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Bajaahh
Junior Nomad
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Registered: 7-6-2011
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Mexician Military
After recently going through a military checkpoint (or two), some friends and I were discussing the Mexican Military and the benefits they receive for
joining.
I thought the Nomads would have the (correct) answers we were looking for.
Can someone educate me on what the befits are for joining?
Do they get a pension? Pay? A right to vote? Social security? Education? How long is the minimum time required? Is it mandatory to join?
...that kind of stuff.
Thanks in advance, Scott
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DavidE
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Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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It is a primary requirement to obtain a Méxican passport, other than having a substantial amount of personal wealth. Health care, income, networking,
and escaping considerable pressures from la familia mayor. Soldados enlisted and officers are never stationed close to "home". Something about "the
further the better".
They have to become a non-commissioned officer at the least and serve (used to be) 18-years before they got a meager retirement stipend. They have
health care for varying amounts of time after their tour depending on their rank. Everybody has a "right to vote" but they have to produce evidence of
citizenship. This is established before the enlistment process has been completed.
All of the above gathered in talks with my pal Felipe Espinosa of Empalme, Sonora.
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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DENNIS
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I think most of the enlisted personel you see are drafted...or, fulfilling their military obligation. The better-off youth have ways of getting
deferrments
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DavidE
Soldados enlisted and officers are never stationed close to "home". Something about "the further the better".
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In the past, those conscripted would have to be stationed as far away from home as possible, otherwise they would just leave and go home at the first
opportunity. They had strong family prioreties.
Now that the military has something to do, the rules have tightened up a bit. Before the cartels became the enemy, the only thing the Mexican
military had to do was protect the President.
It's all different now.
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Cisco
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by DavidE
Soldados enlisted and officers are never stationed close to "home". Something about "the further the better".
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In the past, those conscripted would have to be stationed as far away from home as possible, otherwise they would just leave and go home at the first
opportunity. They had strong family prioreties.
Now that the military has something to do, the rules have tightened up a bit. Before the cartels became the enemy, the only thing the Mexican
military had to do was protect the President.
It's all different now. |
My Grandson's Nanny has one brother in the military. He is I believe 17 years old. He is from Tapachula and is garrisoned in Tapachula. His parents
now have free health care available through the government due to his service.
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Bajaahh
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
I think most of the enlisted personel you see are drafted...or, fulfilling their military obligation. The better-off youth have ways of getting
deferrments |
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Bajaahh
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So is the draft always in effect? Other than a deferment, is it mandatory for the guys to join? And whats the minimum time required?
Thanks.
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajaahh
So is the draft always in effect? Other than a deferment, is it mandatory for the guys to join? And whats the minimum time required?
Thanks. |
Mandatory. It's been around for as long as I know.
Length of service....I don't know.
I knew a young man who went to Mexico's Annapolis. He was treated like royalty....by most everybody. Being commisioned in Mexico is a really good job.
.
[Edited on 9-5-2012 by DENNIS]
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Wally
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Conscription
Conscript Soldiers
Legally, every Mexican man is obligated to a year of servicio militar nacional—SMN (national military service—NMS), but only a few hours of drill or
social services on weekends, not true military training. Most conscripts will have received at most only one marksmanship session at a rifle range by
the time they have completed their NMS obligation and are not integrated nor operate with regular Army units, and as such despite a national military
service the Army is actually a fully professional career force.
The Cartilla
The drafted men attend and participate in weekend sessions that really are a social service in nature, with emphasizes on education, history, physical
fitness, and military discipline for one complete year. Afterward, the precartilla (pre-military identity card) is returned to the conscript with an
added page certifying his status as having fulfilled his national military service and identifies the military branch, the unit, rank, etc. The
document then acquires full status as the Cartilla del Servicio Militar Nacional (Military National Service Identity Card), informally Cartilla; this
status is recorded to the National Defense Secretariat files.
This document (Military National Service Identity Card) is an important form of Mexican national identification, and its existence was formerly always
requested by private and public employers, however, this identity document has ceased being required for obtaining a passport for international
travel.
