The President
of the Republic is commander in chief. The Minister
of Defense is responsible for policy. Day-to-day operations
are the responsibility of the military chief of staff
and the national defense staff. The total active manpower
is around 18,000 military personnel. There is also
a Para-military force with 9,500 national police.
The Land forces of the Guatemalan armed forces are
around 15,500 soldiers with the structure:
- 5 infantry brigades, 1 Special Forces Command, 1
military police brigade, 1 Presidential Honour Guard,
9 infantry battalions, 1 mechanised cavalry squadron,
1 artillery brigade, 6 armoured recce squadron, 1
Presidential Guard battalion, 1 special forces group
( 2 parachute / commando battalions, 1 engineer battalion.