch of the Special Forces of the Haitian Army
Combat Patch of the Special Forces of the Haitian Army
 Special operations
Medical Corps (Corps Médico-Sanitaire)
Doctors
Nurse
 Operational medicine Military Aviation Base, Tabarre
Agricultural Section (Séction Agricole) Agronomy
Marching Band (Fanfare de Forces Armées d'Haiti)
Marching band

Personnel

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Officers

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Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
Haitian Army
Lieutenant général Major général Général de brigade Colonel Lieutenant-colonel Major Capitaine Lieutenant Sous-lieutenant
Lyetnan jeneral Majò jeneral Jeneral de brigad Kolonèl Lyetnan kolonèl Majò Kapitèn Lyetnan Soulyetnan

NCOs and Enlisted

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Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
Haitian Army
 No insignia
Adjutant Sergent major Premier sergent Sergent-fourrier Sergent Caporal Soldat de première classe Soldat
Adjitan Sèjan majò Premye sèjan Sèjan-fourye Sèjan Kaporal Sòlda premye klas Sòlda

Training and Formation

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Haitian soldiers in training with an Ecuadorian Army instructor

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.[3] 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.[4]

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"[5] of the Mexican Army, in Puebla, Mexico.[6][7][8] 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 Base, in Léogâne.[9][10] 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.[11][12] 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)[13] that was trained.[14][15][16][17] In December of that year, the second class of soldiers formed in Haiti, composed of 409 soldiers (92 being women),[18] 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.

Haitian Army troops going through special forces training in Mexico

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.[19][20][21] 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.[22]

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.[23] 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.[24] 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.[25]

Haitian soldiers in training with French forces in Martinique.
Haitian soldier during military exercises with French forces.

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.[26][27][28] The first contingent of 25 soldier flew to Le Lamentin on Novermber 3rd 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.[29][30][31][32][33]

Equipment

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Weapons

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Small Arms

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*Records of small arms acquisitions are not publics. The list is a compilation of weapons pictured being carried by soldiers on duty.

**weapons shared Haitian National Police arsenal.

Vehicles

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APC and Troop Transport Vehicles

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Uniform

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Combat Utility Uniform

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The Haitian Army initially used a MARPAT Woodland variant.
The first soldier class formed in Haiti were issued olive green fatigues, used along the woodland MARPAT.

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.[43][44] Later, recruits would be issued a solid olive green color uniform during basic training, which work carry over into service.[45]

Haitian soldiers with the M81 woodland pattern.

On January 1, 2024, during the Independence Day ceremony, U.S. Woodland pattern uniforms would put on display by troops,[46] 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.[47]

Service Uniform

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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.[48][49] A cap frame with a black visor, khaki cap cover, is also part of the uniform, where officers have a gold strap,[50] and enlisted have a black strap.[51][52]

Dress Uniform

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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.[53][54]

Dress Blues

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Lt.Gen. Jodel Lessage (R) in his Dress Blues Uniform

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.[55][56]

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.[57][58] The uniform is highly inspired by the Ecuadorian Army dress uniform.[59]

Dress Whites

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Lt.Gen. Lessage (L) in his Dress White Uniform

