Formación Básica Policial: Costa Rica abolished its army in 1948 under President José Figueres Ferrer — Article 12 of the 1949 Constitution prohibits the army as a permanent institution. The Fuerza Pública trains as a civilian law enforcement agency, not as a military force. The absence of military training culture means the Fuerza Pública has developed a distinct professional identity — civilian policing in a country that has invested its defense budget in education and health for 75+ years. Duration: 6 months initial formation; specialty training varies. Location: Escuela Nacional de Policía (ENP) — San José area; Policía de Fronteras regional training; Guardacostas naval training at Pacific and Caribbean bases.

The Fuerza Pública carries military-scale responsibilities with police resources. Without an army, the Fuerza Pública is the final security backstop for Costa Rica. It handles policing, border security support, counter-narcotics, emergency response, and — in extreme situations — the only armed state response available. This creates an institution that is chronically stretched between its mandate and its resources.

The officer who knows the Ley General de Policía, the Reglamento Disciplinario de la Fuerza Pública, and the Servicio Civil regulations in detail. In a civilian law enforcement agency that carries military-scale responsibilities without military legal authority, knowing the boundaries of lawful police action is both professionally and personally important.

Key terms include: Artículo 12: Article 12 of Costa Rica's 1949 Constitution: "Se proscribe el Ejército como institución permanente." The constitutional prohibition on a standing army — the founding legal text of Costa Rica's security model. Enacted after José Figueres Ferrer abolished the army on December 1, 1948 and handed the Cuartel Bellavista to the Ministry of Education.; Don Pepe: José "Don Pepe" Figueres Ferrer — the president who abolished Costa Rica's army in 1948. A figure of immense national pride in Costa Rica. The abolition is celebrated annually on December 1, the Day of Abolition of the Army. Every Costa Rican security professional works in the institutional shadow of his decision.; Fuerza Pública: The national police and primary security force with approximately 15,000 personnel. Carries functions that in neighboring countries are distributed between police and military. The largest and most important security institution in Costa Rica. Often called "la Fuerza" or simply "la Policía" in informal usage..