Race and the armed forces in the DR

[George Holmes]

A curious observation made from living near Constanza, which has a very large military presence despite being in nowhere important (legacy of a anti-Trujillo uprising in the late 50s):

I have noticed that ordinary footsoldiers in the Dominican army have far darker skin than the average Dominican. This might not apply to officer class, but it certainly seemed an extremely strong trend with the sort of people who were manning checkpoints and guarding stuff.
Two questions arise from this:
Has anyone else noticed this?
What does this say about Dominican society, and the armed forces' place within this?

Just a curious thought....

[Mirador]

"Just a curious thought...."


I'll try to save your life with this one (since curiosity killed the cat ... ;-)...

It so happens that over 80% of the conscripts are from the DR deep south and southwest, which are regions close to the border, with a larger proportion of Dominican-Haitian population, which tend to have people with darker skin.
Now, why do these people are more prone to join the DR military? I surmise it is because of the extreme poverty of these regions, and the wages and conditions for new conscripts do not attract people from other, say more affluent, regions...

[british bulldog]

I noticed this to;feb 27 parade in the malicon,my initial thought was mabee the DR military was employing haitians,as mabee there was a shortage of dominicans applying to join the forces.Not that i gave this a second thought until reading the post,but good of mirador to educate us all again,and smooth out what initally looked mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[Capt. Rob57]

My question has been and I asked this about 10 years ago why does the D.R. need one who is going to invade ? Cuba?, Puerto Rico ?, The Virgin Islands?, they should take this waste of money and give us let see maybe water and lighte 24 hours per day. Hey, I know they need a security force but, do you know how many Col. and Gen. are here please what a joke.

[Criss Colon]

They are called out whenever there is a "General Strike" or a threat of "Civil Unrest"!
The "BLACKER" they are the better! The "average","BROWN" Dominican is more "SCARED" of the Darker troops! Some of the "ELITE" Forces look more Haitian than Dominican.
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCr is Coloooooooooooooooon

[Don Juan]

Originally Posted by Capt. Rob57

My question has been and I asked this about 10 years ago why does the D.R. need one who is going to invade ? Cuba?, Puerto Rico ?, The Virgin Islands?, they should take this waste of money and give us let see maybe water and lighte 24 hours per day. Hey, I know they need a security force but, do you know how many Col. and Gen. are here please what a joke.

Some years ago I posed the same question with inconclusive results.
a few agreed that it was an expense our nation could do without. However, the response was more pro maintaining the status quo, in spite of it's obvious drain on the economy.
Today's armed forces, a relic of the Trujillo era,-- when a Cuban invasion was a real and present danger--is a burden that (apparently) nobody wants to be instrumental in disbanding, for obvious consequences to the organiser/ originator.
These parasites are well-entrenched in government and is doubtful they can be pried out of a cushy job that has all the benefits and none of the sweat.

I'm told that there are more colonels and generals in our little island than in much bigger countries. How sad is that?

[Chirimoya]

More living generals in the DR than all generals, living and dead, in the entire history of the US, was the claim that was made under Hippo.

Look at most Latin American countries - the sole purpose of the military is to keep the people in line. Some have been a little more enthusiastic than others in that task.

[Mirador]

Originally Posted by Chirimoya

More living generals in the DR than all generals, living and dead, in the entire history of the US, was the claim that was made under Hippo.

Look at most Latin American countries - the sole purpose of the military is to keep the people in line. Some have been a little more enthusiastic than others in that task.

I don't have the exact figures, since it's a closely guarded military secret. But my estimates are that the DR has about 180 active generals, and close to 800 colonels.

[Hillbilly]

During Hippo's time there were over 200 generals...and this guy has not decreased that number by any stretch of the imagination.

I totally concur with the poster that suggested getting rid of the entire military establishment.....this has been my position for over 40 years...

HB

[british bulldog]

Is it best to have a military state or a police state,remove one you have the other,as Cccccccc posted someone needs to keep the people inline.MABEE its better to reduce than remove,LIKE 99%.