Dominican Republic and Haiti: Country Studies

Dominican Republic: National Security
By the 1930s, the new Dominican military establishment had
developed into a centrally controlled and well-disciplined force
that was both larger and far better equipped than any previous
Dominican army. New rifles and machine guns were purchased,
and an artillery element was fashioned by combining
Krupp 77mm guns from the old Dominican army with newer
37mm and 77mm guns. The unified, apolitical, and professional
force that had been envisioned by the United States military
government had not been realized, however. Instead,
traditional Dominican patterns of military service persisted,
including factionalism, politicization, and the perception that
position entitled one to personal enrichment. Trujillo encouraged
and strengthened these patterns, and used them both to
retain the support of the armed forces and to control them.
Military officers became an elite class, gaining wealth, favors,
prestige and power, and developing an esprit de corps that
Trujillo carefully nurtured. Under these conditions, a career in
the military came to be esteemed as an avenue of upward
mobility. The services themselves were built up, large quantities
of arms were imported, and a defense industry was established.
The country was divided into three military zones, each garrisoned
by a two-battalion brigade.
Trujillo rationalized maintenance of a large military by citing
the purported need for vigilance against Haiti and, particularly
after the Cuban Revolution of 1959, against communism.
For the most part, however, Trujillo used the large and powerful
military establishment to maintain internal control over the
nation. The army and the navy intelligence services were
among the numerous agencies Trujillo employed to maintain
close surveillance and rigid control over the population. In
1957 the intelligence and secret police organizations were unified
into the State Security Secretariat. With a personnel
strength of 5,000, this new organization was larger than either
the regular National Police, the air force, or the navy.
The military establishment claimed an increasingly greater
share of the national budget. Part of the military costs were offset
by basing privileges granted to the United States during
World War II. The basing agreement enabled the Dominican
Republic to qualify for Lend-Lease aid. However, only limited
equipment transfers took place, mostly light weapons and
lightly armored vehicles. After the war ended, the country
acquired larger quantities of surplus stocks, including 105mm
howitzers, light tanks, and half-track armored personnel carri-
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