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.[60]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Ministère de la Défense - Haïti (30 November 2017). "Visite du Commandant en Chef des Forces Armées d'Haïti à la Base de Léogâne" (in French) – via Facebook.
  2. ^ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ted-tesnor-a1199576/?originalSubdomain=ht
  3. ^ "Renforcement de la coopération militaire entre Haïti et l'Equateur" (in French). Radio Métropole. 6 August 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  4. ^ "Visita del Presidente de Haití Michel Martelly" (PDF). Presidencia Republica del Ecuador. 10 November 2014.
  5. ^ "Ceremonia de bienvenida e inicio del "Curso Intensivo de Formación de Sgtos. 1/os. y 2/os. de las Fuerzas Armadas de Haití"". gob.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  6. ^ SEDENA [@SEDENAmx] (January 21, 2019). "@SEDENAmx llevó a cabo la ceremonia de bienvenida e inicio del "Curso Intensivo de Formación de Sargentos 1/os. y 2/os. de las Fuerzas Armadas de Haití", en la Escuela Militar de Sargentos, #Puebla, Pue" (Tweet) (in Spanish) – via Twitter.
  7. ^ Informe de Labores (PDF) (Report). Secretariat of National Defense. 1 September 2019. p. 91.
  8. ^ Ministère de la Défense - Haiti (15 April 2019). "FAd'H: Retour Au Pays D'Un Groupe de 50 Soldats Formés Au Mexique" (in French) – via Facebook.
  9. ^ Revange, Pierre Lunick (15 August 2019). "Haïti-Sécurité: Graduation de la première promotion des Forces Armées D'Haïti". www.juno7.ht (in French). Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  10. ^ Ministère de la Défense - Haïti (16 August 2019). "Graduation de La Première Promotion des FAd'H: Une Journée Historique Pour Le Peuple Haïtien" (in French) – via Facebook.
  11. ^ "Des soldats haïtiens se rendent au Mexique pour se former" (in French). Radio Métropole. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  12. ^ Ministère de la Défense - Haïti (7 November 2022). "Note de presse" (Press release) (in French). Port-au-Prince – via Facebook.
  13. ^ Ministère de la Défense - Haïti (23 September 2023). "113 Militaires Rentrent Au Pays" (Press release) (in French). Port-au-Prince. Retrieved 29 June 2024 – via Facebook.
  14. ^ Embamex Haití [@EmbamexHaiti] (November 18, 2022). "Ce matin, sont revenus en Haïti les 150 membres des FADH @MDefenseHT, après un voyage effectué au Mexique, le 8 octobre dernier, afin de subir une formation de la @GN_MEXICO_, dans le cadre de la coopération entre le Mexique et Haïti" (Tweet) (in French) – via Twitter.
  15. ^ "Haiti - Flash: The FAd'H now have a National Guard Unit". HaïtiLibre. 20 November 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  16. ^ Ministère de la Défense - Haïti (18 November 2022). "Mots du Ministre de La Défense, Dr Enold Joseph, À L'Occasin du 219E Anniversaire de La Bataille de Vertières, Le 18 Novembre 2022" (in French) – via Facebook.
  17. ^ Ministère de la Défense - Haïti (18 November 2022). "Après Une Formation Au Mexique, 150 Militaires Rentrent Au Pays" (Press release) (in French). Port-au-Prince – via Facebook.
  18. ^ Celestin, Jean Junior (22 December 2022). "409 nouveaux soldats intègrent les Forces Armées d'Haïti . Le Nouvelliste". Le Nouvelliste (in French). Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  19. ^ Celestin, Jean Junior (28 August 2023). "Un contingent de 100 soldats va former l'unité des forces spéciales des Forces Armées d'Haïti". Le Nouvelliste (in French). Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  20. ^ Ministère de la Défense - Haïti (24 September 2023). "113 MILITAIRES RENTRENT AU PAYS" (in French) – via Facebook.
