Military of Aruba

Defense onArubais the responsibility of theKingdom of the Netherlands.TheNetherlands Militaryforces that protectArubainclude theRoyal Netherlands Navy,theNetherlands Marine Corpsand theDutch Caribbean Coast Guard.There is also a small indigenous militia (ARUMIL, literally "Aruban militia" ) of aboutplatoonstrength (stationed at the Marine Corps Barracks Savaneta).

Early history

Until 1929, there were hardly any military forces present on theDutch Antillesincluding Aruba. On 28June 1929 the Venezuelan rebel leaderRafael Simón UrbinaattackedCuraçaoand took several hostages amongst whom was the governorLeonard Albert Fruytierand the garrison commander Borren. They were all taken toVenezuelawhere Urbina had hoped to overthrow the Government. His attempt failed and Urbina was taken prisoner. All hostages were returned to Curaçao. Three Dutch soldiers were killed in action during this attack. After Urbina's attack, the Dutch government decided to station one naval ship ( "stationsschip" ) in the Antilles permanently. It also decided to raise a volunteer defense corps on both Curaçao and Aruba (Vrijwilligerskorps Curaçao(VKC) and Vrijwilligerskorps Aruba (VKA). After World War II, the VKC and VKA were redesignated Antiliaanse Militie (ANTMIL) which still exists on Curaçao. When Aruba obtained its independence within the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1986, the ANTMIL on Aruba was redesignated Arubaanse Militie or ARUMIL.

World War II

Main article:Battle of the Caribbean

For the Kingdom of the Netherlands,World War IIstarted with the invasion of the Netherlands by Germany on May 10, 1940. Because of theLago oil refineryat San Nicolas, Aruba was deemed strategically important to the allied war effort and that same night 180 French marines arrived on Aruba to assist the local military. On July 6 they were replaced by 120 British soldiers who in turn were replaced by the 4th BattalionQueens Own Cameron Highlandersin September. In December an artillery unit from the Dutch East Indies army (KNIL) was also sent to Aruba to improve the defences. Also in December military service became compulsory and the VKA grew in size. All soldiers were billeted near the oil refinery at Savaneta, the present location of the Marine barracks. Early 1942, the British troops were replaced by over a thousand American soldiers. The Dutch coastal batteries on Aruba and Curaçao engaged U-boats at least three times during World War II, during theAttack on Arubain February 1942 and again during theBombardment of Curaçao.Later a Dutch battery on Curaçao engaged another U-boat when it attacked an oil tanker sailing off the island. None of the batteries hit their targets.

Present

TheNetherlands Armed Forcesdeploy both ground and naval units in the Caribbean with some of these forces based on Aruba. These forces include:

• 32 Infantry Company of theRoyal Netherlands Marine Corpson Aruba;
• a Fast Raiding Interception and Special Forces Craft (FRISC) troop (fast boats);
• a guardship, normally aHolland-class offshore patrol vessel,from theRoyal Netherlands Navyon station in the Caribbean on a rotational basis plus the support shipHNLMSPelikaanoperating out of Curaçao;
• ARUMIL (Aruban - ARUMIL) militia elements;
• Elements of aRoyal Marechausseebrigade of the Armed Forces.

Additionally, theDutch Caribbean Coast Guard,under the direction of the Royal Netherlands Navy commander in the Caribbean, maintains a significant presence.

ARUMIL soldiers are volunteers and are led by their own NCOs and officers. The ARUMIL are trained byNetherlands Marine Corps.When basic training is completed every soldier in the ARUMIL becomes an Aruban Marine. Basic training and selection takes place on Aruba, further training takes place in either the Netherlands or Curaçao. ARUMIL officers have to complete the regular Netherlands Marine Corps Officers training course (Praktische opleiding tot officier der mariniers, POTOM). The ARUMIL platoon works closely with the Dutch Marines company stationed at Aruba.

An increase of instability inSouth America,specificallyVenezuela,made the Netherlands heighten the security level and increase monitoring of the Dutch island in cooperation with theUnited States.