Maldives being a water bound nation much of our security concerns lay at sea. Almost 90% of the country is covered by sea and the remaining 10% land is scattered over an area of 415km x 120km, a single island (altogether 1192 islands) not been more than 8 sq km. The geographic location and formation of the country provides ideal conditions for the moon-cursers to carryout their activities taking Maldives as a covert route to their destinations.

Therefore the duties assigned to the MNDF of maintaining surveillance over our waters and providing protection against foreign intruders poaching in the EEZ and territorial waters, are immense tasks from both logistical and economic view points. Hence, for carrying out these functions, it is the Coast Guard that plays a vital role. To provide timely security its patrol boats are stationed at various MNDF Regional Headquarters.

Coast Guard is also assigned to respond to the maritime distress calls and to conduct search and rescue operations in a timely manner. Maritime pollution control exercises are conducted regularly on an annual basis for familiarization and handling of such hazardous situations.

MNDF won the presidents environment award Green Leaf twice in 1991 and in 2003 mainly due to the efforts of Coast Guard in collaboration with other units in scavenging harbours all over the country.

Coast Guards also under takes armed sea transport of troops and military equipment around the country.

Tasks:

1. Protecting territorial waters, EEZ, and the marine environment.
2. Conducting search and rescue, and salvage operations.
3. Enforcing maritime law.
4. VIP and Convoy protection.
5. Coastal Surveillance.

The Infantry Units of MNDF are named as Quick Reaction Forces, Special Protection Group and Special Forces. They are organized into infantry heavy combat teams and combat groups with amphibious armoured vehicles. They can be mobilized both at land and sea.

QUICK REACTION FORCES (QRF) are established at various strategic locations and vulnerable areas. They are deployed for the purpose of maintaining security in their key areas and they take pride in:

1. Assistance to Coast Guard in Maritime operations.
2. Assistance to Civil Authorities at times of crisis.
3. Search and Rescue operations.
4. Providing KP guards.
5. Undertaking combat operations.
6. Conducting counter insurgency.
7. Carrying out counter terrorism operations.
8. Supporting humanitarian and disaster relief activities

SPECIAL PROTECTION GROUP (SPG) too undertakes all these responsibilities, but their primary mission remains to protect and safeguard the Head of State as well as visiting dignitaries.

This unit was formally established soon after the 3 November 1988 incident. At first they were known as the Special Guards with a group of well-trained MNDF soldiers. As the forces tasks and mission expanded, the group was re-named Special Protection Group (SPG).

SPECIAL FORCES (SF) is the elitists of the elite cadres of MNDF. They are trained to perform their duties in all conditions at any time, in any part of the country. Specifically their involvement comes in situations where it is impediment to the normal infantry.

The more you are trained in peace, the less you bleed in war.

Training being the most essential ingredient for readiness and the basis for credible deterrence and capable defence, MNDF places strong emphasis on the education and training of its personnel. Hence, much of its time and energy is devoted in developing soldiers, to breed them to the values and techniques of true soldiers. It is the aim of the MNDF to improve and sustain the capabilities of the force to meet new challenges and emerging security threats. The MNDF doctrine stresses readiness, agility and decisiveness to eliminate any threat whether internal or external.

DEFENCE INSTITUTE FOR TRAINING AND EDUCATION (DITE) is the officiating unit responsible to train and to ensure that every training activity is well planned and rigorously executed to fulfil the Vision and Mission of MNDF. Training centres are established to train MNDF personnel from basics leading up to specialized training.

Furthermore, selected personnel are trained in over seas training establishments and institutions in academic, technical and other professional areas to enhance the professionalism of the MNDF. Joint training exercises are also conducted routinely with our friendly countries.

Tasks:

1. Providing institutional training.
2. Carrying out collective and individual training.
3. Conducting training exercises.
4. Co-ordinating training activities of all units

The supporting units take the role of support arms in the modern armies. They are mainly responsible to facilitate the necessary to the whole organization.

The support services are the backbone of the MNDF. From the very early days, some form of a support element existed within the framework of the MNDF. Over the years, the support services have developed to cater for the changing needs and demands of the Units of the MNDF. As part of the development of the MNDF, professionals are being trained in highly specialised fields for smoother and efficient operations in completing the missions and tasks entrusted.

