List of paramilitary organizations
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Paramilitary is a military force that is not a part of a country's official or legitimate armed forces.[1] The Oxford English Dictionary traces the use of the term "paramilitary" as far back as 1934.[2]
Though a paramilitary is, by definition, not a military, it is usually equivalent to a light infantry or special forces in terms of strength, firepower, and organizational structure.[3] Paramilitaries use combat-capable kit/equipment (such as internal security/SWAT vehicles), or even actual military equipment[4] (such as long guns and armored personnel carriers; usually military surplus resources), skills (such as battlefield medicine and bomb disposal), and tactics (such as urban warfare and close-quarters combat) that are compatible with their purpose, often combining them with skills from other relevant fields such as law enforcement, coast guard, or search and rescue. A paramilitary may fall under the command of a military, train alongside them, or have permission to use their resources, despite not actually being part of them.[4]
Governmental paramilitary units
Africa
Egypt
Libya (Libyan House of Representatives)
- Avengers of Blood[5]
Mauritius
Nigeria
- Nigeria immigration service (NIS)
- Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC)
- Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps
- Safety and Traffic Cadet Corps
- Federal Fire Service
- Nigeria Correctional Service
- Nigeria Customs Service
- National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
- Department of State Services
Sudan
- Janjaweed (~197x - 2020 but continues in successors units)
- Rapid Support Forces (2013 partially Janjaweed successor till 2023)
- Popular Defence Forces
Somaliland
Americas
Canada
- Canadian Rangers
- The Emergency Response Team (RCMP)
- Marine Emergency Response Team
Costa Rica
The Public Force of Costa Rica is responsible for law enforcement duties, acting as both a civilian police force and gendarmerie. In addition to ordinary policing, it is responsible for border patrol, counter-insurgency, riot control, tourism security, and coast guard duties.
Peru
- The Rondas campesinas are community-based groups in Peru, formed initially to combat cattle rustling and later in response to the Shining Path insurgency. They function primarily as local self-defense and law enforcement entities, especially in rural areas with limited government presence.
United States
- CIA Special Activities Center, Special Operations Group
- DOE Federal Protective Forces
- DOE Office of Secure Transportation
- FBI SWAT
- FBI Hostage Rescue Team
- United States Marshals Service
- National Lancers
- SWAT
- ICE
- USSS (United States Secret Service)
Venezuela
Asia
Bangladesh
| Name | Active Since | Type | Comments | Size | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh Ansar | 12 February 1948 | Gendarmerie | Largest paramilitary force in the world | 6.4 million | [6] |
| Border Guard Bangladesh | 29 June 1792
(As Ramgarh Local Battalion) |
Border surveillance and internal security personnel | 70,000 | ||
| Bangladesh Coast Guard | 14 February 1995 | Marine border and security personnel | 3,339 | ||
| Bangladesh National Cadet Corps | 23 March 1979 | Volunteer reserve | Provides Basic Military training to students from schools, colleges and universities. | 23,968 | Official website |
China (People's Republic of China)
| Name | Active Since | Type | Comments | Size | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| People's Armed Police | 19 June 1982 | Gendarmerie | 1.5 million | [7] | |
| Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps | 1954 | State-owned enterprise Paramilitary organisation |
unknown, officially 2.6 million employees | ||
| Militia of China | 1927 | Militia for general national defense mobilization | 8,000,000[8] | [9] | |
| Maritime Militia of China | 1949-1950 | Naval militia | Unknown. |
Taiwan (Republic of China)
| Name | Active Since | Type | Comments | Size | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Police Agency | 5 July 1972 | Law enforcement agency | |||
| Thunder Squad | 1985 | Localized Police tactical unit | 200 | ||
| Special Operations Group | Elite Paramilitary Special Forces Police tactical unit | ||||
Hong Kong
| Name | Active Since | Type | Comments | Size | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Aid Service | 1952 | Emergency Response/Search and Rescue Civil Agency | 112 full time; 3,634 adult members and 3,232 cadet members | ||
| Government Flying Service | 1993 | Paramilitary Law Enforcement related Air support services | 335 | ||
| Hong Kong Police Force | Police force | For subdivisions, see Structure of the Hong Kong Police Force. | Disciplined officers: 33,210 (2023)[10] Auxiliary officers: 4,501 (2021),[11] Unsworn: 4,735 (2023)[10] |
||
| Special Duties Unit | 23 July 1974 | Elite Paramilitary Special Forces Police tactical unit | Over 120[12] | ||
| Counter Terrorism Response Unit | July 2009 | Anti-terrorism patrol-type Police tactical unit | 141 (2011)[13] |
India
