What defines a paramilitary?

[ThunderCat]

^ We can discuss that in another thread, right now let's stay on topic.

 

[Hindustani78]

Paramilitary- forces that are distinct from the regular armed forces of the country, but resembling them in organization, equipment, training or mission.


Paramilitary forces (PMF) ensure the internal security of the country. Most of these forces generally perform counter-insurgency or anti-terrorist missions. In India, All branches of the PMF function under purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs .

 

[Tea addict]

From my understanding, a paramilitary is a less advanced form of a military, though it seems the definition of a paramilitary is disputed.

A paramilitary force would be like a military but not to the same advanced level.

Some define a paramilitary as a non-state military, but i see problems with that because private organizations like Blackwater/XE or whatever it's called now, are still classified as military.

So what could be a paramilitary?

Paramilitary is the force which is equipped,train and deployed as a military as well as internal security agencies like police and home guards.
It usually comes under Home or Interior ministry ,not under Ministry of Defence like Army,Navy,Airforce.
Its primary objectives are usually defined as matters related to internal security rather than external, external security is the secondary task of paramilitary force. Hence it is rarely equipped with heavy weapons or aviation .

 

[ThunderCat]

Most of what you guys have written is true. However, I'd argue that paramilitary aside from being non-military does nt directly mirror a military in terms of structure/organization, but instead resembles it.

 

[Godman]

Paramilitary is a military like organization that acts outside the Military or Ministry of Defence

The main Paramilitary force of Sri lanka is the STF. They have been trained by British SAS and Israeli Shin Beth clearly too much for a unit under the Police
So its pretty much a military-like unit outside the Military

 

[Ankit Kumar]

Paramilitary ..... may be I am technically wrong.

But they are an armed organisation doing a variety of duty during peace time.

During a war it gets overtaken by Military.

Like in India, the borders are guarded in peace time by BSF, ITBP etc, but when escalation happens.... Army takes over.

 

[jhungary]

I would dispute that. Firstly when you say that Blackwater/XE is not a volunteer force, what would you be implying? There's plenty of military forces around the world that are not volunteer but instead conscripted.

I would classify blackwater/XE as a private military. I would not consider Pakistan Rangers as a military organization, because I am quite certain (though I admit I may be wrong) are not trained to the same advancement as the Pakistan Army, but a more basic form of it. The same for the Frontier Corps, the Western equivalent of the Rangers. They would also be a less advanced form of the Pakistan Army.

Regarding the civil war scenario, I agree that is most likely the case, because it's unlikely both sides have military experience. IF both sides were at the same level as a military and with the same training and equipment and organization, then I would consider them both military.

As an example from science fiction, I consider the Galactic Empire's forces to be military because they are organized, trained and equipped like a military wheras the Rebel Alliance would be paramilitary since most of them are not military personal, but fighters with some experience in warfare though few of them are ex-imperial defactors who could be classified military, but not most of them.

Would compare military to paramilitary on the same comparison as medics and paramedics? I would say that would be the most accurate comparison.

Next time you need to tag or quote me if you want me to response to your post, otherwise I won't notice as I don't generally subscribe to threads.

The term for paramilitary is volunteer defence force. And to be qualified to be in the military, you need to be state sanctioned.

Paramilitary is a volunteer force that trained with military style tactics, but was not government sanctioned.

Military is a force, not necessarily to be volunteer but was government sanctioned.

If and when a draftee was drafted into military service, he is serving his country and performing his civic duty, since the force is sanctioned by government, a draftee would be in the military.

On the other hand, for paramilitary force is raised, the person must be volunteer into the rank, as those are civil group. Volunteer sometime can be drafted into paramilitary force, if that is act as a "State Actor" as with any paramilitary organisation can be drafted into Military Services

Hence Xe Service or Blackwater would be neither Paramilitary or Military, they are private service, much like security guard employed in high risk area. They are not state sanctioned (hence not a military) and not volunteer (hence not paramilitary)

And it's not up to you to decide too, it was written in Geneva Convention, technically GC does not cover any parties during a civil war. Unless both side agree upon the treatment according to GC, GC have no authority and states given to any soldier in any parties during a Civil War. When a parties was classified as Military, then associated rights have to given to the parties according to Geneva convention.

And I don't know anything about Galactic Empire's so I cannot help you with that.

And no........Medic and Paramedic is even further apart from the definition of military and paramilitary.

Medics refer to any kind of certified health care professional, that include Doctors, Physician, 2nd year Medical Student intern (Who qualified for the title Doctor), EMT and Battlefield Healthcare technician.

Medics must have qualified professional qualification to be called medics. And it is basically a blanket term cover all certified medical practitioner beside surgeon and nurses.

Paramedic is the assistance to medical professional. They are trained but not certified. They can be replaced by medics but they cannot replace medic in the same working environment.

 

[ThunderCat]

In response to this, I would argue against it, since XE is classified as an army, but a private one. I think the same comparison applies here. A paramilitary is a less advanced form of a professional military, more like a light infantry and I would also argue that the medic/paramedic (which you correctly described) is a good comparison to this. A paramilitary assists a military but cannot substitute one, but can be substituted by military.

And yes another definition has been that a paramilitary is not officially sanctioned as a military or incorporated as a branch of the armed forces, but i think nowadays the other definition seems more accurate.

Next time you need to tag or quote me if you want me to response to your post, otherwise I won't notice as I don't generally subscribe to threads.