  21. ^ "Avión de la Fuerza Aérea Mexicana aterriza en Haití, para continuar proyectos estratégicos de cooperación de México con ese país" (Press release) (in Spanish). Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores. 28 August 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  22. ^ "Haitian Armed Forces Aim to Recruit 1,500 Soldiers this Year". lenouvelliste.com. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
  23. ^ "Une vingtaine de militaires formés aux droits humains". Facebook, Ministère de la Défense - Haïti. August 30, 2024.
  24. ^ "Intervention du Commandant en chef a.i des Forces Armées d'Haïti, le Lieutenant-Général Derby Guerrier à l'occasion de la cérémonie de présentation du manuel de formation en Droits de l'Homme de la Garde Nationale et de remise de certificats aux formateurs des formateurs et aux formateurs formés aux Droits Humains". Facebook, Ministère de la Défense - Haïti. August 30, 2024.
  25. ^ "Allocution du ministre de la Défense, Jean Marc Berthier Antoine, lors de la cérémonie de présentation du manuel de formation en Droits de l'Homme de la Garde Nationale et de remise de certificats aux formateurs des formateurs et aux formateurs formés aux Droits Humains". Facebook, Ministère de la Défense - Haïti. August 30, 2024.
  26. ^ Berthier Antoine, Jean Marc (2024-09-18). "J'ai rencontré l'ambassadeur de France en Haïti, S.E.M Antoine Michon accompagné d'une délégation de l'ambassade de France. La formation d'une cinquantaine d'officiers et soldats des Forces Armées d'Haïti (FAD'H) sera bientôt prise en charge par la France". X.
  27. ^ Michon, Antoine (2024-09-18). "Merci M. le Ministre pour cet échange avec ma délégation et pour la visite de la base des FAD'H à Clercine. Nous allons engager ces formations des FAD'H avec les Forces armées françaises aux Antilles pour les renforcer dans leur mission de sécurité au bénéfice de la population". X.
  28. ^ Forces Armées aux Antilles (2024-09-20). "Cette semaine, le LCL Laoufi, ADNR pour Haïti, s'est rendu à Port-au-Prince". X.
  29. ^ Berthier Antoine, Jean Marc (2024-11-03). "Aujourd'hui, 25 de nos soldats s'envolent vers Fort-de-France pour une formation de perfectionnement. Plusieurs dizaines d'autres les suivront bientôt au Mexique, en Argentine, et ailleurs. La bataille pour une armée moderne ne fait que continuer". X.
  30. ^ Michon, Antoine (2024-11-03). "J'ai eu le plaisir de saluer ce matin, aux côtés du Ministre de La Défense, le départ du premier groupe de soldats haïtiens qui recevra une formation en Martinique. Première étape d'une coopération entre les forces armées françaises et les FAdH, pour la sécurité en Haïti". X.
  31. ^ Forces armées aux Antilles, @FAA_Officiel (2024-11-03). "Arrivés ce dimanche au PAE du #Lamentin, 25 personnels des forces armées d'#Haïti vont être formés en #Martinique durant deux semaines par le @33eRima dans le le cadre d'un partenariat militaire opérationnel". X.
  32. ^ "French forces in the Caribbean / Forces armées aux Antilles on LinkedIn: #fad #rima #famas #pmo #france #haïti #sécurité #stabilité #caraïbes…". fr.linkedin.com. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
  33. ^ "French forces in the Caribbean / Forces armées aux Antilles on LinkedIn: #militaires #rima #famas #fadh #combat #secourisme #pmo #france #haïti…". fr.linkedin.com. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
  34. ^ 蘇仲泓 (18 July 2019). 蔡英文訪海地受軍禮歡迎 安全部隊各式軍品、步槍皆台灣贈予. The Storm Media. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2024 – via Yahoo! 新聞.
  35. ^ Oryx. "Arms For Allies: Taiwan's Military Donations". Oryx. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
  36. ^ "Haïti: les ressortissants français évacués vers Fort-de-France en Martinique". RFI (in French). 2024-03-25. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  37. ^ "Journal d'Haïti et des Amériques - Haïti: la guerre des gangs se poursuit à Cité Soleil". RFI (in French). 2022-07-18. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  38. ^ https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTFysKS8t/
