La Vanguardia
| La Vanguardia Special Forces | |
|---|---|
| Fuerzas Especiales de La Vanguardia | |
 | |
| Active | 2018 |
| Country | Republic of Pecario |
| Type | Special Forces |
| Role | Anti-Drug Force |
| Size | 10,000 Regular Personnel 20,000 Irregular Reserves |
| Garrison/HQ | Fortaleza de la Seguridad |
| Motto(s) | Lealtad, Valentía, Unidad (Iberican)
Loyalty, Courage, Unity |
| Mascot(s) | Pecarian Jaguar |
| Engagements | War on Drugs in Pecario |
| Commanders | |
| Major General | Alejandro Mendeza |
| Capitán General | Miguel Valantaga |
| Sargento Mayor | Enrique Kapulca |
La Vanguardia (literal translation: The Vanguard) is a military police special operations unit of the Armed Forces of Pecario that was initially formed to counter the rise of the Santa Polvo Cartel.
History
When the cartels first expanded into Pecario, local law enforcement did not have the resources or manpower to be effective in combating them. In response, the government dismantled the Pecarian Federal Police in 2018 and created La Vanguardia, a special operations/military police force formed with the strongest and most aggressive troops of Pecario’s military, to expunge them from the country. Months of bloody fighting saw the cartel firmly entrenched in Pecario, however, despite Vanguardia's best efforts and a considerable death toll among the civilian population. La Vanguardia multiplied the degree of violence across the country; its operations turning villages into war zones. Entire provinces became no man’s land, and chaos spread.
Eventually, unwilling to stomach the continued loss of innocent life among the people he swore to protect, Vanguardia's leader Major General Mendeza arranged a truce with Santa Polvo : In return for permitting the cartel to operate unmolested in Pecario, Santa Polvo would cease targeting innocent civilians and put an end to the violence.
Unfortunately for Mendeza, the results of the truce were not as intended and had mixed results. Santa Polvo's campaign of targeted assassinations, "disappearances" and other acts of violence against the Pecarian population continued. Worst still, significant elements of Vanguardia fell prey to the cartel's corruption, actively participating in the drug trade they were established to crush.
The chaos that resumed after the secret agreement with Santa Polvo, which the Pecarian government continues to deny (2023), led the Pecarian population to demand the dismissal of President Luis Mesa. He left power in March 2019. Jeanine Áñez, a former senator, assumed the role of acting President, temporarily leading the country until new elections could be held in 2020.
Mission
Vanguardia’s primary main objectives is to suppress the rebellion and to keep Santa Polvo in check. Vanguardia has spread its influence all over the country through different types of infrastructures, such as outposts that are present in most provinces to control the local area’s rebel activities and drug production.
To maintain control of the country’s civilian and rebel population, Vanguardia uses a large array of ground vehicles, including off-road buggies, AMVs, APCs, and military bikes. Moreover, Vanguardia dominates the airspace and with gunships, transports and special operations helicopters.
Transportation
- MD Helicopters MH-6 Little Bird, Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk and Bell AH-1 SuperCobra helicopters
- Terradyne Armored Vehicles Gurkha, Light Strike Vehicle, P6 Atav and LAV III ground vehicles
- CB90-class fast assault craft ships
Weaponry
Pistols
Short-barreled
Rifles
Precision rifles
Anti-materiel
Shotguns
Machine guns
Grenade launchers
Anti-tank