Officers
Officer candidates for the three services are trained in military colleges; Mexico City for the Army, Guadalajara, Jalisco, for the Air Force, and
Veracruz, for the Navy. Generally, officer candidates are from society's lower and middle classes, therefore a military commission is a means of
upward social mobility for the poor, yet society respects military officers.
The military colleges are not universities, yet provide significant technical training applicable to civil employment after military service. They
emphasise military ethics (honour, duty, country), history, discipline, physical fitness, and the perpetuation of the military as a societal
institution. The armed forces provide university-level education through the War College (Colegio de Guerra) in Mexico City, to which officers must
attend and earn a Diplomado del Estado Mayor (DEM) degree to qualify for promotion to general officer or admiral rank.
Career soldiers
Mexican citizens who have chosen to be career soldiers are signed for an initial three year contract and, at the end of it, are encouraged to sign for
another two year contract. If they choose to do so, this second term would become final, unless they apply mandatory exams and tests to become
corporals, or apply in order to study in any of the available Military Specialist Technical Schools or for sergeant in the E.M.C.A. (Escuela Militar
de Classes de las Armas).
[Edited on 9-5-2012 by Wally]
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DavidE
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Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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Great thread. Shows how much things have changed in ten years.
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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Pescador
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This has been discussed several times and the best and most complete answer can be found here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_Armed_Forces
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willardguy
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hey thats what wally said! 
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Wally
The Cartilla
The drafted men attend and participate in weekend sessions that really are a social service in nature, with emphasizes on education, history, physical
fitness, and military discipline for one complete year. |
This is the part that I recall could actually be satisfied by proxy. a draftee could actually pay a wino to take his place over the weekend, and
that's what they did.
I don't know if this has changed since then, but it probably has. Mexico has a real need for a more serious military these days.
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SFandH
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DavidE
It is a primary requirement to obtain a Méxican passport, other than having a substantial amount of personal wealth. |
Hmmm, I know maybe 5 Mexican citizens, not many I admit, that have passports and have never served nor have substantial personal wealth. What about
the 10s of thousands of Mexicans that cross the border everyday for work, shopping, visiting? They all have Mex passports, don't they? They certainly
have US visas which I think would be impossible to get without a Mex passport.
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shari
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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I asked Juan and he said there is some kind of lottery system that if your number comes up, you are exempt from the military thing....his number came
up.
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bajaguy
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Lottery
They use different colored numbered ping-pong balls. The number determines if you serve or not, the color denotes Army, Navy or Air
Force............it's always fun to drive by the Ensenada Navy, Army and Air Force bases and watch the first days formation!!!!
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DavidE
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Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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I agree with your points. But too many of my friends have been rejected for obtaining a Mexican pasaport for me to believe they are passed around as
easily as a US Passport. "We do not have enough financial resources. I did not serve in the military" seems to be a common denominator. Not having
acceptable birth records seems to be an obstacle as well. Thanks for pointing this out; I sure would like to learn more about it.
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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DENNIS
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Big difference between a border crossing card and a passport in Mexico. THe crossing card only allows entry to the US for around 25 miles.....mas o
menos.
It's not a permission to work card either, as much as it is a permit to shop and visit.
Nor am I buying that "Military Service earns a passport" stuff either. They arn't giving passports to the indigenous peoples who fill the enlisted
ranks of the military. Their reward for service is having a job.
.
[Edited on 9-6-2012 by DENNIS]
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SFandH
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
Big difference between a border crossing card and a passport in Mexico. THe crossing card only allows entry to the US for around 25 miles.....mas o
menos.
It's not a permission to work card either, as much as it is a permit to shop and visit.
[Edited on 9-6-2012 by DENNIS] |
Yes the Mexicans I know have the those types of US visas, they call them laser cards. I was assuming they needed a Mexican passport to qualify. I know
a couple have passports, don't know about the others but I bet they do because they travel by air occasionally to the US East coast. They need to get
another type of visa prior to those trips. Not rich folks tho, just 9 to 5 TJ office workers. I'll ask.
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SFandH
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Just spoke with my Mex buddy and he said a passport is required for a Mexican to get any kind of visa to enter the United States, including the
"border pass". He could be wrong but he's sure of it. If so it can't be all that difficult to get one, afterall Mexicans travel all over the world
just like anyone else and like I said, 10s of thousands cross the border every day.
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