Jamaica Defence Force

Jamaica Defence Force
Jamaica Defence Force
Badge of the JDF
Badge of the JDF
Headquarters Up Park Camp, Kingston
Leadership
Minister of Defence Bruce Golding
Chief of Defence Staff Major-General Antony Bertram Anderson
Manpower
Military age 16 years of age for selection process, 17 years of age is actual serving age (As of 2007)
Available for
military service
747,043 males, age 16–49 (2005 est.)
Fit for
military service
523,550 males, age 16–49 (2005 est.)
Reaching military
age annually
27,729 males (2005 est.)
Expenditures
Budget $31,170,000 (ranked 141st)
Percent of GDP 0.6%(2007)

The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) is the combined military forces of Jamaica, consisting of an Army, Air Wing and Coast Guard. The JDF is based upon the British military model with organisation, training, weapons and traditions closely aligned with Commonwealth Realm countries. Once chosen officer candidates are sent to one of several British or Canadian basic officer courses depending upon which arm of service they are slated for. Enlisted soldiers are given basic training at JDF Training Depot Newcastle. As on the British model NCOs are given several levels of professional training as they rise up the ranks. Additional military schools are available for speciality training in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Contents

History

Personnel of the Jamaica Defence Force in dress uniform, during a light rain, at Palisadeos Air Port, Kingston.

The JDF is directly descended from the British West India Regiment formed during the colonial era. The West India Regiment was used extensively by the British in policing the empire from 1795 to 1926. Other units in the JDF heritage include the early colonial Jamaica Militia, the Kingston Infantry Volunteers of WWI and reorganised into the Jamaican Infantry Volunteers in WWII. The West India Regiment was reformed in 1958 as part of the West Indies Federation. The dissolution of the Federation resulted in the establishment of the JDF.

The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) comprises an infantry Regiment and Reserve Corps, an Air Wing, a Coast Guard fleet and a supporting Engineering Unit. The infantry regiment contains the 1st, 2nd and 3rd (National Reserve) battalions. The JDF Air Wing is divided into three flight units, a training unit, a support unit and the JDF Air Wing (National Reserve). The Coast Guard element is divided between sea-going crews and support crews. It conducts maritime safety and maritime law enforcement as well as defence-related operations. The support battalion contains a Military Police platoon as well as vehicle, armourers and supply units. The 1st Engineer Regiment provides military engineering support to the JDF. The Headquarters JDF contains the JDF commander, command staff as well as intelligence, judge advocate office, administrative and procurement sections.

In recent years the JDF has been called upon to assist the nation's police, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) in fighting drug smuggling and a rising crime rate which includes one of the highest murder rates in the world. JDF units actively conduct armed patrols with the JCF in high-crime areas and known gang neighbourhoods. There has been vocal controversy as well as support of this JDF role. In early 2005, an opposition leader, Edward Seaga, called for the merger of the JDF and JCF. This move has not garnered support in either organisation nor among the majority of citizens.

Major units of the Jamaica Defence Force

Soldiers from the JDF during the Tradewinds 2002 Field Training Exercise, on the island of Antigua.

