Military of Jordan

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Military branches: Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF; includes Royal Jordanian Land Force, Royal Naval Force, and Royal Jordanian Air Force); Badiya (irregular) Border Guards; Ministry of the Interior's Public Security Force (falls under JAF only in wartime or crisis situations)

Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,372,958 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,773,991 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 57,131 (2002 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure: $757.5 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 8.6% (FY98)

1 History
2 Battles
3 References and links
4 External links

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History

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Ground forces

The mission of Jordan's armed forces is to defend and maintain the sovereignty, security, and stability of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan against any external or internal threat.

The establishment of the Jordan Armed Forces (JAF) can be traced to the elite fighters of the Great Arab Revolt led by Al-Sharif Hussien Bin Ali. That elite joined Prince Abdulla Bin-Hussein on October 21, 1920. A number of Arabs, numbering 25 officers and 250 soldiers, joined Prince Abdulla to form the nucleus of the Arab Legion.

The leader of the revolt, Al-Sharief Hussein Bin Ali, called this army the Arab Army. In 1923 Prince Abdulla gave the same name to the embryonic armed forces of the Trans-Jordan Emirate to demonstrate that just as the revolt that began on June 10 1916 was for all Arabs, so would the new army be for them too.

The primary roles of this army were to prevent tribal feuding and protect the independence of the newly-established state.

This army started with an infantry company, cavalry company, machine-guns unit, signal section and military band. In 1923, the total size of the army did not exceed 750 men. The force was under the supervision of British Captain F.G. Peak.

During 1930, the Arab Legion's strength was expanded to approximately 11,000. In 1931, a camel-mounted desert mobile force was organized under the command of John Bagot Glubb to maintain security and order.

This organization attracted numerous Bedouin volunteers. In 1933, the first mechanized force was formed. This element consisted of three vehicles and 120 men including the camel-mounted desert mobile force. It undertook the task of maintaining security, preventing raids among the tribal groups and deterring raids from outside of the country.

By the eve of World War II, the legion had been expanded to a force of about 1,600 men. The Arab Legion took part in operations in Syria during the war. Early in the war, independent companies and a regular battalion were established. This battalion was later expanded to form the 1st Brigade.

In 1942, the 2nd Battalion was formed. This later became the 2nd Brigade. The army continued to expand in terms of both numbers and equipment.

In 1948, the Arab Legion was increased in size to include six battalions. So the army consisted of an infantry division, an artillery brigade, a mortar battery, an artillery battery, an engineer and signal battalion and a field aid unit.

In early 1956 His Majesty King Hussein, the supreme commanders of the legion, dismissed Glubb as commander of the military establishment. After Glubb's departure the army was reorganized, and Arab commanders assumed leadership posts.

In 1957, His Majesty King Hussein ordered the establishment of the 4th Infantry Brigade and another field artillery unit. In 1958, heavy artillery was obtained; and in the same year the armored brigade was expanded to become an armored division. In 1961 it become the armored corps. During this period, the 40th Brigade, the 60th Brigade and the Royal Guard Brigade were established.

In 1965, the army expanded again when His Majesty King Hussein ordered to form five infantry brigades. The army was divided into two fronts: Western Front and Eastern Front. Ten infantry battalions were concentrated on each front.

In 1967, a new armored brigade was established. The artillery brigade was reorganized to consist of three field artillery battalions and an anti-aircraft battalion.

After the 1967 war, the army witnessed a tangible advance in all respects, particularly in weapons and training. New types of artillery, rifles, guns, tanks, vehicles, missiles and other equipment were brought to the army.

In 1968, the army fought Israeli forces in the Battle of Al-Karameh and destroyed the myth of the Israeli forces that the Israeli army will not be conquered.

In the 1973 war, His Majesty King Hussein sent the 40th Armored Brigade to the Syrian front and they played a significant role in repelling the Israeli attack on the Syrian territories.

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Royal Jordanian Air Force

On July 22 1948, the nucleus of the Royal Jordanian Air Force was established by an initiative from King Abdulla Bin Al-Hussein, grandfather of King Hussein. This newly-established force consisted of some helicopters to be used in training, moving of troops and correspondence.

At the end of 1949 , a group of young Jordanians were sent overseas to receive training as pilots and maintenance officers. This first group consisted of 5 pilots and 3 co-pilots.

