After the creation of the Statute of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Royal Netherlands Army was entrusted with the defence of Suriname, while the defence of the Netherlands Antilles was the responsibility of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The army set up a separate Netherlands Armed Forces in Suriname. Upon independence in 1975, this force was turned into the Surinamese Armed Forces. On February 25, 1980, a group of 15 non-commissioned officers and one junior officer, under the leadership of sergeant major Dési Bouterse, staged a coup d'état and overthrew the Government. Subsequently, the SKM was rebranded as the National Army.
Suriname Soldiers in Brazil
Then president Dési Bouterse, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
Sergeant major is a senior non-commissioned rank or appointment in many militaries around the world.
Warrant officer class 1 rank badge 1951–2002
Warrant officer class 2 rank badge 1951–2002