| Namibian Marine Corps | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 22 July 2016 – present (9 years, 4 months) |
| Allegiance | Constitution of Namibia |
| Type | Marines |
| Part of | Namibian Navy |
| Garrison/HQ | Walvis Bay,Namibia |
| Commanders | |
| Commander-In-Chief | Nangolo Mbumba |
| Minister of Defence | Frans Kapofi |
| Namibian Navy Commander | Rear AdmiralSacheus !Gonteb |
| Commandant | CaptainOlavi Shipunda |
TheNamibian Marines Corps are the marines of Namibia and part of theNamibian Navy and the overallNamibian Defence Force.
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 inBrazil in 2005. The Marine Commandant is subordinate to the Commander of the Namibian Navy. The current Marine Corps Commandant is Captain Olavi Shipunda.[1]
Aspirant Marines are trained in Namibia by a combination of Namibian instructors and the Brazilian Military Advisory Team (BRAZMATT) based inWalvis Bay at theNaval 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 of that course 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-month infantry specialization course.[2] The year-long Marine Amphibious Commandos Special Operations Course (MACSOC) is the toughest course in the corps and has a one-in-two failure rate.[2][3]
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 were envisioned.[4]
A marine light infantry unit responsible for protection of static,FOB and naval bases.[5]
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 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:
The provost company is responsible for the policing of Navy service personnel.
The band performs musical duties for military functions and any other apolitical functions for the general public. The band emulates theUnited States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps and the 5 bands of theRoyal Marines Band Service. The Brass Band performs at many important events every year, and is considered an integral part ofstate funerals,state arrival ceremonies,state dinners, parades, and other social events. Although it is a band in theNamibian Navy, it is a separate unit from the navy's flagship ensemble, the Namibian Navy Band.
Provides amphibious warfare and maritime special operations capability to the Navy.The Amphibious Special Operations Unit are trained inWalvis Bay by Brazilian instructors. The amphibious commando basic training course is 12 months after which the successful marine is then given the Operators badge and an Amphibious Commando patched to wear on their left arm.[7] Only existing Marines are eligible for this training.
Conduct riverine patrol and naval bording with small boats particularly in the riverine areas of theZambezi Region'sZambezi River andChobe River.
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.
Marines Corps infantry are deployed on Namibian Navy vessels and shore installations.
Name | Photo | Type | Calibre | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AK-47 |  | Assault rifle | 7.62×39mm |  Soviet Union |
| AK-105[8] |  | Assault rifle | 5.45×39mm |  Russia |
| AK-103[8] | Assault rifle | 7.62×39mm | Russia | |
| Norinco CQ-A |  | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm |  China |
Name | Photo | Type | Calibre | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vityaz-SN[8] | .jpg) | Submachine gun | 9×19mm | Russia |
| FAMAE SAF |  | Submachine gun | 9×19mm |  Chile |
Name | Photo | Type | Calibre | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PKP Pecheneg[8] |  | Machine gun | 7.62×54mm | Russia |
| RPK[8] |  | Machine gun | 7.62×39mm | Soviet Union |
| Kord machine gun[8] |  | Machine gun | 12.7×108mm | Soviet Union |
Name | Photo | Type | Calibre | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AGS-30[8] |  | Grenade launcher | 30 mm | Russia |
| GP-34[8] | .JPG) | Grenade launcher | 40 mm | Soviet Union |
Name | Photo | Type | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| RPG-7 |  | Grenade launcher | Soviet Union |
Marine Corps ranks are based on Commonwealth Navy ranks.
The highest peacetime rank a commissioned officer can attain in the Marine Corps iscaptain. 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 ofChief of Defence Force. The highest rank an enlisted member can attain is Warrant Officer Class 1, but the highest appointment they can hold is theNamibian Defence Force Sergeant Major.
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Namibian Marine Corps |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||||||
| Marine Commandant | Commander | Lieutenant commander | Lieutenant | Lieutenant (junior grade) | Ensign | |||||||||||||||||||
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Namibian Marine Corps |  |  |  |  |  |  | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warrant officer class 1 | Warrant officer class 2 | Chief petty officer | Petty officer | Leading seaman | Able seaman | Seaman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Namibian Marines tackling an obstacle course | |
| A video of the Marines performing tactical demonstration |
