# Jordanian Eastern Command

The Jordanian Eastern Command (Arabic:المنطقة العسكرية الشرقية) is the Jordanian Armed Forces regional command responsible for the North - East front against Syria and Iraq.

## History

Since major restructuring in 1977, the Royal Jordanian Army has kept the Eastern Command (formerly known as 5th Armoured Division) deployed between the Iraqi border and Ar Ramtha on the Syrian border with some presence in Zarqa. But in 2000, King Abdullah II made a big step to modernize and restructure Jordanian Armed Forces when the Divisions have been transformed into a lighter, more mobile forces, based largely on a brigade structure and considered better capable of rapid reaction in emergencies.
Jordanian forces traditionally maintained a defensive posture along this sector. A number of major roads link Jordan and Syria in this region, crossing undulating terrain with no natural obstacles. The important air base at Mafraq are less than 20 km from the border with Syria and are therefore vulnerable to surprise attack or artillery bombardment. As a result, Jordanian forces traditionally paid particular attention to their defenses in this region. The Sector from Ramtha to the Iraqi border was covered by the Eastern Command (5th Armoured Division).
This command was involved in many conflicts and engagements, including the Six-Day War, the War of Attrition (and its Battle of Karameh) and war against the Syrian army during Black September.

## Organisation

The Eastern Command controls regional units from Ar Ramtha and Mafraq to the Iraqi border with some units based in Zarqa. The Head of Eastern command is Brigadier General Mohammed Suleiman Bani Yasin.

### Eastern Command HQ

* Command Staff
* HQ Defense Company
* Command Communication Group
* Command Military Police

#### Border Guard Force (BGF)

* 1$_{st}$ Border Guard Force Brigade
** Brigade HQ
*** Command Staff
*** Signal Company
*** Medical Center
*** Vehicles & Weapons Maintenance Workshop
*** Reconnaissance & Surveillance Center
** 1$_{st}$ Border Guard Force Battalion
** 4$_{th}$ Border Guard Force Battalion
** 5$_{th}$ Border Guard Force Battalion
** 6$_{th}$ Border Guard Force Battalion

#### Combat & Maneuver Units

* Martyr Wasfi Al-Tal 2$_{nd}$ Mechanized Infantry Brigade
** Brigade HQ
*** Command Staff
**** Joint Fires Coordination Cell - Targeting Cell
*** Signal Company
*** Medical Center
*** Vehicles & Weapons Maintenance Workshop
*** Chemical Support Platoon (Attached)
*** JTAC Team
** Habis Al-Majali 4$_{th}$ Mechanized Infantry Battalion (YPR-765 pri)
** Royal Guard 6$_{th}$ Mechanized Infantry Battalion (M113A2 MK1)
** Prince Faisal 17$_{th}$ Tank Battalion (M60A3)
** 1$_{st}$ Field Artillery Battalion (M109A3)
** 81$_{st}$ Field Air Defense Battalion (Shilka,Strela-10,Igla)
** Anti-Armor Company (Kornet-E)
* Martyr King Abdullah I 90$_{th}$ Mechanized Infantry Brigade
** Brigade HQ
*** Command Staff
**** Joint Fires Coordination Cell - Targeting Cell
*** Signal Company
*** Medical Center
*** Vehicles & Weapons Maintenance Workshop
*** Chemical Support Platoon (Attached)
*** JTAC Team
** Al-Hussien 2$_{nd}$ Mechanized Infantry Battalion (YPR-765 pri)
** Princess Basma 3$_{rd}$ Mechanized Infantry Battalion (M113A2 MK1)
** Prince Talal 5$_{th}$ Mechanized Infantry Battalion (YPR-765 pri)
** 12$_{th}$ Field Artillery Battalion (M109A3)
** 5$_{th}$ Field Air Defense Battalion (Shilka,Strela-10,Igla)
** Anti-Armor Company (M901 ITV)

#### Combat Support Units

* Eastern Command Artillery $^{[1]}$
** Command Artillery HQ
*** STA Company
** 41$_{st}$ Mortar Battalion (AGRAB Mk2)
* 5$_{th}$ Field Air Defense Group $^{[1]}$
** Group HQ
** Signal Company
* Command Engineer Battalion
** 3 Mechanized Engineer Companies $^{[2]}$
** General Support Company

#### Service Support Units

* Supply and Transport Battalion
** 3 Supply & Transport Companies $^{[2]}$
* Command Maintenance Group
* Medical Support Group
* Administrative Transport Group

#### Command Training Center

Notes:
* Subordinate battalions attached to combat brigades
* Each company supports a brigade

## Unit summary

| Number | Unit Type | Equipment |
| 1 | Tank Battalion | M60A3 IFCS, M577A2, M88A1 ARV, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series |
| 5 | Mechanized Infantry Battalion | YPR-765 IFV, M113A2MK1J, M577A2, YPR-806, Humvee, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks |
| 4 | Border Guard Battalion | MRAP, M113A2MK-1J, Humvee, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks |
| 2 | Self-propelled artillery | M109A2 Howitzer, M113A2, M577 |
| 1 | Mobile Mortar Battalion | RG-31 Agrab Mk2 Mortar, Humvee, FMTV, DAF Military Trucks |
| 2 | Field ADA Battalion | Strela-10, ZSU-23-4 Shilka, Igla-S, 9K38 Igla, DAF Military Trucks |
| 1 | Engineer Battalion | YPR-765, M113A2, Armoured Tracked Bulldozer (CAT D6T, D7G/R, D8R, D9, Komatsu D155A), Wheeled Bulldozer (CAT 924H, 966C/D/F/G/H, Komatsu WA300-1, WA320, WA380-3A, W470-3), excavators, graders (CAT 12G, 120M), dump trucks, Backhoe loaders, loaders, M58 MICLIC, Aardvark JSFU, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks, Combat Dozer UDK1 and Bomb disposal robots. |
| 1 | Command Communication Group | M577A2, M113A2, MRAP, Humvee, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks |
| 1 | Supply & Transport Battalion | FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks, Fuel Tankers, Toyota Trucks and many other vehicles. |
| 1 | Medical Support Group | M577A2 Ambulance, M113A2 Ambulance, HMMWV M997 Ambulance, Toyota Land Cruiser Ambulance, Mobile Field Hospitals on trucks. |
| 1 | Maintenance Group | M113A2, M88 Recovery Vehicle, M1089 Wrecker, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Maintenance Workshop Trucks |
| 1 | Administrative Transport Group | |