By the late 1970s, longstanding socio-economic inequality, human rights violations and the unwillingness of the National Conciliation Party dictatorship to address these problems led to the growth of a social movement.

The heavy handed response of the government signaled to those identifying with the social movement that peaceful solutions were futile, which led to the growth of an insurgency.

The JRG's policies were met with opposition from the military and economic elites and government repression increased, with tens of thousands of civilians being killed in 1980 and 1981 alone.

On MArch 24, 1980 Major Roberto D'Aubuisson ordered the killing of Archbishop Óscar Romero; on December 8, 1980 five members of the Salvadoran Army kidnapped and killed missionaries Maryknoll Sisters Maura Clarke and Ita Ford, Ursuline Dorothy Kazel, and lay missionary Jean Donovan under the orders of Carlos Eugenio Vides Casanova and his cousin Col. Óscar Edgardo Casanova Vejar, the local military commander in Zacatecoluca, Up to 380 Salvadoran troops, mostly paratroopers, were deployed as part of the Coalition Forces in Iraq between August 2003 and January 2009.

[4] El Salvador is divided into 6 military zones, each of which has its own infantry brigade: Furthermore, the army has the following units: The Salvadoran Army/Navy/Marines/Air Force use the same kind of small arms types.