Editing Armed Forces of Liberia (section)

== Structure ==
[[File:Liberian training visit to USA.jpg|thumb|alt=A colour photograph of two soldiers, one holding an assault rifle, talking at a training ground. The soldier on the left is in a camouflage field uniform, while the soldier on the right holding the rifle is in a grey camouflage uniform|Major Andrew Wleh, commander, AFL Armed Forces Training Command (left), discusses marksmanship training with a U.S. soldier (right) whilst on a visit to the United States.]]

=== 23rd Infantry Brigade ===
The Liberian ground forces currently consist of two infantry battalions under the 23rd Infantry Brigade and supporting units. The 1st Battalion, [[23rd Infantry Brigade (Liberia)|23rd Infantry Brigade]], was formed on August 29, 2008, at the Barclay Training Center in [[Monrovia]],<ref>Petty Officer 1st Class Daniel P. Lapierre, [http://www.africom.mil/getArticle.asp?art=2011 Liberia's President Johnson-Sirleaf, U.S. General Ward Attend Historic Activation of Liberian Military Unit] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080912052133/http://www.africom.mil/getArticle.asp?art=2011 |date=September 12, 2008 }}, [[United States Africa Command]]. Retrieved August 3, 2010</ref> and the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Brigade in December that year. Both battalions are currently based at the former Camp Schiefflin, which has now been renamed the [[Edward Binyah Kesselly]] Barracks, often known simply as 'EBK Barracks.'<ref>Colin Robinson, [http://www.securityanddevelopment.org/pdf/Comments%20on%20Africa%2013.pdf Military or hybrid solutions for border patrolling in Liberia] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202102803/http://www.securityanddevelopment.org/pdf/Comments%20on%20Africa%2013.pdf |date=February 2, 2014 }}, Comments on Africa No. 13, Conflict, Security, and Development Group, [[King's College London]], March 2012.</ref>

As a result of the concentration of troops at EBK, the camp was overcrowded, and disturbances among the soldiers have occurred.<ref>Rebecca Murray, [http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=49823 New Army Faces Greatest Challenge] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100607110101/http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=49823 |date=June 7, 2010 }}, Inter Press Service, December 26, 2009</ref> As of mid-2009, the Ministry of Defense is attempting to alleviate the problem by relocating some personnel to Camp Tubman in Gbarnga.<ref>Jefferson Massah, [http://allafrica.com/stories/200909160834.html Liberia: UNMIL Provides training for 60 AFL Military Engineers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629142525/http://allafrica.com/stories/200909160834.html |date=June 29, 2011 }}, The Informer, September 16, 2009</ref>

The two battalions and supporting units went through training and preparation for an assessment exercise, a modified US Army Readiness Training Evaluation Program (ARTEP),<ref>[[United States Marine Corps]], [https://www.mfr.usmc.mil/mfrnews/2009/2009.03/ftx.asp Diggin' In]{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, March 2009</ref> which was held in late 2009. When declared operational, the 23rd Infantry Brigade was planned to be commanded by a [[colonel]] with a headquarters of 113 personnel. Supporting units were to include a band platoon (40 members), engineer company (220 strong), Brigade Training Unit (162 strong, now retitled the Armed Forces Training Command, located at Camp Ware under Major Wleh),<ref>{{cite web |first=Kristin|last=Molinaro |title=Liberian delegation visits Fort Benning|url=https://www.army.mil/article/25591/liberian-delegation-visits-fort-benning/|publisher=United States Army|date=August 6, 2009|access-date=August 6, 2009| archive-url= http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20090809160318/http%3A//www%2Earmy%2Emil/%2Dnews/2009/08/06/25591%2Dliberian%2Ddelegation%2Dvisits%2Dfort%2Dbenning/| archive-date= August 9, 2009 | url-status= live}}(The Bayonet)</ref> and a military police company (105 strong).{{sfn|Malan|2008|pages=36–37}}
The force operates according to slightly modified [[United States Army]] practices, and uses U.S. doctrine.{{sfn|Malan|2008|pages=36–37}}

<blockquote>"..The first battalion started the United States Army Training and Evaluation Programme, which it will complete in September [2009], while the second battalion will complete the programme in December [2009]. At that time, the United States contractors currently training and equipping the force will hand over to the [[Ministry of National Defense (Liberia)|Ministry of National Defense]], which will assume responsibility for training and standing up the new army. The United States has indicated that it plans to assign as many as 60 United States serving military personnel to continue mentoring the Armed Forces of Liberia, beginning in January 2010."<ref name=UNSG2009>UN Secretary-General's Report on UNMIL, released 10 August 2009</ref></blockquote>

