Military Firefighters Corps
Encyclopedia
In Brazil
, the Military Firefighters Corps is a military organization with the mission of civil defense
, firefighting, and search and rescue
inside the States of the Federation
. Since 1915, it has been a Military reserve force
and an auxiliary force of the Brazilian Army
. The Military Firefighter Corps is part of the National Public Security and Social Defense System of Brazil. Members of the Corps, like the members of the Military Police, are designated as being part of the military of the States by the Federal Constitution
.
Each State has its own Military Firefighters Corps ( - CBM), with different structures, rules and uniforms
.
was created by the Emperor
Dom Pedro II
in 1856. Initially the Corps was not of a military
character. It was only in 1880 that the Corps was militarized and it adopted a military hierarchy
. Because of cultural and linguistic
affinities to France
, the Military Firefighter adopted an organisation similar to that of the Sapeurs-pompiers
of Paris
; who were classified as military engineers, and organized to serve as pioneers or sappers when necessary.
With the Proclamation of the Republic
in 1889, the States that were financially better off were able to constitute their own Firefighters Corps. On the other hand, the Firefighters Corps of the Federal Capital
(Rio de Janeiro
, until 1960), was from the start completely autonomous, being created within the structure of the armed forces of the State, the former name of the current Brazilian military police.
In 1915 Federal legislation
authorized the incorporation of the militarized forces of the states into the Brazilian Army, in the event of national mobilization
. In 1917 the Brigade of Police and the Firefighters Corps of the Federal Capital were officially considered part of the military reserve; condition that to continuation extended to the States. In this period the Firefighters Corps, as members of the military forces of the States, fought in the main conflicts that resulted in present-day Brazil.
This situation was altered again after the Revolutions of 1930
and the 1932
; demilitarization of the CBMs was imposed by the Federal Government in 1934 to diminish the power of the military forces of the States, which threatened the balance of power in the country. With the end of World War II
, and the fall of the Estado Novo
, the forces in the States reverted to full State control; once again allowing the militarization of the CBMs, since these were incorporated into the Military Police.
In 1967 the Inspectorate General of Military Police ( - IGPM) was created, reporting to the Ministry of War, which is responsible for coordinating and conducting control activities over the Military Police
(and Firefighters Corps).
With the end of the Military Government
and the institution of a new Constitution in 1988, the States were granted autonomy to administer their security forces as best suited them. The majority opted to separate the Firefighters Corps from the Military Police. The term "Military" was inserted in 1990 to distinguish the Military Firefighters Corps from organizations of civilian
and voluntary firefighters
.
of the Military Firefighters Corps is one, nine, three (193). It is a toll-free call.
is one of the essential elements of the uniforms of the Military Firefighters Corps; which has been used with few modifications, since 1887. At first the belt was reinforced, made of cotton
and leather
, enabling it to serve as a climbing harness
. Today it is not as strong and only serves as a ceremonial item.
There are only two models of belts:
This belt has a horizontal strip in blue
colour, with the buckles
in silver
metal. In the 1960s
the leather parts were painted with white
color.
The belt is in red
colour, with the buckles in gold
metal.
, responsible for coordinating and conducting activities of control over the Military Police and Military Firefighters Corps of the States.
It is part of the Land Operations
Command
and its mission is:
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, the Military Firefighters Corps is a military organization with the mission of civil defense
Civil defense
Civil defense, civil defence or civil protection is an effort to protect the citizens of a state from military attack. It uses the principles of emergency operations: prevention, mitigation, preparation, response, or emergency evacuation, and recovery...
, firefighting, and search and rescue
Search and rescue
Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
inside the States of the Federation
Federation
A federation , also known as a federal state, is a type of sovereign state characterized by a union of partially self-governing states or regions united by a central government...
. Since 1915, it has been a Military reserve force
Military reserve force
A military reserve force is a military organization composed of citizens of a country who combine a military role or career with a civilian career. They are not normally kept under arms and their main role is to be available to fight when a nation mobilizes for total war or to defend against invasion...
and an auxiliary force of the Brazilian Army
Brazilian Army
The Brazilian Army is the land arm of the Brazilian Military. The Brazilian Army has fought in several international conflicts, mostly in South America and during the 19th century, such as the Brazilian War of Independence , Argentina-Brazil War , War of the Farrapos , Platine War , Uruguayan War ...
. The Military Firefighter Corps is part of the National Public Security and Social Defense System of Brazil. Members of the Corps, like the members of the Military Police, are designated as being part of the military of the States by the Federal Constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
.
