Jordanian Northern Command

The Jordanian Northern Command (Arabic:المنطقة العسكرية الشمالية) is the Jordanian Armed Forces regional command responsible for the defense of the northern front against possible attack by Syria or Israel.

Jordanian Northern Command المنطقة العسكرية الشمالية
Northern Command Shoulder sleeve insignia
Active	1970 – 2000 (12th Mech. Div.) 2000 – present
Country	Jordan
Branch	Royal Jordanian Army
Type	Mechanized Infantry
Role	Multi Role
Size	15,000 - 18,000 (2012 est.)
Garrison/HQ	Irbid, Ajloun, Jerash
Colors	KA2 Desert Digital
Engagements	1948 Arab–Israeli War Retribution operations Six-Day War War of Attrition Black September
Commanders
Current commander	Brigadier General Khaled Al-Masaeid

History

The Northern Command was formed in 1977 as part of a major reorganization of the Royal Jordanian Army. The Units that make up the command were transferred from the 12th Mechanized Division that was disbanded. Northern Command units are deployed from Ramtha through Umm Qays to the Zarqa River in a defensive posture that cover both Israel and Syria.

In 2000, King Abdullah II initiated a further re-organization and restructuring of the Jordanian Armed Forces, with the divisions being transformed into lighter, more mobile forces, based largely on a brigade structure and considered better capable of rapid reaction in emergencies.^[1][2][3]

The 12th Mechanised Division was normally deployed facing west (towards Israel) and north (towards Syria) from the Zarqa river, around Umm Qais, to Ramtha. The western part of Jordan's frontier with Syria is a deep gorge along the Yarmuk River, but there is flatter ground further to the east where an attack could take place; Jordanian forces traditionally maintained a defensive posture along this sector.^[3][4][5]

Jordanian forces have not been deployed in the Jordan Valley itself, where they would be vulnerable to Israeli air power and artillery. They were deployed on the heights above the valley in positions that enable them to obstruct any enemy movement up the routes to the central plateau leading to the main cities. There are a number of surfaced roads leading up to the top of the escarpment, about 800 to 1,200 m above the floor of the valley, but a well-entrenched force could ensure that any enemy advance up those roads could only be attempted at great cost.^[3][5]

This command was involved in many wars, including the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, the Six-Day War, the War of Attrition and the war against the Syrian army when it tried to enter Jordan in the Black September conflict.

Organisation

The Northern Command commands regional units from Um Qais in Irbid to the Zarqa River south of Jerash, with a presence in Ar Ramtha. Brigadier General Khaled Al-Masaeid was appointed commander of the Northern Command.

Northern Command OrBat 2020 (Click to enlarge)

Northern Command HQ

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

Border Guard Force (BGF)

• 2_nd Border Guard Force Brigade
  • Brigade HQ
    • Command Staff
    • Signal Company
    • Medical Center
    • Vehicles & Weapons Maintenance Workshop
    • Reconnaissance & Surveillance Center
  • 9_th Border Guard Force Battalion
  • 10_th Border Guard Force Battalion
  • 11_th Border Guard Force Battalion
  • 12_th Border Guard Force Battalion
  • 4_th Mechanized Engineer Company (Direct Support, from Command Engineer Battalion)
  • 4_th Supply & Transport Company (Direct Support, from Command Supply & Transport Battalion)
  • Chemical Support Platoon (Direct Support, from Chemical Support Group)

Combat & Maneuver Units

• King Talal 3_rd Mechanized Infantry Brigade
  • Brigade HQ
    • Command Staff
      • Joint Fires Coordination Cell - Targeting Cell
      • Information and PsyOps Cell
    • Signal Company
    • Medical Center
    • BDE Vehicles & Weapons Maintenance Workshop
    • ISR Drone Platoon
    • FPV "Strike" Section
    • JTAC Team
  • Prince Hassan 4_th Mechanized Infantry Battalion (YPR-765 pri)
  • Imam Ali 8_th Mechanized Infantry Battalion (M113A2 MK1)
  • Prince Ghazi 18_th Tank Battalion (M60A3)
  • 16_th Field Artillery Battalion (M109A3)
  • 51_st Field Air Defense Battalion (Shilka,Strela-10,Igla)
  • Anti-Armor Company (Kornet-E)
  • 1_st Mechanized Engineer Company (Direct Support, from Command Engineer Battalion)
  • 1_st Supply & Transport Company (Direct Support, from Command Supply & Transport Battalion)
  • Chemical Support Platoon (Direct Support, from Chemical Support Group)

