7th Macho de Monte Infantry Company
| 7th Macho de Monte Infantry Company | |
|---|---|
Insignia and cap badge | |
| Active | April 7, 1969 – December 20, 1989 |
| Country | Panama |
| Allegiance | Manuel Noriega |
| Branch | Panama Defense Forces |
| Type | Commando |
| Role | Guerrilla warfare |
| Size | Company |
| Garrison/HQ | Rio Hato, Cocle |
| Nicknames | Macho de Monte (Mountain Men) |
| Mottos | "Lealtad Sin Precio Ni Duda" ("Loyalty Without Price or Doubt") |
| Mascot | Baird's tapir |
| Anniversaries | April 7 |
| Engagements | 1989 Panamanian coup d'état attempt United States invasion of Panama |
| Commanders | |
| Former Commander | Major Gonzalo Gonzalez |
The 7th Macho de Monte Infantry Company (Spanish: Séptima Compañía de Infantería Macho de Monte) was the only commando (special operations capable) company of the Panama Land Forces, Panama Defense Forces. Its mascot was the Baird's tapir, from which the company took it name, as in Panama the tapir is called 'Macho de Monte' which translates as 'mountain men'.
It was based at the Base Militar "General de Division Omar Torrijos Herrera" in Rio Hato and specialised in air assault operations, clandestine operations, combined arms, commando style raids on key targets, counterinsurgency in jungle and urban terrain areas, counter-revolutionary, defense against swimmer incursions, defusing and disposing of bombs or high-yield explosives, executive protection (especially the President of the Republic of Panama), guerrilla warfare in jungle and urban terrain areas , joint combat operation with infantry mobility vehicle (IMV) or military light utility vehicle, maneuver warfare, naval boarding, reconnaissance and surveillance, special reconnaissance, support crowd control and riot control, tracking targets to frontline military intelligence gathering or raiding, and underwater demolition.
It was disbanded alongside the rest of the Panama Defense Forces on December 20, 1989, following the United States invasion of Panama.