Each State has its own Military Firefighters Corps ( - CBM), with different structures, rules and uniforms
Military uniform
Military uniforms comprises standardised dress worn by members of the armed forces and paramilitaries of various nations. Military dress and military styles have gone through great changes over the centuries from colourful and elaborate to extremely utilitarian...
.
History
The first organization of firefightersFirefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
was created by the Emperor
Emperor
An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
Dom Pedro II
Pedro II of Brazil
Dom Pedro II , nicknamed "the Magnanimous", was the second and last ruler of the Empire of Brazil, reigning for over 58 years. Born in Rio de Janeiro, he was the seventh child of Emperor Dom Pedro I of Brazil and Empress Dona Maria Leopoldina and thus a member of the Brazilian branch of...
in 1856. Initially the Corps was not of a military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
character. It was only in 1880 that the Corps was militarized and it adopted a military hierarchy
Hierarchy
A hierarchy is an arrangement of items in which the items are represented as being "above," "below," or "at the same level as" one another...
. Because of cultural and linguistic
Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
affinities to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, the Military Firefighter adopted an organisation similar to that of the Sapeurs-pompiers
Paris Fire Brigade
The Paris Fire Brigade , is a French Army unit which serves as the fire service for Paris and certain sites of national strategic importance....
of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
; who were classified as military engineers, and organized to serve as pioneers or sappers when necessary.
With the Proclamation of the Republic
Republic
A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...
in 1889, the States that were financially better off were able to constitute their own Firefighters Corps. On the other hand, the Firefighters Corps of the Federal Capital
Federal capital
A federal capital is a political entity that is or surrounds the capital city of a federal state. In countries with federal constitutions, power is divided between that of subnational states and a federal government...
(Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, until 1960), was from the start completely autonomous, being created within the structure of the armed forces of the State, the former name of the current Brazilian military police.
In 1915 Federal legislation
Legislation
Legislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...
authorized the incorporation of the militarized forces of the states into the Brazilian Army, in the event of national mobilization
Mobilization
Mobilization is the act of assembling and making both troops and supplies ready for war. The word mobilization was first used, in a military context, in order to describe the preparation of the Prussian army during the 1850s and 1860s. Mobilization theories and techniques have continuously changed...
. In 1917 the Brigade of Police and the Firefighters Corps of the Federal Capital were officially considered part of the military reserve; condition that to continuation extended to the States. In this period the Firefighters Corps, as members of the military forces of the States, fought in the main conflicts that resulted in present-day Brazil.
Brazilian Revolution of 1930
The Revolution of 1930 was a movement that overthrew President Washington Luís and installed Getúlio Vargas as Provisional President.-See also:*Revolutions of Brazil*History of Brazil...
and the 1932
Constitutionalist Revolution
The Constitutionalist Revolution of 1932 is the name given to the uprising of the population of the Brazilian state of São Paulo against the 1930 coup d'état whereby Getúlio Vargas assumed the nation's Presidency; Vargas was supported by the military and the political elites of Minas Gerais, Rio...
; demilitarization of the CBMs was imposed by the Federal Government in 1934 to diminish the power of the military forces of the States, which threatened the balance of power in the country. With the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and the fall of the Estado Novo
Estado Novo (Brazil)
Vargas Era is the period in the history of Brazil that lasted from 1930 to 1945, when the country was under the leadership of Getúlio Dornelles Vargas....
, the forces in the States reverted to full State control; once again allowing the militarization of the CBMs, since these were incorporated into the Military Police.
In 1967 the Inspectorate General of Military Police ( - IGPM) was created, reporting to the Ministry of War, which is responsible for coordinating and conducting control activities over the Military Police
(and Firefighters Corps).
With the end of the Military Government
Military government
Military government can refer to conditions under either Military occupation, or Military dictatorship.-Military Government:Military government is the form of administration by which an occupying power exercises governmental authority over occupied territory.The Hague Conventions of 1907 specify...
and the institution of a new Constitution in 1988, the States were granted autonomy to administer their security forces as best suited them. The majority opted to separate the Firefighters Corps from the Military Police. The term "Military" was inserted in 1990 to distinguish the Military Firefighters Corps from organizations of civilian
Civilian
A civilian under international humanitarian law is a person who is not a member of his or her country's armed forces or other militia. Civilians are distinct from combatants. They are afforded a degree of legal protection from the effects of war and military occupation...
and voluntary firefighters
Volunteer fire department
See also the Firefighter article and its respective sections regarding VFDs in other countries.A volunteer fire department is a fire department composed of volunteers who perform fire suppression and other related emergency services for a local jurisdiction.The first organized force of...
.