• Al-Yarmouk 12_th Mechanized Infantry Brigade
  • Brigade HQ
    • Command Staff
      • Joint Fires Coordination Cell - Targeting Cell
      • Information and PsyOps Cell
    • Signal Company
    • Medical Center
    • BDE Vehicles & Weapons Maintenance Workshop
    • ISR Drone Platoon
    • FPV "Strike" Section
    • JTAC Team
  • Abu Obeida Al-Jarrah 24_th Mechanized Infantry Battalion (YPR-765 pri)
  • Sharhabeel Ibn Hasna 26_th Tank Battalion (M60A3)
  • Omar Ibn El-A'as 28_th Mechanized Infantry Battalion (M113A2 MK1)
  • 3_rd Field Artillery Battalion (M109A3)
  • 52_nd Field Air Defense Battalion (Shilka,Strela-10,Igla) ^[1]
  • Anti-Armor Company (M901 ITV)
  • 2_nd Mechanized Engineer Company (Direct Support, from Command Engineer Battalion)
  • 2_nd Supply & Transport Company (Direct Support, from Command Supply & Transport Battalion)
  • Chemical Support Platoon (Direct Support, from Chemical Support Group)

• Princess Aliyah 48_th Mechanized Infantry Brigade
  • Brigade HQ
    • Command Staff
      • Joint Fires Coordination Cell - Targeting Cell
      • Information and PsyOps Cell
    • Signal Company
    • Medical Center
    • BDE Vehicles & Weapons Maintenance Workshop
    • ISR Drone Platoon
    • FPV "Strike" Section
    • JTAC Team
  • King Abdullah 7_th Mechanized Infantry Battalion (M113A2 MK1)
  • King Mohammad V 14_th Mechanized Infantry Battalion (YPR-765 pri)
  • Ja'far bin Abi Talib 39_th Mechanized Infantry Battalion (M113A2 MK1)
  • 32_nd Field Artillery Battalion (M109A3)
  • 52_nd Field Air Defense Battalion (Shilka,Strela-10,Igla) ^[1]
  • Anti-Armor Company (Kornet-E)
  • 3_rd Mechanized Engineer Company (Direct Support, from Command Engineer Battalion)
  • 3_rd Supply & Transport Company (Direct Support, from Command Supply & Transport Battalion)
  • Chemical Support Platoon (Direct Support, from Chemical Support Group)

Combat Support Units

• Northern Command Artillery ^[2]
  • Command Artillery HQ
    • STA Company
  • Prince Hamzeh 6_th Heavy Artillery Battalion (M110A2)
• 12_th Field Air Defense Group ^[2]
  • Group HQ
  • Signal Company
• Command Engineer Battalion
  • 4 Mechanized Engineer Companies ^[3]
  • General Support Company

Service Support Units

• Supply and Transport Battalion
  • 4 Supply & Transport Companies ^[3]
• Command Maintenance Group
• Medical Support Group
• Administrative Transport Group

Command Training Center

Notes:

1. 52_nd AD battalion supports two mechanized brigades
2. Subordinate battalions attached to combat brigades
3. Each company supports a brigade

Unit Summary

Number	Unit Type	Equipment
2	Tank Battalion	M60A3 IFCS, M577A2, M88A1 ARV, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series
7	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
3	Self-Propelled Artillery	M109A2 Howitzer, YPR-765, M113A2, M577A2, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks
1	Heavy Self-Propelled Artillery	M110A2 Howitzer, YPR-765, M113A2, M577A2, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, 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	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