Macapá (AP) – As part of his institutional visit to the military organizations under the Northern Military Command, Army Commander General Tomás visited the facilities and improvement works of the Special Border Company (CEF) of Clevelândia do Norte, in Oiapoque (AP), on Wednesday (12). He also visited the 34th Jungle Infantry Battalion (34° BIS) and the 22nd Jungle Infantry Brigade (22ª Bda Inf Sl²), created in 2018.
The soldiers of the Special Border Company patrol and defend the border between northern Brazil and the French territory of French Guiana. It is in this region that the Northern Military Command will hold CORE23, a combined military exercise between the Brazilian and US armies, in November this year, involving around 300 US military personnel. Teams from the 8th Construction Engineering Battalion (8th BEC), based in Santarém, are working in the area with the aim of promoting improvements and expanding structures for the military organization. “We’re making progress with drainage and paving. As of August this year, we’ll continue with the earthworks. By the first week of October, we’ll have finished the two kilometers of asphalt inside the Company,” said Lieutenant Colonel Luciano Flávio, Commander of the 8th BEC.
After the visit to the CEF, the delegation headed to Macapá, where the Army Commander inaugurated the “Veiga Cabral” Cultural Collection at the 34th Jungle Infantry Battalion (34th BIS). The space tells the story of the Brazilian Army’s presence in the state of Amapá. The composition of sculptures, military articles and paintings by local artists presents a little more about military history, cultivating the traditions and values of the Force. “The collection is our debt to the city. I can already imagine, in a few days’ time, the first schools with children and young people visiting our collection, something we needed to hand over to society,” said the Commander of the 34th BIS, Colonel George Alberto.
General Tomás also visited the Brazilian Army’s newest brigade: the 22nd Jungle Infantry Brigade, in the capital of Amapá. The Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Vinicius, led the reception for the delegation with the Praetorian Guard. The Army Commander then conducted the review of the Guard of Honor and the graduation in the Pioneers’ Courtyard. During the graduation, the “CMN Challenge” awards were presented, which took place between July 2 and 5, when the Northern Military Command held the 1st edition of the “CMN Challenge”, to commemorate its 10th anniversary.
During three intense days of activities, seven combat groups from the units subordinate to the 22nd Jungle Infantry Brigade ran 11 workshops, where they were able to practice techniques, tactics and procedures related to orienteering, river navigation, jungle survival, rifle and pistol shooting, marching through the jungle, among others. The competition was also an excellent opportunity to develop the leadership skills of the commanders of the small units taking part. At the end of the competition, the Echo Combat Group, from the Amapá Border Command and the 34th Jungle Infantry Battalion, was crowned champion.
General Tomás highlighted the strategic importance of the 22nd Bda Inf Sl for the defense and protection of the Foz do Amazonas region: “the fact that we have a brigade here in Macapá shows the importance that the Brazilian Army attaches to the region. Before there was just the 34th BIS, and now it no longer works alone. What’s more, the soldiers who work here are highly trained, and this only increases our responsibility and our standard of performance here in this region.” General Tomás also checked on the progress of the construction of the Garrison Medical Post (P Med Gu), the Administrative Base of the 22nd Bda Inf Sl (B Adm) and two apartment towers, which will be used as residences for Macapá garrison sergeants and sergeants major.
¹Foz do Amazonas – “the mouth of the Amazon River” ²Bda Inf Sl – Acronym for Jungle Infantry Brigade
*** Translated by DEFCONPress FYI Team ***