| Argentine Navy Infantry | |
|---|---|
| Infantería de Marina de la Armada de la República Argentina | |
| Active | 1807–present |
| Country |  Argentina |
| Branch | Argentine Navy |
| Type | Marines |
| Role | Amphibious Warfare |
| Size | 5,500 |
| Part of | .svg) Argentine Navy |
| Mottos | PATRIAE SEMPER VIGILES (Always vigilant for the Fatherland) |
| March | Marcha de la Infantería de Marina (Marine march) |
| Anniversaries | 19 November 1879 |
| Website | argentina.gob.ar/imara |
| Commanders | |
| Current | Rear. Adm. Pedro Eugenio Galardi[1] |
TheNaval Infantry Command (Spanish:Comando de la Infantería de Marina, COIM), also known as theNaval Infantry of the Navy of the Argentine Republic (Spanish:Infantería de Marina de la Armada de la República Argentina, IMARA) and generally referred to in English as theArgentine marines, are theamphibious warfare branch of theArgentine Navy and one of its four operational commands.
The Argentine marines trace their origins to theSpanish Naval Infantry, which took part in conflicts in South America in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Argentine marines took part in various conflicts of the nineteenth and twentieth century, notably theWar of the Triple Alliance and theFalklands War. The marines (represented by the5th Naval Infantry Battalion) are considered to have been among the best Argentine combat units present in the Falklands. The most recent war in which Argentine naval infantry took part was theGulf War of 1990.
Nowadays Argentine naval infantry are frequently deployed on UN peace-keeping missions.
The Marines trace their origins inSpanish Naval Infantry, at the time of theViceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. After theArgentine War of Independence, it was under joint administration of theArgentine Army and theArgentine Navy. A 1946 law placed the marines solely under the jurisdiction of the Navy.
IMARA routinely train in joint exercises with similar units ofBrazil,Chile and theUnited States.[2] However, as of 2021 component battalions were reported to be at about 60 percent of their authorized strength levels due to lack of personnel and resources.[3]
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IMARA had two companies as part of the Argentinian battalions in Cyprus (UNFICYP, 1992 to 2003) and Haiti (MINUSTAH, 2004 to 2015). The former remains as a platoon-size unit as a consequence of the missions downsizing, and the latter finished its tour in 2015. A small platoon was also deployed inSerbia/UN ProvinceKosovo (NATOKFOR mandate), attached to Argentine Engineers Company, which was in turn attached to theItalian Brigade.
A few marines officers are routinely deployed as military observers for theUN.
Argentine Marines have the same rank insignia and titles as the rest of the Argentine Navy, and are trained in the same institutions for officers and NCOs. Until the 21st century the Marine Corps Basic School provided post-graduate officer and basic enlisted training.
The FMF was formerly called the Brigada de IM No. 1 (English:1st Marine Brigade )
The SMF was formerly called the Fuerza de M No. 1. (English: 1st Marine Force)
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Argentine Marines |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
| Almirante IM | Vicealmirante IM | Contralmirante IM | Capitán de navío IM | Capitán de fragata IM | Capitán de corbeta IM | Teniente de navío IM | Teniente de fragata IM | Teniente de corbeta IM | Guardiamarina IM | |||||||||||||||
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