When His Majesty King Hussein took over legislative authority, he started by reinforcing the air force with combat aircraft, and trained in each version of these aircraft starting withthe helicopters and ending with the fixed-wing aircraft. His Majesty personally undertook testing all versions of combat aircraft being provided to Jordan. After a while, the air force was reinforced by Vampire aircraft.

In 1959, a Hawker Hunter squadron joined the air force, as well as "Derrl Wind" helicopters. Moreover, a well-developed aircraft, the F-104 Starfighter, was provided.

In 1972, the RJAF was reorganized to cope with expansion. New airfields were built. New versions of aircraft were acquired, such as the U.S. F-5, C-119 Airlift and C-130. At the same time, the computer system was entered to improve the service level; and a high level of focus was put on continuous technical training, as well as making sure that Jordan had a large enough reserve of well-trained pilots. In 1974, many steps had been taken in all areas, including development of training equipment in order to provide enough local training.

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Since 1977

In 1977, mechanization of the JAF was declared complete, and the infantry division converted into a mechanized division. The infantry units had developed in various ways. The 1980s saw a number of initiatives, including the following:

A royal decree was issued to allocate 20% of seats in governmental universities and institutes to children of JAF members.
Expansion of housing services.
Expansion of the military consumer establishment.

To increase military manpower in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, a resolution was issued in 1982 establishing the people's army, and in 1984 the people were permitted to bear arms and act as an auxiliary army to the JAF.

This period witnessed JAF reorganization to place reliance will be on quality and balance, not quantity. It is intended that the force be more skillful and professional, and that all corps branches are developed to enable them to cope up with modern technology and differentiate all weapons sources.

Computer systems were introduced in the JAF to conduct works and exercises of the forces. Moreover, well-developed tanks were acquired by the armored corps, such as the Khalid Bin AI-Waleed tank and the Tarq bin Zyad tank, which were adjusted by Jordanian Engineers officers and provided with modern equipment. This development, extension and modernization will include the engineer and signal corps.

The Jordanian Armed Forces kept up with technological development, so GHQ established a computer directorate to fully supervise and maintain computer devices in the JAF, updating and developing the various applied computer systems. In the area of developing and updating administrative method, the JAF used a modern documentation system (Microfiche), which worked by keeping the written information in Microfiche to be developed later into modern archives. In addition to services and corps schools, the wise leadership has built specialized scientific institutes in the JAF to develop the knowledge and skills its members.

These institutes are cadets officers school, In 1950, Infantry school and RMC, moreover, Jordanian CGSC which graduate officers after high level specialized academic study in military & administrative sciences for one year with a B.A.

To enabled to officers to complete their high or post - graduate study in a specialized scientific institute, and graduate with a master - degree in military and administrative science, the war collage was established and the first course was opened on 29/7/1986.

The most important achievements which has met his majesty the supreme commander King Hussein was establishing Mu´ta University to be JAF and public security auxiliary, and prepare the qualified manpower to lead the JAF.

The most Prominent that attracted attention in this achievements and developments and its variable and extension it differentiate between building into learning training levels in CGSC, war college and other schools to include learning military music.

The Jordan Armed Farce since its establishment in 1921 till this date has the honor to stand beside brothers countries to build up the Arab Legion slogan as an Army for all Arabs, and so it was participated in Kuwait in 1961, Yemen 1962 and Oman in 1975, moreover, it participated in forming a battalion in Bahrain, stand to the side of Iraq during Iraqi - Iranian war in 1980, and provided training , volunteers support. In 1982 Jordan supported Lebanon through providing them with weapons besides , training and volunteers efforts. Finally, Jordan had never stopped providing training efforts in addition to weapons, clouts to the Palestinian security Forces in self- reline areas in Gaza and Jarico. Jordan Arab legion Participated in establishing and qualifying Arab Armies in Gulf states in particular and most other Arab states in general through sending training and technical missions and receive its members in our military institutes, besides that, JAF at humanitarian side conducted relief recovery by providing food, medicine and assistance when natural catastrophe occurred in any part of world .

