Namibian Marine Corps

The Namibian Marines Corps are the marines of Namibia and is part of the Namibian Navy and the Namibian Defence Force.

Namibian Marine Corps
Active	22 July 2016 – present (8 years, 3 months)
Allegiance	Constitution of Namibia
Type	Marines
Role	Amphibious warfare Anti-tank warfare Artillery observer Bomb disposal Close-quarters combat Desert warfare Force protection Internal security Jungle warfare Naval boarding Raiding Reconnaissance Riverine warfare
Part of	Namibian Navy
Garrison/HQ	Walvis Bay, Namibia
Commanders
Commander-In-Chief	Nangolo Mbumba
Minister of Defence	Frans Kapofi
Namibian Navy Commander	Rear Admiral Alweendo Amungulu
Commandant	Captain Olavi Shipunda

History

The Marine Corps are a recent addition to the Namibian Defence Force due to the gradual establishment of the Namibian Navy. The first Marines were trained in Brazil in 2005. The Marine Commandant is subordinate to the Commander of the Namibian Navy. The current Marine Corps Commandant is Captain Olavi Shipunda.^[1]

Training

Aspirant Marines are trained in Namibia by a combination of Namibian instructors and the Brazilian Military Advisory Team (BRAZMATT) based in Walvis Bay at the Naval Training School. The first course to complete before induction as a marine is the Marines Soldier Formation Course which lasts for five months, after completion induction into the marine corps takes place and the marine is promoted to the rank of able seaman. Marines specializing in infantry are required to complete a six months infantry specialization course.^[2] The Marine Amphibious Commandos Special Operations Course (MACSOC) is the toughest course in the corps and has a one-in-two failure rate; its courses last a year.^[2][3]

Force Structure

During the corps' infancy, the Navy Chief of Naval Support indicated that the short-term goal was to have a force consisting of a Marine Corps Infantry Company, Service Support Company, Provost Company, and Brass Band. However due to operation requirements, a Marine Battalion with its own organic rapid Reaction, Operational Boats Unit, and Operational Diving Team are envisioned.^[4]

• Rapid Reaction Force
  • Marine Corps Infantry Battalion
  • Service Support Company
  • Provost Company
  • Brass Band
• Amphibious Special Operations Unit
• Operational Boats Unit
• Operational Diving Team

Rapid Reaction Force

Marines from the Operational Boat Unit on parade in downtown Windhoek on 20 March 2015 during Namibia's Independence celebrations

A marine light infantry unit responsible for protection of static, FOB and naval bases.^[5]

Marine Corps Infantry Battalion

The Marine Corps Infantry Battalion is the unit responsible for undertaking amphibious warfare operations. A full marine battalion has been raised initially from a single company.^[6]

Service Support Company

Service support company provides direct and indirect sustainment services to the Marine Battalion as it conducts operations. Support service offered by the sub-unit includes but not limited to:

• Quartermaster
• Finance
• Medical
• Transportation

Provost Company

The provost company is responsible for the policing of Navy service personnel.

Brass Band

The band performs musical duties for military functions and any other apolitical functions for the general public. The band emulates the United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps and the 5 bands of the Royal Marines Band Service. The Brass Band performs at many important events every year, and is considered an integral part of state funerals, state arrival ceremonies, state dinners, parades, and other social events. Although it is a band in the Namibian Navy, it is a separate unit from the navy's flagship ensemble, the Namibian Navy Band.

Amphibious Commandos Unit

Provides amphibious warfare and maritime special operations capability to the Navy.

Operational Boat Unit

Conduct riverine patrol and naval bording with small boats particularly in the riverine areas of the Zambezi Region's Zambezi River and Chobe River.

Operational Diving Unit

It is a clearance diving unit that specializes in the disposal of hazardous materials.^[5] Its role varies depending on the situation, with duties ranging from counterterrorism to explosive ordnance disposal.

Deployments

Marines Corps infantry are deployed on Namibian Navy vessels and shore installations.

Marine Corps equipment

Rifles

Name	Photo	Type	Calibre	Origin
AK-47		Assault rifle	7.62×39mm	Soviet Union
AK-105[7]		Assault rifle	5.45×39mm	Russia
AK-103[7]		Assault rifle	7.62×39mm	Russia
Norinco CQ-A		Assault rifle	5.56×45mm	China

Submachine guns

Name	Photo	Type	Calibre	Origin
Vityaz-SN[7]		Submachine gun	9×19mm	Russia
FAMAE SAF		Submachine gun	9×19mm	Chile

Machine guns

Name	Photo	Type	Calibre	Origin
PKP Pecheneg[7]		Machine gun	7.62×54mm	Russia
RPK[7]		Machine gun	7.62×39mm	Soviet Union
Kord machine gun[7]		Machine gun	12.7×108mm	Soviet Union

Grenades and grenade launchers

Name	Photo	Type	Calibre	Origin
AGS-30[7]		Grenade launcher	30 mm	Russia
GP-34[7]		Grenade launcher	40 mm	Soviet Union

Anti-tank weapons

Name	Photo	Type	Origin
RPG-7		Grenade launcher	Soviet Union

Vehicles

• RG-32 Scout South Africa^[8]

Ranks and insignia

Marine Corps ranks are based on Commonwealth Navy ranks.

The highest peacetime rank a commissioned officer can attain in the Marine Corps is captain. Career progression in the force for Marine officers is possible well beyond the rank of Navy captain. A Marine officer can be posted outside the Marine unit and progress up the ranks to the singular appointment of Chief of Defence Force. The highest rank an enlisted member can attain is Warrant Officer Class 1, but the highest appointment they can hold is the Namibian Defence Force Sergeant Major.

Commissioned officers

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Namibian Marine Corps v t e
											Marine Commandant		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Lieutenant (junior grade)			Ensign

Non-commissioned officers/other ranks

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Namibian Marine Corps v t e																													No insignia
	Warrant officer class 1						Warrant officer class 2		Chief petty officer		Petty officer												Leading seaman				Able seaman		Seaman

Gallery

• 
  Naval officers and marines of the Namibian Navy
• 
  Marines aboard a Navy Interceptor
• 
  Air Force Mi-17 carrying out exercises with Namibian Marines

External videos

External videos
Namibian Marines tackling an obstacle course
A video of the Marines performing tactical demonstration

References

1. "Ministry of Defense". Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
2. Marketing, Intouch Interactive. "Dungeon inquiry deferred - Local News - Namibian Sun".
3. "54 Namibian marines graduate". 15 December 2014.
4. Lotto, S (December 2013). "Marine Corps Undertake Section Commander Course". NDF Journal. 50: 13.
5. "54 Namibian marines graduate". 15 December 2014.
6. "- The Namibian".
7. Defence Web. "Namibia receives Russian small arms". defenceweb.co.za. defenceweb. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
8. "Denel vehicles and weapons going to Namibia". 19 January 2017.