The term for paramilitary is volunteer defence force. And to be qualified to be in the military, you need to be state sanctioned.

Paramilitary is a volunteer force that trained with military style tactics, but was not government sanctioned.

Military is a force, not necessarily to be volunteer but was government sanctioned.

If and when a draftee was drafted into military service, he is serving his country and performing his civic duty, since the force is sanctioned by government, a draftee would be in the military.

On the other hand, for paramilitary force is raised, the person must be volunteer into the rank, as those are civil group. Volunteer sometime can be drafted into paramilitary force, if that is act as a "State Actor" as with any paramilitary organisation can be drafted into Military Services

Hence Xe Service or Blackwater would be neither Paramilitary or Military, they are private service, much like security guard employed in high risk area. They are not state sanctioned (hence not a military) and not volunteer (hence not paramilitary)

And it's not up to you to decide too, it was written in Geneva Convention, technically GC does not cover any parties during a civil war. Unless both side agree upon the treatment according to GC, GC have no authority and states given to any soldier in any parties during a Civil War. When a parties was classified as Military, then associated rights have to given to the parties according to Geneva convention.

And I don't know anything about Galactic Empire's so I cannot help you with that.

And no........Medic and Paramedic is even further apart from the definition of military and paramilitary.

Medics refer to any kind of certified health care professional, that include Doctors, Physician, 2nd year Medical Student intern (Who qualified for the title Doctor), EMT and Battlefield Healthcare technician.

Medics must have qualified professional qualification to be called medics. And it is basically a blanket term cover all certified medical practitioner beside surgeon and nurses.

Paramedic is the assistance to medical professional. They are trained but not certified. They can be replaced by medics but they cannot replace medic in the same working environment.

 

[jhungary]

In response to this, I would argue against it, since XE is classified as an army, but a private one. I think the same comparison applies here. A paramilitary is a less advanced form of a professional military, more like a light infantry and I would also argue that the medic/paramedic (which you correctly described) is a good comparison to this. A paramilitary assists a military but cannot substitute one, but can be substituted by military.

And yes another definition has been that a paramilitary is not officially sanctioned as a military or incorporated as a branch of the armed forces, but i think nowadays the other definition seems more accurate.

lol, what would make you classified Xe as an Army? Xe was not state sanctioned....

The term, if you want to use it officially, is a lot more complicate than what you think

And no, paramilitary is not less advanced form of professional military, it can be as professional or somehow even more professional than a normal Army, but as long as it raised voluntarily and it was not government sanctioned. Then it would only be then a paramilitary.

A paramilitary assists a military but cannot substitute one, but can be substituted by military.

This quote is wrong, depend on situation, in the US, Army were only a federal sanctioned force to deal with Armed Incursion, and Military force cannot used on Military Operation involving US national, and also cannot be deployed to any states to subside any riot or civil disturbance. That can only be done by National Guard (By congress) and State Guard (By virtue)

But if you just want to discuss the common usage of the word, then the two word have no different at all, my definition is according to Geneva Convention on Combatant.

 

[ThunderCat]

lol, what would make you classified Xe as an Army? Xe was not state sanctioned....

The term, if you want to use it officially, is a lot more complicate than what you think

And no, paramilitary is not less advanced form of professional military, it can be as professional or somehow even more professional than a normal Army, but as long as it raised voluntarily and it was not government sanctioned. Then it would only be then a paramilitary.

This quote is wrong, depend on situation, in the US, Army were only a federal sanctioned force to deal with Armed Incursion, and Military force cannot used on Military Operation involving US national, and also cannot be deployed to any states to subside any riot or civil disturbance. That can only be done by National Guard (By congress) and State Guard (By virtue)

But if you just want to discuss the common usage of the word, then the two word have no different at all, my definition is according to Geneva Convention on Combatant.

XE is a private army. Top ten Private Military and Private Security Employers - Careers and Job Opportunitie- Top ten Private Forces You can find hundreds of results for XE

And paramilitaries aren't necessarily voluntarily. Rangers and FC are paid, but not military.

 

[jhungary]

XE is a private army. Top ten Private Military and Private Security Employers - Careers and Job Opportunitie- Top ten Private Forces You can find hundreds of results for XE

And paramilitaries aren't necessarily voluntarily. Rangers and FC are paid, but not military.

lol, that's a fan site, and a blog, they probably don't even know what is military, what isn't. I need to see a guideline and law about how they define what is paramilitary, and what is an army.

And no, volunteer does not mean they will not get paid. US military are all volunteer force, but that does not mean US government does not pay a dime to its soldier....

Volunteer is for the clause, not for your time, that's what Volunteer means.

Again, What I said is according to International Law (UN Charter Article 2(4)) and Geneva Convention (Article 1). They have a clear definition of what classified as paramilitary and what classified as military force. But if you just want a backstreet meaning of paramilitary and military ,as I said, nobody actually care to distinct the two.

 

[ThunderCat]

Sorry for the late reply. I was away. Of course I don't mean voluntary is not paid. Not at all. Voluntary militaries are basically military members by choice. Blackwater is a private military organization.

Another definition is a fighting force that replaces a military, even if it's not structurally organized. But yeah there are many definitions and one being a military-like force, but not quite the same. More like a military's light infantry by comparison.

 

[ThunderCat]

Would a paramilitary also be trained in a war strategy like a military? I wish to have all the similarities and differences between military and paramilitary.