9th Marine Infantry Regiment
The 9th Marine Infantry Regiment (9e RIMa) is a infantry regiment of the Troupes de marine in the French Army, currently stationed at French Guiana. The troops are situated in the Cayenne district on the River Maroni, in the town of Saint-Jean-du-Maroni, the site of a former penal colony. Mission and Organization. 9e RIMa has a dual mission of infantry and operational support for French forces in Guiana. The regiment recruits from rural Creole, Bush-country Nengue and Amerindian locations in Guiana, as well as in the neighboring countries of Suriname and Brazil . The regiment has a permanent contingent, consisting mainly of marine troops, but also containing forces from all military branches. However 70% of its personnel only sign up for short-term missions. It operates in an equatorial environment, creating great physical strain for its members. Due to its environment, the regiment experts have developed a school to instruct the 1380 short-term mission personnel who serve in its ranks each year, in the tactics specific to the equatorial jungle and river in which it operates. The infantry has missions along the Maroni and deep into the interior of the country, terminating  at the border with Brazil. In the summer of 1999, the infantry was reinforced by a permanent company created specifically for the missions of Operation "Harp". This new company's numbers are estimated to be 670 military personnel. Structures. The 9e RIMa is composed of several companies stationed in Cayenne, and a detachment based in Saint-Jean-du-Maroni: Battles inscribed on the flag. It bears the following inscription: