Dominican Republic and Haiti: Country Studies

Dominican Republic: National Security
machine guns and Oerlikon 20mm machine guns (see table
13, Appendix). The navy has at its disposal two Alouette III
helicopters and five Cessna T-41D aircraft for inshore coastal
reconnaissance. Naval aircraft are operated by air force liaison
personnel. A battalion-sized naval infantry unit is headquartered
at Santo Domingo.
The Dominican Navy undertook a concerted effort in 1999,
in cooperation with the United States Coast Guard, to intercept
illegal shipments to Puerto Rico of persons, weapons, and
drugs. In addition, the navy created a motorized company to
interdict illegal crossings. The company consists primarily of
fifty-five naval officers who patrol the coasts on all-terrain
motorbikes, equipped with night vision and communications
gear.
Naval enlisted personnel receive instruction at the training
center at Las Calderas. The Naval Academy at Las Calderas
offers a four-year course to officer cadets.
Air Force
The air force traces its origins to 1928, when the government,
inspired by the use of air power in World War I, authorized
the creation of an aviation school. The first military
aviation element was formed in 1932 as an arm of the National
Army. The air force became an independent service in 1948.
After several name changes, it has been officially designated as
the Dominican Air Force since 1962.
Beginning in 1942, with the grant of base facilities to the
United States, the Dominican Republic received shipments of
aircraft under the Lend-Lease program, mostly light trainers.
Later, after the signing of the Rio Treaty in 1947, the United
States provided twenty-five F-47 fighter-bombers, plus C-46
and C-47 transports and additional trainers. Trujillo later purchased
two B-17 and two B-25 bombers from commercial
sources. In 1952 he made a large purchase ofjet fighter-bombers
from Sweden and F-51Ds from the United States. By the
mid-1950s, the air force had some 240 aircraft and some 3,500
uniformed personnel. After Trujillo's assassination, however,
funds were not forthcoming for the replacement of aging aircraft,
and the air force's capabilities dwindled rapidly.
Air force headquarters are located at San Isidro Air Base
near Santo Domingo. Most aircraft are based at San Isidro as
well. The second large base is La Union at Puerto Plata on the
north coast. Smaller bases are at Barahona, La Romana, and
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