Venezuela

Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

Venezuela is officially the Boliviarian Republic of Venezuela (República Bolivariana de Venezuela). The region was colonized by Spain in 1522, after overcoming the resistance of indigenous people, but the Spanish crown was again forced to defend its colony from 1775 to 1776 when the Makiritare organized a major resistance. Following a series of general uprisings the Venezuelan War of Independence began in 1811 and ended in 1821 after several key battles were won. Venezuela remained part of Gran Colombia, however, until 1830, when a new rebellion proclaimed an independent state.

Between 1859 and 1863, the Federal War was fought between Federalist (conservative) and Centalist (liberal) parties over the monopoly of land and government positions in Venezuela. Hundreds of thousands reputedly died, and the war finally ended with a Federal victory. The nation was involved in several disputes with European nations in 1895, 1902-3, and 1908. Throughout most of the 19th and early 20th centuries, Veneuzela was ruled by dictatorial leaders. Several guerilla movements were organized in the 1960s, but they agreed to lay down their arms after the democratic election of Rafael Caldera, who governed from 1969 to 1973.

The Fuerza Armada Nacional (FAN) are the armed forces of Venezuela, and consist of the Army, Navy, Air Force, National Guard, and the National Militia.

Venezuelan Camouflage Patterns

• The oldest documented Venezuelan camouflage pattern is a leaf design featuring black and off-white leaf shapes over large blotches of dark & light oilve green. The pattern appears to have been introduced in the 1980s and saw service until 1994 with units of the Army and Air Force.

• The Guardia Nacional (National Guard) issued its own vertical tiger stripe camouflage pattern from the 1980s until 1994. This design featured vertical stripes of black, purplish-brown & olive green on a sparse pinkish-grey field.

• In 1994, the Armed Forces discarded their old camouflage patterns in favor of a locally-produced copy of the US m81 woodland design. This remained the standard combat pattern until 2005, when a political decision was made to do away with camouflage uniforms entirely and adopt a solid olive green combat uniform.

• Formed in 2009, the National Bolivarian Militia (Milicia Nacional Bolivariana) is an all-volunteer branch of the armed forces that provides a light infantry military reserve, home defense, and security of governmental installations to the nation. Circa 2016, the militia adopted a new lizard-pattern camouflage uniform.

• In 2017 personnel of the Brigada de Acciones Especiales (BAE) which is part of the Cuerpo de Investigaciones Científicas, Penales y Criminalísticas (CICPC) started to wear Multicam uniforms.

• A green dominated Mulitcam pattern is also in use within the Brigada de Acciones Especiales (BAE) since 2018.

• Circa 2018, the Armed Forces began to re-issue a version of the old woodland design to certain formations of the National Guard and Air Force.

• In early 2018 some units of the Servicio Bolivariano de Inteligencia Nacional (SEBIN) started to wear uniforms with the Kryptel Night pattern.

• In January 2019, the Venezuelan Navy began to issue its own camouflage pattern, which combines several shades of grey splinter shapes that fuse into a solid color at a distance.

Camouflage of Venezuelan Police Agencies

• An interesting blue duck hunter pattern was worn during the 1980s by special units of the Policia Nacional (National Police). It is uncertain how long the pattern remained in service, but it was certainly replaced by the 1990s.

• The National Police have issued two different urban camouflage patterns based on the woodland design. The first of these features black, blue grey & periwinkle woodland shapes on a pale blue background.

• The second National Police pattern features black, dark grey & slate grey woodland shapes on a light grey background.

• Although the armed forces ceased to wear camouflage uniforms in 2005, the Policía Nacional Bolivariana adopted a unique pixelated camouflage pattern in 2017. The design incorporates black, dark grey, and pale blue on a very light grey background.

• Since 2018 the Unidad de Operaciones y Tácticas Especiales (UOTE) which is part of Fuerzas de Acciones Especiales (FAES) of the Bolivian National Police Corps (Cuerpo de Policía Nacional Bolivariana or CPNB) is wearing uniform with the Geo 7 Terrain pattern. This design is manufactured by Veil Camo.

• Also observed in use with elements of the National Police Fuerzas de Acciones Especiales (FAES) since 2018 is the Geo 7 Night pattern, also developed by Veil Camo.

• In 2018 the FAES, including UOTE, introduced the MARPAT woodland pattern for its personnel.

• Circa 2020, elements of the FAES were observed wearing a green-dominant pixelated camouflage pattern similar to that formerly worn by the Chinese Armed Police Force (CAPF). A close comparison reveals the two designs are probably not precisely the same.