Five million citizens are trained and ready to defend the sovereignty of the Bolivarian nation.

From TeleSur

Over the last week, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ordered the integration of the Bolivarian Militia into the existing “Peace Quadrants” in 5,336 community circuits across the country, aiming to guarantee peace, security, national unity, territorial integrity, and sovereignty.

As commander in chief of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB), he called for militia enlistment on Aug. 23–24 in military barracks, military units, public squares, and grassroots integral defense bases.

“We have broken, as Chavez did, in time, with military dependence on the Yankee empire and with the imperial theses of occupation armies that imposed coups d’etat and other forms of ideological, institutional and political domination in Latin America,” Maduro said.

Currently, about 5 million militiamen are active throughout Venezuela and involved in more than 600,000 patrols, the Bolivarian leader revealed, stressing that the militia is deployed at all territorial levels: states, municipalities, parishes and communes.

The Popular, Military and Police Fusion

Bolivarian Militia Commander, Maj. Gen. Javier Marcano Tabata, said the militia is the result of a “great strategic vision” because it trains under the tactical method of revolutionary resistance and under the philosophy of a people’s war.

“The Armed Forces are an instrument of peace, but we prepare for the military defense of our territory, sovereignty and self-determination. We follow the example of Bolivar. Venezuela does not want to conquer or go anywhere to seize anything. Venezuela wants respect,” said Brig. Gen. Joel Sanchez, vice rector of the Bolivarian Military University of Venezuela, during the International Forum ‘For a More Humane Humanity,’ held July 23–24, 2025.

“Venezuela wants to develop its social and political processes for the growth of society. As Bolivar said, we seek to give the greatest possible happiness to the people and all our friends,” he added.

“As our national anthem says, we are ‘United with ties.’ Following the policy of our Bolivarian government, we implement a popular, military and police fusion. United we are stronger. United we will win,” Sanchez stressed.

The Bolivarian National Militia

The militia is an organization with historic roots. During Spanish colonization, Carib tribes and other Indigenous peoples fiercely resisted the Spanish empire. Later, during the independence war, militiamen Manuel Gual and Jose Maria España became popular symbols.

In modern times, President Hugo Chavez transformed militias into auxiliary bodies of the Armed Forces in 2005, when he named Gen. Julio Quintero commander general of the National Reserve.

On April 13, 2009, the Defense Ministry renamed the General Command of the Military Reserve and National Mobilization as the General Command of the Bolivarian National Militia, and designated April 11 as its anniversary date, in commemoration of the events of the 2002 coup attempt.

Mission and Vision

The Bolivarian Militia’s mission is to register, organize, equip, train, and indoctrinate the people to contribute to national security at all levels of the Territorial Defense System.

Its vision is to be a modern, dynamic, flexible, and highly trained organization, integrated by the nation’s popular base, to maximize the operational readiness of the FANB.

Its objective is to incorporate the organized people into actions aimed at guaranteeing Venezuela’s comprehensive defense.

Structure

The militia depends on the Strategic Operational Command, which links it to the FANB’s commander in chief. Administratively, it reports to the Defense Ministry.

The General Command of the Bolivarian Militia is composed of two branches: “Territorial Militias,” defined by geographic units, and “Combat Corps,” made up of workers from specific institutions.

Militia units are classified into three types according to their objectives: General use: Mobile units designed to operate across a state or several municipalities;  Territorial use: Units tasked with defending a city or significant targets within a defined area; and Local use: Units intended to defend specific economic and political targets in a locality, or to help maintain public order.

Venezuela also has the National Reserve, made up of citizens not in active military service, those who have completed military service, or those who voluntarily join reserve units.

Territorial Militia

Territorial Militia members routinely gather on weekends for military instruction. During the week, they engage in social promotion and other activities decided by command. In emergencies, they may be called to immediate mobilization.

The “Rural Militia” is a special group within the Territorial Militia, distinguished by its weapons and equipment. Each Territorial Militia has a staff composed of officers trained within the militia and reservists.

Combat Corps

Combat Corps are made up of workers from specific public or private institutions. They are organized not by residence but by affiliation with a given institution, and are responsible for ensuring operations continue with minimum personnel.

Such institution is administratively responsible for its Combat Corps, which operates under the General Command of the Bolivarian Militia.

Members receive instruction in infantry, communications, first aid, and coordination with security agencies. After medical evaluation, they may access specialized courses in parachuting, commando tactics, heliborne operations, or diving.

Equipment and Weapons

The Territorial Militia’s standard weapon is the Belgian FN FAL automatic assault rifle, which has been replaced in the regular army by the Russian- and locally manufactured AK-103.

Militias also use MPI KM-72 and MPI KMS-72 rifles, East German versions of the Soviet AKM. They also have other equipment such as machine guns, mortars, and 106 mm recoilless rifles.

The Rural or Peasant Militia carries machetes and Russian Mosin-Nagant M91/30 bolt-action rifles.

Rejecting U.S. Threats

The Bolivarian Militia issued a statement rejecting U.S. claims that seek to undermine President Maduro’s image and justify actions against the peace and tranquility of the Venezuelan people.

The militia’s commander general, Maj. Gen. Orlando Romero reiterated that his institution remains on permanent alert, in “perfect popular, military and police fusion,” and in absolute loyalty to Maduro as commander in chief of the FANB.

“Do not underestimate the children of Bolivar, Zamora and Chavez. The homeland grows in the face of adversity, and the Bolivarian Militia will always stand with the people to safeguard their peace and dignity,” he warned.