[[File:Liberian Coast Guard formation.png|thumb|Major General [[Suraj Abdurrahman]], Command Officer-in-Charge of the AFL, hands over a new [[Guidon (United States)|Guidon]] to the reactivated Coast Guard.]]
As of December 2010, a Logistics Command is being established within the AFL, taking the same name as a pre-Civil War AFL formation.<ref>[http://www.dvidshub.net/image/319273/marine-forces-africa-commander-visits-liberia-gauges-progress-onward-liberty-mentorship Photo 2 of 9 covering senior officials visit: “United States Marine Brig. Gen. Paul W. Brier, commander, U.S. Marine Forces Africa, and Michelle Stefanick, foreign policy advisor, U.S. Marine Forces Africa, learn about the progress of Operation ONWARD LIBERTY.”] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723104236/http://www.dvidshub.net/image/319273/marine-forces-africa-commander-visits-liberia-gauges-progress-onward-liberty-mentorship |date=July 23, 2011 }}. Retrieved December 2, 2010.</ref>

=== Coast Guard ===

The Coast Guard was reactivated on the 53rd Armed Forces Day on February 11, 2010, with an initial strength of 40 personnel who had been trained in the United States.<ref>Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, [http://www.theperspective.org/2010/0126201001.html President's Annual Message] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100130192956/http://www.theperspective.org/2010/0126201001.html |date=January 30, 2010 }}, January 25, 2010</ref> A [[United States Coast Guard]] officer is now serving at the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia supporting efforts to reestablish the Liberian Coast Guard.<ref>Chief Petty Officer Jason Morris, [http://www.africom.mil/getArticle.asp?art=3600&lang=0 APS, Seabees Bolster Liberia's Coast Guard] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720130445/http://www.africom.mil/getArticle.asp?art=3600&lang=0 |date=July 20, 2011 }}, Africa Partnership Station Public Affairs, October 20, 2009</ref>

A detachment from [[SeaBee]] [[Naval Mobile Construction Battalion]] 7, based at [[Naval Station Rota]], Spain, constructed a [[United States Africa Command]]-funded boat ramp and concrete perimeter wall for the Coast Guard, which was handed over in December 2010.<ref>[http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=53732 NMCB 7 Liberia Detachment Receives Commendation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629212600/http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=53732 |date=June 29, 2011 }}, May 30, 2010. Retrieved June 2010, and [http://africom.wordpress.com/2010/12/29/liberian-coast-guard-ready-for-247-ops/ Liberian Coast Guard Ready for 24/7 Ops] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110701165625/http://africom.wordpress.com/2010/12/29/liberian-coast-guard-ready-for-247-ops/ |date=July 1, 2011 }}, December 29, 2010. Retrieved February 21, 2011</ref> In February 2011, the United States turned over two donated [[USCG Defender class boat]]s to the Coast Guard.<ref>[http://www.liberianobserver.com/node/10592 liberianobserver.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219062733/http://liberianobserver.com/node/10592 |date=February 19, 2011 }} US Equip AFL with 2 Boats</ref>

The ranks and insignia of the Armed Forces of Liberia are based on those of the [[United States Department of Defense]], and are laid out in the Liberian Defense Act of 2008.<ref name="DA08" />

=== Air Force ===
[[File:Liberian Air Force Roundel.svg|thumb|Liberian Air Force Roundel]]
The Liberian Air Force was formally dissolved in 2005 as part of the armed forces demobilization programme, though it had effectively ceased to exist during the civil war. There was also a paramilitary [[Justice Air Wing]] operating some [[Mil Mi-2]]s. After 2003, only the [[United Nations Mission in Liberia]] (UNMIL) operated military aircraft in Liberia – [[Mil Mi-8]] transport and [[Mil Mi-24]] attack helicopters from [[Roberts International Airport]] with several subsidiary locations.<ref name="UNSG2009" /> These aircraft left the country on or before the cessation of UNMIL operations on 31 March 2018.

In 2018–19, two Liberian pilots were trained by the [[Nigerian Air Force]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.defenceweb.co.za/aerospace/aerospace-aerospace/armed-forces-of-liberia-gets-new-pilots/amp/ |title=Amphibious ships pass preliminary design reviews |date=23 July 2009 |website=www.defenceweb.co.za |access-date=November 7, 2020 |archive-date=November 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113171034/https://www.defenceweb.co.za/aerospace/aerospace-aerospace/armed-forces-of-liberia-gets-new-pilots/amp/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and the Chief of Staff of the AFL visited Ghana to discuss military cooperation opportunities, including those related to the reestablishment of an aviation capability.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/news/armed-forces-of-liberia-to-module-air-wing-after-ghana-air-force/|title=Armed Forces of Liberia to Model Air Wing after Ghana Air Force|date=December 11, 2019|access-date=April 28, 2023|archive-date=August 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805214440/https://frontpageafricaonline.com/news/armed-forces-of-liberia-to-module-air-wing-after-ghana-air-force/|url-status=live}}</ref>