| Name | Active Since | Type | Comments | Size | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assam Rifles | 1835 | Border Guarding and law enforcement force | Indo-Myanmmar Border and Internal security | 65,678 | [14] |
| CRPF | 27 July 1937 | A central police force whose job is to assist state government, police or other agencies at time of their needs | Internal security | 313,678 | [15] |
| ITBP | 1962 | Border Guarding and Law enforcement force which operates on the Indo - Chinese borders | Border guarding and Himmalyan security | 89,432 | [16] |
| Sashastra Seema Bal | 20 December 1963 | Border guarding force of India deployed along its borders with Nepal and Bhutan | Border guarding | 94,261 | |
| BSF | 1 December 1965 | Largest border guarding force anywhere in the world | Indo-Pakistan and Indo-Bangladesh borders | 290,000 | [17] |
| CISF | 10 March 1969 | Guard Sensitive National Assets | Internal protection and security | 190,000 | |
| NSG | 16 October 1984 | Counter-terrorism force | This force recruits its personnel from the police, paramilitary and Army from all around the India with the maximum service tenure of five years. | 10,000 |
Indonesia
| Name | Active Since | Type | Comments | Size | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detachment 88 | 30 June 2003 | Police tactical unit | 1,300[18] | ||
| Mobile Brigade Corps | 14 November 1945 | Police tactical unit | 34,250 (2008)[19] |
Japan
| Name | Active Since | Type | Comments | Size | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Police Agency | 1 July 1954 | Law enforcement agency | 7,995 (2020)[20] | ||
| Special Assault Team | 1977 | Elite Paramilitary Special Forces Police tactical unit | Approx. 300 |
North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea)
| Name | Active Since | Type | Comments | Size | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| People's Border Guards | Border surveillance and internal security personnel | ||||
| Worker-Peasant Red Guards | January 1959 | Paramilitary militia | 5 million |
South Korea (Republic of Korea)
| Name | Active Since | Type | Comments | Size | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Police Agency | 1 August 1991 | Law enforcement agency | 126,227 (2020)[21] | ||
| Special Operations Unit | Elite Paramilitary Special Forces Police tactical unit |
Malaysia
- Pasukan Gerakan Am as Paramilitary Force
- People's Volunteer Corps of Ministry of Home Affairs
- 69 Komando PGK as Multi Spectrum Special Force
Nepal
| Name | Active Since | Type | Comments | Size | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armed Police Force | 24 October 2001 | Counter-insurgency Specialised Police Force | 35,000 | [22] |
Pakistan
- Civil Armed Forces- (Under the Federal Ministry of interior during Peace time but falls under the Ministry of Defense during war time. Led by officers from the Pakistani Military)
- Pakistan Rangers (Punjab and Sindh)
- Frontier Corps (Kpk and Balochistan)
- Gilgit Baltistan Scouts
Paramilitary forces under the Ministry of Defense
- Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA)
- Pakistan Coast Guard
- Defense Security Force
- Pakistan National Guard – Mujahid Force and Janbaaz Force
- Federal Law Enforcement Agencies (solely under the federal ministry of Interior and led by the officers of the Police Service of Pakistan):
- Frontier Constabulary
- Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)
- Anti-Narcotics Force
- Airports Security Force
- National Highways & Motorway Police
- Pakistan Railways Police
Philippines
| Name | Active Since | Type | Comments | Size | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit | 25 July 1987 | Auxiliary unit | 60,000 (2007) | [23] | |
| Special Action Force |
Sri Lanka
| Name | Active Since | Type | Comments | Size | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special Task Force | 1983 | Elite Paramilitary – Special Operations Forces | 8000(approx) |
Thailand
| Name | Active Since | Type | Comments | Size | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Border Patrol Police | |||||
| Marine Paramilitary Task Force | |||||
| Paramilitary Marine Regiment, Royal Thai Navy | Also known as Thahan Phran Marines | ||||
| Thahan Phran | Also known as Thai Rangers | ||||
| Village Scouts | |||||
| Volunteer Defense Corps | 10 February 1954 | Security Forces | Unknown | [24] |
Vietnam
Europe
Albania
Estonia
Finland
France
- Action Division of DGSE
- National Gendarmerie
- Marseille Naval Fire Battalion of the French Navy
- Paris Fire Brigade of the French Army
Georgia
Italy
| Name | Active Since | Type | Comments | Size | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arma dei Carabinieri | 13 July 1814 | Gendarmerie | 110.000 (2023) | ||
| Guardia di Finanza | 1 October 1774 | Gendarmerie | 68.000 (2015) |
Latvia
Lithuania
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
- Guarda Nacional Republicana (National Republican Guard)
Russia
- Paramilitary security in Russia
- Registered Cossacks of the Russian Federation
- Kadyrovtsy
- Fakel (allegedly)
- Wagner Group (since 2023)[25][26]
- Redut (since 2022)[27]
- Africa Corps
Turkey
Ukraine
United Kingdom
- The London Metropolitan Police Specialist Firearms Command CO19.