  39. ^ sergiosunluckyday (2024-10-05). "I need help identifying this rifle, thank you. #FADH". r/Firearms. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
  40. ^ "Vingt ans plus tard, l'armée fait son retour en Haïti". Yahoo News (in French). 2017-11-19. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  41. ^ "Haitian Government Aims to Mobilize Armed Forces Against Criminals . Le Nouvelliste". lenouvelliste.com. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  42. ^ Dèyè Mòn Enfo (2024-08-30). "Delma/Pòtoprens: Akivite kòmanse repran nan kafou Ayewopò, menm si lari a blanch nan ba Delma (1, 2). Nou wè tou maten an solda FADH yo tap fè patrouy nan zòn Tijo, Bwavèna ak Channmas (3, 4)". X, @DeyeMonEnfo.
  43. ^ "Haiti aims to revive military as end of U.N. mission looms". The Seattle Times. 2017-04-19. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  44. ^ "Haitian army set to make controversial return after two decades". Yahoo News. 2017-11-19. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  45. ^ "Graduation de 250 soldats des Forces Armées d'Haïti ce 14 août | Loop Haiti". Loop News. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  46. ^ Lame d'Haiti fenk depwaye chand mas ak 5 cha blennde tout tout bandi Izo , Vitelom komanse tranble. 2024-01-01. Retrieved 2024-07-01 – via YouTube.
  47. ^ Berthier Antoine, Jean Marc. "Succès et courage au nouveau commandant en chef a.i des FAD'H. Lieutenant-Général Derby Guerrier, le pays tout entier vous regarde avec espoir et confiance. Vous avez la responsabilité de mener nos forces armées vers une ère nouvelle". Facebook.
  48. ^ "Haïti se dote d'un haut état-major pour son armée reconstituée". Outre-mer la 1ère (in French). 2018-03-29. Retrieved 2024-06-30.
  49. ^ "Les FADH appelée à défendre la souveraineté nationale". Metropole (in French). 2023-03-20. Retrieved 2024-06-30.
  50. ^ "Mise en place du Bureau des Officiers Généraux (BOG) au Ministère de la Défense". Radio Vision 2000 (in French). 2021-04-14. Retrieved 2024-06-30.
  51. ^ "Ministère de La Défense, 113 Militaires Rentrent Au Pays". Facebook.
  52. ^ "Un contingent de 100 soldats va former l'unité des forces spéciales des Forces Armées d'Haïti . Le Nouvelliste". lenouvelliste.com. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  53. ^ Jean, Anderson (2023-11-18). "Haïti : Cérémonie d'hommage aux héros de Vertières". Vant Bèf Info (VBI) (in French). Retrieved 2024-06-30.
  54. ^ "Ministère de la Défense - Haïti, 220e anniversaire de la victoire de la bataille de Vertières". Facebook. 2023-11-18.
  55. ^ Ministère de la Défense - Haïti (2019-11-19). "Ceci est un reportage photo. Il retrace le défilé des Forces Armées d'Haïti à l'occasion de la 216e commération de la bataille de Vertières". Facebook.
  56. ^ Ministère de la Défense - Haïti. "Dans le cadre de la cérémonie de commémoration du jour de l'indépendance d'Haïti et des Aïeux, un bataillon mixte composé de militaires et policiers a été constitué en vue de rendre les honneurs militaires au premier ministre Ariel Henry les 1er et 02 janvier 2023, devant le Musée du Panthéon National (MUPANAH) et l'Autel de la Patrie". Facebook.
  57. ^ Ministère de la Défense - Haïti (2018-01-03). "Garde à vous". Facebook.
  58. ^ Ministère de la Défense - Haïti (2018-01-03). "Le Peloton d'honneur défile dans les rues de la Cité de l'Indépendance". Facebook.
  59. ^ DariusRinzler (2023-04-19). "Engineering private from the Haitian Army alongside an Armored Cavalry private from the Ecuadorian Army after their graduation ceremony from the ESFORSE (Ecuadorian Army Troop School), 2017 [720 x 960]". r/uniformporn. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
  60. ^ Ministère de la Défense - Haiti (2018-05-19). "Célébration du drapeau à l'Arcahaie | Parade des FAD'H". Facebook.
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