Army Equipment

Jamaican Defence Force soldier with a sergeant of the Bermuda Regiment
Jamaican army equipment[1][2]
Manufacturer Model Type Number/Use/Comment Image
Small Arms
Royal Small Arms Factories L1A1 Assault Rifle SLRL1A1.jpg
BAE SA80 Assault Rifle SA-80 rifle 1996.jpg
Sterling Armaments Company L2A3 Submachine Gun Being replaced by the SA80 Sterling SMG.JPG
Browning GP35 Pistol Browning High-Power 9mm IMG 1526.jpg
FN L7A1 General purpose machine gun FN MAG trípode.JPG
Springfield Armory M79 Grenade Launcher M79 afmil.jpg
Browning M2 Heavy machine gun
Artillery
Royal Ordnance L16 Mortar 12 81mmMORT L16.png
Royal Ordnance SBML 2-inch mortar Mortar 2 inch mortar (AWM 094355).jpg
Transport
Land Rover Rover Defender 110 Mini SUV/Utility vehicle Land Rover Defender front 20070518.jpg
Toyota Land Cruiser SUV/Utility Vehicle Long body version Toyota Land Cruiser HZJ76HV 001.jpg
Toyota Hiace (fourth generation) Minibus Toyota Hiace (fourth generation, first facelift) (front), Serdang.jpg
Toyota Coaster Minibus Toyota Coaster 009.JPG
Ford LN7000 Truck
Ford LN8501 Truck
Toyota Dyna lU100/Y100 Truck Troop carrier Dyna07.jpg
Armored
Cadillac Gage Commando V-150 Armoured Personnel Carriers 13 Saudi V-150 Commando.jpg
Staff Cars
Volvo S90 Executive car 1 for use by the Chief of Staff of the Defense Force Volvo S90 sedan.jpg
Toyota Crown Executive car Used by commanding and senior officers S120 CROWN SD 1.jpg
Toyota Corona Sedan Used by senior officers 1994 Toyota Corona 01.jpg
Toyota Hilux (Sixth Generation) Pickup truck Used for administrative purposes 2001-2004 Toyota Hilux (RZN149R MY02) 4-door utility 01.jpg
Toyota Prado 90 series Mid-sized SUV For administrative purposes Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 90 009.JPG

Past Chiefs of Staff of the Jamaica Defence Force (1962–2007)

1962–1965 Brigadier Paul Edwin Crook, CBE, DSO
1965–1973 Brigadier David Hartman Smith, CVO, OBE, ED
1973 Brigadier Dunstan Fitzgerald Robinson, CD, OBE, ED
1973–1979 Major-General Rudolph Edward George Green, CD, OStJ
1979–1990 Major-General Robert James Neish, CD, AFC
1990–1998 Rear-Admiral Peter Lorenzo Brady, CD, CVO, MMM
1998–2002 Major-General John I Simmonds, CVO, OD
2002–2007 Rear-Admiral Hardley M Lewin, CD, ADC, JP, psc (n)
2007 Major-General Stewart Emerson St Leonard Saunders, CD, ADC, MSc, JP, psc

In December 2007 the title of Chief of Staff was replaced by Chief of Defence Staff and filled by incumbent.

Chiefs of Defence Staff of the Jamaica Defence Force (2008 onwards)

2008–2010 Major-General Stewart Emerson St Leonard Saunders, CD, JP, ADC, MSc, psc
2010- Major-General Antony Bertram Anderson, OD, JP, MDA, BEng (Hons), psc

Bands

The JDF also supports two military bands;

  • Jamaica Military Band - this is the band that is descended from the band of the West India Regiment, and was formed in February 1927. It is one of only two units in the world (the other being the Band of the Barbados Regiment) that wears the uniform of the zouaves.[3]
  • Jamaica Regiment Band - this band was originally formed as the Band of the West India Regiment formed in 1959 as the military force of the Federation of the West Indies. With the Federation's break up and the independence of Jamaica, it became the Band of the 1st Battalion, Jamaica Regiment. It gained its current name with the formation of the 2nd Battalion in 1979.[4]

JDF Coast Guard

Ships in Active Service

Name of Ship Length Max speed Crew/Capacity Class Builder Delivery
HMJS Cornwall 42.8 m 26 knots 12 + 4 County Offshore Patrol Vessel Damen Group 2006
HMJS Middlesex 42.8 m 26 knots 12 + 4 County Offshore Patrol Vessel Damen Group 2006
HMJS Surrey 42.8 m 26 knots 12 + 4 County Offshore Patrol Vessel Damen Group 2007
HMJS Paul Bogle 32.3 m 30 knots 17 Hero
HMJS Fort Charles 35.3 m 32 knots 16 Fort 1974

Other smaller vessels include[5]:

  • 9m Boston Whaler
  • 6m Boston Whaler
  • RHIB
  • Fast Patrol Craft
  • 13m Fast Coast Interceptors

Retired Ships of the JDF Coast Guard

HMJS Yoruba
HMJS Coromante
HMJS Mandingo
HMJS Discovery Bay
HMJS Holland Bay
HMJS Manatee Bay

JDF Air Wing

Roundel of Jamaica Defence Force Air Wing

This is a list of currently-active military aircraft in use[6]:

Manufacturer Model Use Origin Number In service Notes Image
Fixed Wing
Cessna 210M Centurion Light Transport  United States 1 In service since 1983. 1st Flight Cessna.210.centurion.d-ebws.arp.jpg
Britten-Norman Islander BN-2A Light Transport  United Kingdom 1 In service since 1974. 1st Flight Islander.JPG
Diamond DA40-FP Trainer  Austria 2 In service since 2006. Jamaica Military Aviation School DiamondDA40C-GSPB.jpg
Rotary Wing
Bell Bell 407 Support Helicopter  United States 4 In service since 2007 Bell 407 Góraszka 2.JPG
Bell Bell 206 Support Helicopter  United States 2 In service since 2008. Jamaica Military Aviation School
Bell 412EP Support Helicopter  United States 1 In service since 1998. 2nd Flight PL Bell 412HP Polish government.JPG
Eurocopter AS 355N Ecureuil 2 Support Helicopter  France 4 In service since 1999. 3rd Flight HNK AS355F2 JA6718 Maishima 20081018-001.jpg

Retired Aircraft

  • Bell 47G Sioux - Two helicopters used by the 2nd Flight, for utility transport and support duties. In service from 1963 to 1964.
  • Bell 212 Twin Huey - Three helicopters used by the 2nd Flight, for utility transport and support duties. In service from 1973 to 1999.
  • Bell 222UT - One helicopter used by the 2nd Flight, for utility transport and support duties. In service from 1986 to 1988.
  • Bell UH-1H Iroquois - Four helicopters used by the 2nd Flight, for utility transport and support duties. In service from 1989 to 1998.
  • Beech B60 Duke - One aircraft used by the 1st Flight, for fisheries protection, search and rescue, anti-narcotics duties. In service from 1975 to 2003.
  • Beechcraft King Air A100 - One aircraft used by the 1st Flight, for fisheries protection, search and rescue, anti-narcotics duties. In service from 1975 to 2003.
  • Cessna 185 Skywagon - Four aircraft used by the 1st Flight, for fisheries protection, search and rescue, anti-narcotics duties. In service from 1963 to 1985.
  • De Havilland Canada Twin Otter - Two aircraft used by the 1st Flight, for fisheries protection, search and rescue, anti-narcotics duties. In service from 1967 to 1980.

Incidents

On July 1, 2009 a Jamaica Defence Force Air Wing Bell 412EP helicopter was on its way back to Up Park Camp from a training mission when it began experiencing mechanical issues. The helicopter crashed into the ground at Up Park Camp, injuring the captain, his co-pilot and a crew member.[1]

Ranks of the Jamaica Defence Force

Commissioned Officers

JDF Coast Guard Other Units
Rear Admiral Major General
Commodore Brigadier
Captain (N) Colonel
Commander Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Commander Major
Lieutenant (sg) Captain
Lieutenant (jg) Lieutenant
Sub Lieutenant 2nd Lieutenant

Enlisted Ranks

JDF Coast Guard Other Units
Master Chief Petty Officer I Warrant Officer 1
Master Chief Petty Officer II Warrant Officer Class 2
Chief Petty Officer Colour Sergeant / Staff Sergeant
Petty Officer Sergeant
Leading Seaman Corporal
Able Seaman Lance Corporal
Ordinary Seaman Private

Additional Training

Besides inhouse training, the JDF has been trained by members of the Canadian Forces to deal with special needs.[7]

Notes

References

External links


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