Emergency telephone number
In all of Brazil, the Emergency telephone numberEmergency telephone number
Many countries' public telephone networks have a single emergency telephone number, sometimes known as the universal emergency telephone number or occasionally the emergency services number, that allows a caller to contact local emergency services for assistance. The emergency telephone number may...
of the Military Firefighters Corps is one, nine, three (193). It is a toll-free call.
Stable belt/Gymnastic belt
The Gymnastic beltStable belt
A stable belt is an item of uniform used in the armed forces of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries. Stable belts or similar derivatives are also worn by the armed forced of other nations such as Denmark....
is one of the essential elements of the uniforms of the Military Firefighters Corps; which has been used with few modifications, since 1887. At first the belt was reinforced, made of cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
and leather
Leather
Leather is a durable and flexible material created via the tanning of putrescible animal rawhide and skin, primarily cattlehide. It can be produced through different manufacturing processes, ranging from cottage industry to heavy industry.-Forms:...
, enabling it to serve as a climbing harness
Climbing harness
A climbing harness is a piece of equipment used in certain types of rock-climbing, abseiling or other activities requiring the use of ropes to provide access or safety...
. Today it is not as strong and only serves as a ceremonial item.
There are only two models of belts:
- For OfficersOfficer (armed forces)An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
:
This belt has a horizontal strip in blue
Blue
Blue is a colour, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 440–490 nm. It is considered one of the additive primary colours. On the HSV Colour Wheel, the complement of blue is yellow; that is, a colour corresponding to an equal...
colour, with the buckles
Buckle
The buckle or clasp is a device used for fastening two loose ends, with one end attached to it and the other held by a catch in a secure but adjustable manner. Usually overlooked and taken for granted, the invention of the buckle has been indispensable in securing two ends before the invention of...
in silver
Silver (color)
Silver is the metallic shade resembling gray, closest to that of polished silver.The visual sensation usually associated with the metal silver is its metallic shine. This cannot be reproduced by a simple solid color, because the shiny effect is due to the material's brightness varying with the...
metal. In the 1960s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
the leather parts were painted with white
White
White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be...
color.
- For non-commissioned officers and enlisted ranks (SergeantsSergeantSergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
, corporalsCorporalCorporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
, and privatesPrivate (rank)A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
):
The belt is in red
Red
Red is any of a number of similar colors evoked by light consisting predominantly of the longest wavelengths of light discernible by the human eye, in the wavelength range of roughly 630–740 nm. Longer wavelengths than this are called infrared , and cannot be seen by the naked eye...
colour, with the buckles in gold
Gold (color)
Gold, also called golden, is one of a variety of orange-yellow color blends used to give the impression of the color of the element gold....
metal.
Inspectorate General
The Inspectorate General of Military Police is a command element of the Brazilian ArmyBrazilian Army
The Brazilian Army is the land arm of the Brazilian Military. The Brazilian Army has fought in several international conflicts, mostly in South America and during the 19th century, such as the Brazilian War of Independence , Argentina-Brazil War , War of the Farrapos , Platine War , Uruguayan War ...
, responsible for coordinating and conducting activities of control over the Military Police and Military Firefighters Corps of the States.
It is part of the Land Operations
Brazilian Army
The Brazilian Army is the land arm of the Brazilian Military. The Brazilian Army has fought in several international conflicts, mostly in South America and during the 19th century, such as the Brazilian War of Independence , Argentina-Brazil War , War of the Farrapos , Platine War , Uruguayan War ...
Command
Command (military formation)
A command in military terminology is an organisational unit that the individual in Military command has responsibility for. A Commander will normally be specifically appointed into the role in order to provide a legal framework for the authority bestowed...
and its mission is:
- The establishment of principles, guidelines and standards for the effective implementation of control and coordination of the Military Police under the command of the Army, through its Military Area Commands, Regions, and other major military commands;
- The control of the organization and regulation, personnel and equipment, such as:
-
- Weapons, ammunitionAmmunitionAmmunition is a generic term derived from the French language la munition which embraced all material used for war , but which in time came to refer specifically to gunpowder and artillery. The collective term for all types of ammunition is munitions...
, communications equipment, chemical agents, military equipment, vehicles, aircraftAircraftAn aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
and boats.
- Weapons, ammunition
- Collaboration in studies aiming at rights, justice and guarantees of the military forces of the States, and the establishment of conditions comensurate mobilization;
- Coordinating and monitoring compliance with the provisions of relevant states and federal legislation;
- Conduction of regular inspections.
See also
- Brazilian Armed Forces
- Military Police (Brazil)