International the Arab Legion look part in the United Nation Protection Force in a response to the Security Council Resolution No.743 of 1992. Thus, Jordanian Arab legion participated in UNPROFOR in Croatia and rated second after the French forces . What attracts ones attention is development and efficiency of Jordan Arab Army in peace and war times.

Jordan Armed Forces plays its humanitarian role to achieve peace and stability arrows the world , which embodies the principles of Great Arab Revolt (GAR) in the humanitarian dimension. Jordan Armed Forces participated with the UNPROFOR in the conflict regions of Somalia, Angola, Liberia, Georgia, and former Yugoslavia. UNPROFOR commander in Croatia was also a senior Jordanian officer, due to the international proficiency and high discipline that led the special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) Yasushi Akashi to state that Jordanians should be proud of the Jordanian UNPROFOR Personnel.

Jordan Armed Forces is characterized, internally and externally, with high efficiency. Internally JAF look part in the development process that is exemplified in road construction, dam and school building, and project development and maintenance in addition to many other contributions of environmental nature such as tree planting, natural and industrial disasters, and a health care of which the beneficiaries are more than half of the kingdom's population.

Through fast review of the Arab Legion's victorious history its bright image has crystallized, which his majesty King Hussein, the supreme Commander described. The Arab army is a national shield, flag carriers, our nations hope, and Al-Hussein's pride and most precious. It is the Great Arab Revolt's Army that will stay in top of it's ability and readiness in both training and equipment. It is the Army of martyrs and good purified men, the defenders of Mu´ta and the land of battles in Jerusalem , Nabules, Jineen, Bab Al-Wad, Assammou, Galgeelia ,and the heroes of Al-Karama.

Jordan today boasts one of the world's feircest fighting special forces/operations in the world. These elite units fall under the command of the Royal Jordan Special Operations Command and are devided into three Brigades; The Paratrooper Brigade, The Rangers Brigade and the Special Forces Brigade. The Jordanian special forces have engaged in operations inside the kingdom and around the world, and have ever since struck the enemy with a fist of iron. The Jordanian SOCOM's missions include trainining of freidnly foriegn nations' armies and groups, rapid intervention in high risk internal security threats, carrying out long range recconisence and scouting in peace keeping operations abroad and most importantly Counter terrorism where ever and when ever there be need. Jordan's feircest Special Operations Battalion is The 71st Counter Terrorist Battalion, it has proved it self world wide and a lot of operations it carried out are case studies for numerous counter terrorism studies and agencies world wide.

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Battles

History On June 10,1916 Sharif Hussien Bin Ali prince of Mecca, had officially declared the Great Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire for ridding the Arab nations from the Turkish rule that lasted about four centuries.

On November 21,1920 Prince Abudllah Bin Al-Hussien arrived to Ma'an where he expressed his resolution to drive out the Turkish aggressive Forces from Syria. Later, on December 5th, 1920 he proclaimed himself as king deputy in Syria and appealed to members of Al-Faissali army to join his forces in Ma'an. His calls had received much attention in the Arab world as several Arab prominent nationalists and other Arab princes joined his campaign which later formed the embryonic force of the Arab legion.

When prince Abdullah came to power in the Emirate of trans-Jordan at that time Jordan Armed Forces included:

- Cavalry (Darak) force of 400 men. - A mobile (mainly cavalry) force of 150 men. - A regular Army battalion of some 200 infantrymen. - A camelry of 100 men. - An Arab ,force, which was probably the battalion that had accompanied prince Abdullah to Amman from Ma'an.

Roles of Military Formations in Jordan from the Foundation of the Emirate until 1948 war:

a. Jordan's East border Force: It had played an important role for Britain during World War II as it provided protection for British lines of communication extending from Iraq to Russia. It also took part in the fighting against the French forces in Syria.

b. The Arab Legion: - It was mainly tasked during World War II with maintaining order and law in the country.

Moreover, it extended support to British Forces engaged in military actions in Syria, Iraq and Palestine. It's worth mentioning in this respect that a military detachment of this force had participated in ceremonies of the Victory Day organized in London on June 8, 1946 , and the victory festival of Allied Forces in Jerusalem.

c. The Dessert Force(Al-Badia Force): Its main task was to guard Jordan borders with neighboring Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Syria as well as to provide protection for oil pipe lines of (IPC). Besides that, it participated in campaigns of Syria and Iraq during World War II.

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