- The London Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command - SO15.
- The London Metropolitan Police Aviation Security Operational Command Unit - SO18.
Middle East
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Syria
Oceania
Australia
Non-governmental paramilitary units
Africa
Somalia
Sudan
Americas
Colombia
- AUC
- AAA
- CONVIVIR
- Peasant Self-Defense Forces of Córdoba and Urabá (ACCU)
- Los Paisas
- Black Eagles
- Los Rastrojos
- Libertadores del Vichada
- Bloque Meta
- ERPAC
See also Right-wing paramilitarism in Colombia.
Mexico
United States
Various non-governmental Militia organizations in the United States, that are not associated with the U.S. military, law enforcement agencies, nor state defense forces in any way. There are many others totaling at around 334 militia movement groups as of 2011[28] Most modern organizations calling themselves militias are illegal private paramilitary organizations that would require official sanctioning of a state government in order to be constitutional.[29][30] See also List of militia organizations in the United States
- 3 Percenters
- Arizona Border Recon
- Hutaree
- Idaho Light Foot Militia
- Michigan Militia
- Militia of Montana
- Missouri Citizens Militia
- New York Light Foot Militia
- Oath Keepers
- Ohio Defense Force
- Texas Light Foot Militia
- Fruit of Islam, paramilitary wing of the Nation of Islam
- The Sea Organization, more commonly known as the Sea Org, paramilitary wing of the Church of Scientology. The Sea Org is not exclusively located in the United States.
Asia
Cambodia
- Cambodian Freedom Fighters (CFF) (Cholana Kangtoap Serei Cheat Kampouchea): Rebel group in Cambodia
India
Hindutva
Islamism
Khalistan
Northeast India
Naxalite–Maoist
Indonesia
- Pancasila Youth
- Free Aceh Movement: Regional separatist group in Aceh, Indonesia. Also known as Aceh Security Disturbance Movement.
Malaysia
- Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN): National separatist group in Malaysia and Thailand
- Barisan Nasional Pembebasan Patani (BNPP): Islamic insurgent group in Malaysia and Thailand
Myanmar
- Eastern Shan State Army
- Mong Tai Army (MTA): Armed drug cartel
- National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA)
- United Wa State Army (UWSA): Autonomous military group in Wa State
- Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA): Also known as the Kokang Army, a Kokang nationalist group active in Myanmar.
- Karen National Liberation Army
- Kachin Independence Army: Group in North Burma which occupies most of Kachin State.[31][circular reference]
- Shan State Army - North
- Shan State Army - South
Philippines
- Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG): Islamic separatist group in the southern Philippines. Also known as Al Harakut Al Islamiyya.
- Alex Boncayao Brigade (ABB): Urban militant group of the Communist Party of the Philippines
- Bagani: A counter insurgency group operating in Cabanglasan.
- Ilaga (1971-1979): Christian extremist paramilitary group in the Southern Philippines. They battled against the Moro National Liberation Front and Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
- Alamara: A counterinsurgency operating across the central-eastern side of Mindanao
Sri Lanka
Thailand
- Barasi Revolusi Nasional (BRN): National separatist group in Malaysia and Thailand
- Barisan National Pember-Basan Pattani (BNPP): Islamic insurgent group in Malaysia and Thailand
Pakistan
Kashmir
Balochistan
Europe
Kosovo
Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Green Berets
- Serbian Honour. A Russian-trained and -funded paramilitary unit acting in support of separatist leader Milorad Dodik.[33]
Croatia
- Ustaše Militia acted as a para-military unit, an auxiliary part of the WW2 Croatian Nazi Puppet State's Armed Forces
- HOS-Hrvatske obrambene snage right wing para-military organisation, later absorbed in regular Croatian military during homeland war for independence 1991-1995.
Georgia
- Algeti Wolves: Georgian group which carried out anti-Russian attacks in the 1990s
- Merab Kostava Society
- White Eagles
- Forest Brothers
- White Legion
Ireland
- Óglaigh na hÉireann (OnH) (2006–09): Small dissident Irish republican group, split from the Continuity IRA.
- Óglaigh na hÉireann (OnH) (2009–): Dissident Irish republican group, split from the Real IRA due to differences in leadership and factionalism.
