Majorca Civil Guard officers seek entry into USECIC
Many of the officers stationed on the island have applied on merit to join the unit, so those positions should be filled.
Creation of a USECIC unit on Fuerteventura
The establishment of a USECIC (Specialized Unit for Exceptional Situations) on Fuerteventura has generated great interest. The unit, specialized in handling specific incidents, is expected to enhance the island’s sense of security, especially during special events and exceptional situations.
For the unit to be created, Fuerteventura needed to have its own command headquarters, which was finally achieved in 2025. Following the recent creation of this post, the Ministry of the Interior has expanded its roster of personnel and competencies.
Resident agents want to join the unit
A large majority of the officers currently assigned to the island are eager to become part of the new unit. Almost 90 % of the applications to belong to the unit come from Fuerteventura, according to internal sources.
“Many majoreros, natives and adopted locals do not want to be posted elsewhere,” the sources said, adding that joining the specialized unit is also seen as a career improvement.
Housing problems and the need to review staffing ratios
Housing shortages on the island mean that few officers who are not already based in Fuerteventura are applying for the new unit, which depends on the newly created major command.
Jose Cobo, spokesperson for the Spanish Association of Civil Guard Officers (AEGC) in the Canary Islands, explained:
“Fuerteventura is a difficult posting for many people, not only for the Civil Guard, because most of us have to look for housing; only about 10 % of those stationed on the island live in the barracks.”
Cobo added that officers leaving their current posts on Fuerteventura will need to be replaced, and that the replacement process will take time, creating a period of instability:
“These personnel who leave their current positions on Fuerteventura will have to be replenished, and we will have to wait for new assignments and publications, generating a period of instability since most members of the USECIC will be those already working on the island.”
He also criticized the shortage of personnel in the Canary Islands and stressed that staffing calculations must consider the floating population of tourists, which often exceeds the resident population throughout the year. This is especially relevant in municipalities where all state police responsibilities fall to the Civil Guard, such as La Oliva, which has about 27,000 permanent residents but an average floating population of roughly 120,000.
The housing issue also affects Morro Jable and Corralejo:
“Vacancies in both Corralejo and Morro Jable remain unfilled. Nine positions were announced for the southern town of Morro Jable and none have been covered; in Corralejo eight were announced and only one has been filled.”
The importance of the USECIC
Cobo emphasized that a unit of this type is crucial for the island, but warned that it essentially means “dressing one saint to undress another,” because most of the agents are already on the island and will have to wait for replacements to fill the new posts.
“Fuerteventura is a difficult posting for many people, not only for the Civil Guard, because most of us have to look for housing; only about 10 % of those stationed on the island live in the barracks.”
In summary, while the creation of the USECIC promises enhanced security for Fuerteventura, significant challenges remain regarding housing, staffing ratios, and the timely replacement of personnel.