It is essential to implement a restructuring of the units of the National Guard during the political transition period in Venezuela in order to optimize its organizational structure, eliminate administrative redundancies, and transfer citizen security responsibilities to civilian police forces.
Military sources from Venezuela Política believe that tactical and operational units of the National Guard must undergo a profound transformation, establishing a clear command hierarchy led by colonels at the state level. This, they warn, will ensure that human resources and equipment align strictly with the official organization tables.
Additionally, the proposal suggests eliminating dependencies such as the People’s Guard and public order units, transferring these responsibilities to the national or state police to avoid duplications. Similarly, it is necessary to transform drug enforcement units into advanced intelligence entities and centralize training schools to enhance regional capacity building.
It is advised that while rural and engineering detachments are audited and reorganized, the protection of strategic sectors such as mining and petroleum should be strengthened.
The Urgent Restructuring of National Guard Units
Military sources have referred to Venezuela Política the urgent need for restructuring National Guard units during the transition and recommend a detailed reconfiguration plan for the units that comprise the National Guard (GN).
They identify critical points for this reconfiguration, including the elimination of public order and traffic units, and the transfer of intelligence capabilities against extortion and kidnapping to specialized national agencies.
They also consider it fundamental that the reform includes a deep transformation of the anti-drug unit due to numerous integrity concerns.
The proposed strategy aims to strengthen Territorial Detachments and strategic units—petroleum and mining—while consolidating training centers by military regions.
Command Structure and Territorial Organization
Military sources explain to Venezuela Política that the foundation of the proposed new structure is based on the Command of Zone (CZGN-XX) with state jurisdiction.
They define its composition and supervision as follows:
Leadership: a colonel as commander and a lieutenant colonel as deputy commander.
Staff: Composed of senior command professionals, technical officers, and assimilated personnel.
Supervision: The Command of Zone is the immediate supervisor of:
◦ Territorial Detachments (commanded by Majors).
◦ Operational and administrative units (Anti-drug, Air, Coastal Surveillance, Scientific-Criminal Laboratory).
◦ Schools and Training Centers.
Table of Organization and Equipment (TOE)
This entire restructuring process of National Guard units must be carried out by reorganizing human resources according to the guidelines of the Table of Organization and Equipment (TOE).
This technical instrument bindingly establishes the means, equipment, and personnel necessary for each unit based on its specific function.
Restructuring, Transfer, and Elimination of National Guard Units
The proposed plan establishes that the transition requires a thorough review to eliminate redundant functions and return civil security responsibilities to the relevant agencies.
Original UnitProposed ActionDestination of Responsibilities / ResourcesPublic Order (Desur)EliminationNational Police and state police.National Traffic CommandTransferNational Traffic Police.GAES (CONAS)TransferNational Agency Against Transnational Organized Crime.National Guard and Environmental Guard CoordinationsEliminationFunctions absorbed by the relevant departments in the Territorial Detachments.People’s GuardReduction to Company LevelExcess human resources, logistics, and budget reassigned to territorial units.
Units under critical evaluation:
Engineering Detachments: subject to review of their motivation for creation to determine if they should be transferred, eliminated, or reorganized.
Rural Security Detachments: evaluated due to lack of positive results and absence of resources; their reorganization or elimination is proposed.
Reform of Strategic and Specialized Units
It is crucial to prioritize territorial control and the security of the State’s critical assets, in addition to undertaking an urgent reform in the fight against drug trafficking.
Lucha antidrogas: transnational crimes and accountability
The creation of an Anti-drug Detachment is proposed to replace the former Regional Anti-drug Intelligence Unit (URIA). This unit requires a “meticulous and urgent” intervention due to:
Lack of means: a shortage of technology and trained personnel.
Ethical concerns: the previous structure has been implicated in networks of transnational organized crime.
New subordination: it must now report directly to the National Anti-drugs Agency.
Strategic areas: energy and mining
The plan envisages the creation and strengthening of Petroleum and Mining Security Detachments. These units will be established where the State’s priority demands it, considering their strategic importance to the nation.
Institutional Strengthening and Training
The diagnosis reveals that critical units such as the Air Command and the Coastal Surveillance Command currently operate under severe limitations in resources, which necessitates a review of their location and operational capacity.
Regarding the education and training of professional troops, the following needs are identified:
Evaluation of infrastructure: current schools lack necessary means.
Regional consolidation: strengthen and establish a single school per Military Region to optimize resources and improve the quality of instruction.
Transition Model
The model proposed by military sources from Venezuela Política aims to establish a more technical National Guard less focused on ordinary police tasks.
By eliminating units such as Desur and the Traffic Command, the institution can concentrate its human and financial resources into Territorial Detachments, which will maintain responsibilities in:
Environmental guard.
National protection.
Drug fighting.
Comprehensive security.