Russia
Turkey
Ukraine
- Atesh (movement)
- Berdiansk Partisan Army
- Misanthropic Division
- Popular Resistance of Ukraine
- Russian Volunteer Corps
- Ukrainian National Self Defense (till 2022)
- Sheikh Mansur Battalion (till 2019)
- Golden Guard
United Kingdom
There are a number of paramilitary organisations in the United Kingdom, most of them operate in and around Northern Ireland and are a continuation of the various paramilitary groups which operated in Northern Ireland during The Troubles. Apart from these, there are a small number of white supremacist paramilitary organisations which operate in the United Kingdom.
- Real Irish Republican Army (RIRA): Dissident republican group mainly in Northern Ireland
- Ulster Defence Association (UDA): Ulster loyalist group formed in September 1971.
- Ulster Resistance (UR or URM): Ulster loyalist group formed in November 1986, operating in mainly in Northern Ireland
- Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF): Ulster loyalist group formed in 1966, which is not related to the Ulster Volunteers. Operated mainly in Northern Ireland
- Combat 18 - British Neo-Nazi group
- Red Hand Commando (RHC): Ulster loyalist paramilitary group, linked to the Ulster Volunteer Force
- Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF): Ulster loyalist group, split from the UVF's Mid-Ulster Brigade.
- Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) (1974–): Split from the Official IRA in opposition to the OIRA's 1972 ceasefire. Mainly in Northern Ireland
- Irish People's Liberation Organisation (IPLO) (1986–92): Formed by expelled and disaffected members of the INLA after that group started to reduce operations in the mid 1980s. The group were heavily involved in drug dealing and other criminal activities and were forcibly shut down in 1992 by the Provisional IRA.
- Irish Republican Liberation Army (IRLA) (2006–): A "self-styled vigilante group" that split from the Continuity IRA. Linked to the Loyalist Volunteer Force according to some sources.
- The name Irish Republican Army (IRA) has been used by many Irish republican groups in the 20th and 21st centuries. The following names are commonly used by the media and security services, but each group referred to themselves solely as the Irish Republican Army (IRA), and generally rejected the legitimacy of the others.
- Irish Volunteers (1913–16) Set up to counter the Ulster Volunteers but was shut down after the Easter Rising and formed the I.R.A. (1917–22)
- Irish Republican Army (1917–22): The original IRA, which was the official defence force of the Irish Republic and fought in the Irish War of Independence.
- Irish Republican Army (1922–69): The anti-treaty continuation of the original IRA, active during the Irish Civil War, IRA Sabotage Campaign, Northern Campaign, Border Campaign and the Troubles.
- Official IRA (OIRA) (1969–72): The Official IRA was formed after a split in 1969 between different factions of the 1922 IRA. The OIRA became a more overtly political movement, advocating Marxist–Leninist principles.
- Provisional IRA (PIRA) (1969–2005): Also known as the Provos, the Provisional IRA was the more militarily active of the two IRAs created out of the 1969 split.
- Continuity IRA (CIRA) (1986–): Split from the Provisional IRA when that group dropped its policy of abstentionism in relation to Dáil Éireann.
- Real IRA (RIRA) (1997–): Known in the media as the New IRA since their 2012 merger with Republican Action Against Drugs and other smaller republican militant groups, they split from the Provisional IRA over that group's support for the Irish peace process and the Good Friday Agreement.
- Meibion Glyndŵr (1979-93) - Welsh Nationalist group mainly in Wales.
- Free Wales Army (FWA) (1963-69): Welsh Nationalist group active mainly in Wales.
- Scottish National Liberation Army (SNLA/Tartan Terrorists) (1980-): Scottish Nationalist group active mainly in Scotland.
- Arm nan Gàidheal (AnG) (1980s-1990s): Scottish Nationalist paramilitary with support from Siol nan Gaidheal.
- Cornish National Liberation Army (CNLA) (early 2000s): Cornish Nationalist paramilitary active mostly in Cornwall
Middle East
Iran
Lebanon
Palestine
- Palestinian Joint Operations Room
- Al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas
- Al-Quds Brigades of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad
- Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades
- Al-Nasser Salah al-Deen Brigades of the Popular Resistance Committees
- Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades of the PFLP
- National Resistance Brigades of the DFLP
- Mujahideen Brigades of the Palestinians Mujahideen Movement
Multinational
- Nordic Strength[citation needed]
- Sea Org: Scientology elite group with roots in naval tradition including time spent at Sea in a fleet of ships during the 1960s and 1970s. Became land based in 1975.[37]: 93 [38]: 26 Dress in uniforms, live communally in barracks, and are organized around naval ranks. Some dispute whether it is paramilitary.
See also
- List of defunct paramilitary organizations
- List of police tactical units
- List of private military contractors
- List of private security companies
- List of countries by number of military and paramilitary personnel
- Police tactical unit
- Militia
- Military volunteer
- Mercenary
- List of designated terrorist groups
- Violent non-state actor
- Private army