São Gabriel da Cachoeira (AM) – Researchers from the Meira Mattos Institute of the Army’s Command and Staff School carried out a field study with indigenous soldiers from the Amazon Military Command (CMA). Entitled The relevance of incorporating young people from indigenous communities into the Brazilian Army, the project is conducted by the National Defense, Borders and Migration Study Group, based on respect and appreciation of Brazil’s native peoples. The data was collected in the first half of July.
The aim is to produce knowledge about the selection of indigenous volunteers, their adaptation to military life and the army’s relationship with the communities. The project chose the 5th Jungle Infantry Battalion because it has the largest ethnic representation in the Army, on the border strip with the largest indigenous population in Brazil.
The research was conducted in the Special Border Platoons of Querari, Iauaretê and Maturacá, in indigenous communities in the region and with government agencies and organized civil society entities. To better understand the regional dynamics, the researchers consulted the Federation of Indigenous Organizations of the Rio Negro; the Socio-Environmental Institute; the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation and the National Foundation for Indigenous Peoples.
More than 200 interviews with active-duty indigenous military personnel were conducted by doctoral students Lieutenant-Colonel Tigernaque and Major Douglas Oliveira, from the Postgraduate Program in Military Sciences, under the coordination of Professor Dr. Tássio Franchi and veteran Colonel Newton Bochi, together with the CMA’s indigenist advisor, veteran Captain João Pinheiro.
According to the CMA’s Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Washington Rocha Triani, the research into the incorporation of young people from indigenous communities into the Army is very important and is in line with the respect and support for native peoples and the Amazonian population, which is one of the strategic vocations established by the Military Commander of the Amazon, Army General Costa Neves,
The incorporation of indigenous soldiers enables a greater exchange between traditional cultures, habits and knowledge and the Army’s values and practices, favoring the defense of the Amazon. Now, the field research aims to systematically identify these processes and discover ways to strengthen the partnership between the Army and indigenous communities.
