Jordanian Eastern Command

The Jordanian Eastern Command (Arabic:المنطقة العسكرية الشرقية) is the Jordanian Armed Forces regional command responsible for the North - East front against Syria and Iraq.

Jordanian Eastern Command
المنطقة العسكرية الشرقية
Eastern Command Shoulder sleeve insignia
Active1970 – 2000 (5th Armd. Div.)
2000 – present
CountryJordan
BranchRoyal Jordanian Army
TypeMechanized Infantry
RoleMulti Role
Size13,000 - 15,000 (2012 est.)
Garrison/HQMafraq, Ruwaished, Zarqa
ColorsKA2 Desert Digital
Engagements
Commanders
Current
commander		Brigadier General Mohammed Suleiman Bani Yasin

History

Since major restructuring in 1977, the Royal Jordanian Army has kept the Eastern Command (formerly known as 5th Armoured Division)[1] deployed between the Iraqi border and Ar Ramtha on the Syrian border with some presence in Zarqa.[2] But in 2000, King Abdullah II made a big step to modernize and restructure Jordanian Armed Forces when the Divisions have been transformed into a lighter, more mobile forces, based largely on a brigade structure and considered better capable of rapid reaction in emergencies.[3][4]

Jordanian forces traditionally maintained a defensive posture along this sector. A number of major roads link Jordan and Syria in this region, crossing undulating terrain with no natural obstacles. The important air base at Mafraq are less than 20 km from the border with Syria and are therefore vulnerable to surprise attack or artillery bombardment. As a result, Jordanian forces traditionally paid particular attention to their defenses in this region. The Sector from Ramtha to the Iraqi border was covered by the Eastern Command (5th Armoured Division).[2][5]

This command was involved in many conflicts and engagements, including the Six-Day War, the War of Attrition (and its Battle of Karameh) and war against the Syrian army during Black September.

Organisation

The Eastern Command controls regional units from Ar Ramtha and Mafraq to the Iraqi border with some units based in Zarqa. The Head of Eastern command is Brigadier General Mohammed Suleiman Bani Yasin.

Eastern Command OrBat 2020 (Click to enlarge)

Eastern Command HQ
  • Command Staff
  • HQ Defense Company
  • Command Communication Group
  • Command Military Police

Border Guard Force (BGF)
  • 1st Border Guard Force Brigade
    • Brigade HQ
      • Command Staff
      • Signal Company
      • Medical Center
      • Vehicles & Weapons Maintenance Workshop
      • Reconnaissance & Surveillance Center
    • 1st Border Guard Force Battalion
    • 4th Border Guard Force Battalion
    • 5th Border Guard Force Battalion
    • 6th Border Guard Force Battalion

Combat & Maneuver Units
  • Martyr Wasfi Al-Tal 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade
    • Brigade HQ
      • Command Staff
        • Joint Fires Coordination Cell - Targeting Cell
      • Signal Company
      • Medical Center
      • Vehicles & Weapons Maintenance Workshop
      • Chemical Support Platoon (Attached)
      • JTAC Team
    • Habis Al-Majali 4th Mechanized Infantry Battalion (YPR-765 pri)
    • Royal Guard 6th Mechanized Infantry Battalion (M113A2 MK1)
    • Prince Faisal 17th Tank Battalion (M60A3)
    • 1st Field Artillery Battalion (M109A3)
    • 81st Field Air Defense Battalion (Shilka,Strela-10,Igla)
    • Anti-Armor Company (Kornet-E)
  • Martyr King Abdullah I 90th Mechanized Infantry Brigade
    • Brigade HQ
      • Command Staff
        • Joint Fires Coordination Cell - Targeting Cell
      • Signal Company
      • Medical Center
      • Vehicles & Weapons Maintenance Workshop
      • Chemical Support Platoon (Attached)
      • JTAC Team
    • Al-Hussien 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion (YPR-765 pri)
    • Princess Basma 3rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion (M113A2 MK1)
    • Prince Talal 5th Mechanized Infantry Battalion (YPR-765 pri)
    • 12th Field Artillery Battalion (M109A3)
    • 5th Field Air Defense Battalion (Shilka,Strela-10,Igla)
    • Anti-Armor Company (M901 ITV)

Combat Support Units
  • Eastern Command Artillery [1]
  • 5th Field Air Defense Group [1]
    • Group HQ
    • Signal Company
  • Command Engineer Battalion
    • 3 Mechanized Engineer Companies [2]
    • General Support Company

Service Support Units
  • Supply and Transport Battalion
    • 3 Supply & Transport Companies [2]
  • Command Maintenance Group
  • Medical Support Group
  • Administrative Transport Group

Command Training Center

Notes:

  1. Subordinate battalions attached to combat brigades
  2. Each company supports a brigade

Unit summary
NumberUnit TypeEquipment
1
 Tank Battalion M60A3 IFCS, M577A2, M88A1 ARV, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series
5
 Mechanized Infantry Battalion YPR-765 IFV, M113A2MK1J, M577A2, YPR-806, Humvee, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks
4
 Border Guard Battalion MRAP, M113A2MK-1J, Humvee, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks
2
 Self-propelled artillery M109A2 Howitzer, M113A2, M577
1
 Mobile Mortar Battalion RG-31 Agrab Mk2 Mortar, Humvee, FMTV, DAF Military Trucks
2
 Field ADA Battalion Strela-10, ZSU-23-4 Shilka, Igla-S, 9K38 Igla, DAF Military Trucks
1
 Engineer Battalion YPR-765, M113A2, Armoured Tracked Bulldozer (CAT D6T, D7G/R, D8R, D9, Komatsu D155A), Wheeled Bulldozer (CAT 924H, 966C/D/F/G/H, Komatsu WA300-1, WA320, WA380-3A, W470-3), excavators, graders (CAT 12G, 120M), dump trucks, Backhoe loaders, loaders, M58 MICLIC, Aardvark JSFU, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks, Combat Dozer UDK1 and Bomb disposal robots.
1
 Command Communication Group M577A2, M113A2, MRAP, Humvee, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks
1
 Supply & Transport Battalion FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks, Fuel Tankers, Toyota Trucks and many other vehicles.
1
 Medical Support Group M577A2 Ambulance, M113A2 Ambulance, HMMWV M997 Ambulance, Toyota Land Cruiser Ambulance, Mobile Field Hospitals on trucks.
1
 Maintenance Group M113A2, M88 Recovery Vehicle, M1089 Wrecker, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Maintenance Workshop Trucks
1
 Administrative Transport Group

References
  1. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-12-15. Retrieved 2013-04-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-14. Retrieved 2013-05-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. IISS Military Balance 2004–2005, p.127-128
  4. Rubin, Barry M; Keaney, Thomas A (2002). Armed Forces in the Middle East: Politics and Strategy. ISBN 9780714652559.
  5. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-11-22. Retrieved 2013-05-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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