“The Armed Forces of Haiti consisted of the Haitian Army, Haitian Navy, the Haitian Air Force, Haitian Coast Guard, and some police forces. The Army was always the dominant service with the others serving primarily in a support role. The name of Haiti's military was changed from the Garde d'Haiti to the Forces Armées d'Haïti – FAd'H in 1958 during the dictatorship of François Duvalier. After years of military interference in politics, including dozens of military coups, Haiti disbanded its military in 1995. The origins of Haiti's military lie in the Haitian Revolution. A decade of warfare produced a military cadre from which Haiti's early leaders emerged. Defeat of the French demonstrated Haiti's considerable strategic stamina and tactical capabilities, but Haiti's victory did not translate into a successful national government or a strong economy. Lacking a strong constitution, Haiti was usually ruled by force. The armed forces, who had been united against the French, fragmented into warring regional factions. The military very soon took control of almost every aspect of Haitian life. Officers assumed responsibility for the administration of justice and for municipal management. According to a Haitian diplomat, the country was in its earlier days “an immense military camp”. Without viable civilian institutions, Haiti was vulnerable to military personalities, who permanently shaped the nation's authoritarian, personallist, and coercive style of governance”. – Wikipedia



A man holds a metal bar as a weapon during a training day for former soldiers and volunteers train in a makeshift camp in the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, October 28, 2015. Haiti disbanded its abusive armed forces two decades ago but uniformed veterans and young recruits are resurfacing to add another destabilising factor to the volatile Caribbean nation already dealing with a political vacuum. (Photo by Andres Martinez Casares/Reuters)





A former soldier gets his hair cut in a makeshift camp in the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, October 30, 2015. (Photo by Andres Martinez Casares/Reuters)





Former soldiers and volunteers during a training day in a makeshift camp in the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, October 28, 2015. (Photo by Andres Martinez Casares/Reuters)





Former soldiers and volunteers march during a training day in a makeshift camp in the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, October 28, 2015. (Photo by Andres Martinez Casares/Reuters)





A man jumps during a training day for former soldiers and volunteers in a makeshift camp in the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, October 28, 2015. (Photo by Andres Martinez Casares/Reuters)





Men rest in the shade during a training day for former soldiers and volunteers in a makeshift camp in the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, October 28, 2015. (Photo by Andres Martinez Casares/Reuters)





Volunteers get dressed in military style clothes in a makeshift camp in the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, October 30, 2015. (Photo by Andres Martinez Casares/Reuters)





An instructor gives directions as former soldiers and volunteers train in a makeshift camp in the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, October 28, 2015. (Photo by Andres Martinez Casares/Reuters)





An instructor gives directions as former soldiers and volunteers train in a makeshift camp in the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, October 28, 2015. (Photo by Andres Martinez Casares/Reuters)





An instructor gives directions as former soldiers and volunteers train in a makeshift camp in the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, October 28, 2015. (Photo by Andres Martinez Casares/Reuters)





A man in military style clothes stands by a tree during a training day for former soldiers and volunteers in a makeshift camp in the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, October 30, 2015. (Photo by Andres Martinez Casares/Reuters)





Unidentified men in military style clothes and holding guns drive around Port-au-Prince, Haiti, February 5, 2016. (Photo by Andres Martinez Casares/Reuters)