MAJOR SUPPORTING UNITS:

1. Communication, Electronics and Information Technology Service (CEITS).
2. Project Planning, Implementation and Maintenance Service (PPIMS).
3. Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (EME).
4. Medical Service (MED).
5. Transport Service (TS)

COMMUNICATION, ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICE (CEITS) caters all communication related needs of MNDF. This also includes the servicing and repairing of communication equipment. Along with the communication assistance it is also tasked to implement and monitor the information technology needs of the organization.

With the advancement of technology, the MNDF has entered the information technology era and it is the responsibility of CEITS to support the needs of the force with acquisition of todays high tech equipment and with the training of personnel for the specialised fields in this area.

PROJECT PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION AND MAINTENANCE SERVICE (PPIMS)s main function is to design and build all new buildings of the MNDF and to maintain the existing infrastructure of the MNDF. Today the able men and women of PPIMS have the potential to do everything related to construction of buildings from its designing phase to the completion of construction.

Due to the lack of man power and various other reasons certain construction work has to be contracted out to private agencies. Even on such occasions it is the duty of PPIMS to monitor and supervise the work of the constructors.

ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERS (EME) deals with every matter related to the repair, maintenance, modification, production of spare parts, and electrical and mechanical equipment of MNDF. Apart from this they are also entitled for marine engineering, fibre glassing, air-conditioning, production of various metal structures and to bring required modifications to the weapons used in MNDF. They have the authority to check on any such item at any time which is entrusted to any unit of the MNDF.

Due the development and expansion of the MNDF as a whole, the force has become more mobile, particularly with advancement of transport facilities. With the increase of mortised vehicles and vessels as well as the use of other machinery, to ensure all mechanical units and equipment of the MNDF remain mobile and effective, EME is armed with number of skilled and semi skilled personnel to cater for the changing needs of the MNDF.

MEDICAL SERVICE (MED) is the authority responsible to provide medical assistance to men and women of the MNDF.

Welfare of the MNDF personnel has always been of paramount importance from the early days of the establishment of the security force and an established Medical Clinic came into existence in 1992. The trained men and women of Medical Service are round the clock at the medical assistance of the service men and women of MNDF. No matter on land or sea, they are where the troops are and provide timely service.

Special medical provision is made to those patients with illnesses that cannot be cured or treated in the Maldives by sending them abroad for further treatment. Furthermore, opportunities for training in the medical fields are being afforded to competent applicants as and when possible.

TRANSPORT SERVICE (TS) provides land and sea transport which are vital to the prompt and efficient mobility of the MNDF. Being a sea bound and a scattered island nation, much of our communication network depends upon proper transportation.

Movements of security personnel, equipment and other accessories for security operations or otherwise, therefore are greatly dependent on the reliability and efficiency of the vehicles and vessels operated by the TS.

TS cater the transport needs of the organization as a whole. Some units of MNDF do have their own independent modes of transportation, but to those unit which do not own independent transportation means and for massive load carrying TS involvement is vital.

QUARTER MASTER SERVICES (QMS). Issue of Q items and provision of all food and ration requirement of MNDF are the main concerns of this unit. Most of these services are provided to MNDF by contracting out to private sector. Therefore to make the necessary contracts with concerned parties and monitoring and supervision of the service provided is a responsibility of QMS.

BAND AND MUSIC WING (BMW). From the very birth of the security force, a form of ceremonial detachment was established to accompany the Sultan in his ceremonial processions. This ceremonial band has changed from a band of drums and trumpets to a modern brass band. BMW takes part in the ceremonial parades and at all the MNDF and national level ceremonies.

BMW not only hosts a brass band, but also a western band, pipe band, orchestra band and a cultural band too.

FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE (FRS). Fire and Rescue Service is an important branch of the MNDF and shoulders the responsibilities of providing fire-fighting and rescue services to the public. Presently, a timely service is given to the inhabitants of Male, the capital and nearby islands.

However, efforts are being made to render this service to the public. Already all over the country people are trained in fire fighting skills and community based civil fire fighting sub stations are established in various regions.

Task:

1. Conducting fire emergency operations
2. Carrying out rescue operations
3. Providing protection to property

OTHER SUPPORTING UNITS:

1. Office of the Chief of Staff (OCS).
2. Sifainge Ekuveri Kunfuni (SEK).
3. Ordnance (ORD).
4. Media and Publishing Service (MPS).
5. Regional Headquarters (RHQ).
6. Special Assessment Unit (SAU).
7. Sports and Recreation Club (SRC).
8. Supply Unit (SU).