Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force |
|
|---|---|
| Founded | 1 November 1981 |
| Current form | 1995 |
| Service branches | Antigua and Barbuda Regiment Antigua and Barbuda Coast Guard Antigua and Barbuda Cadet Corps |
| Headquarters | Camp Blizard |
| Leadership | |
| Minister of Defense | Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer |
| Chief of staff | Colonel Trevor Thomas |
| Military age | 18 |
| Available for military service |
18,952 males, age 15–49, 18,360 females, age 15–49 |
| Fit for military service |
14,859 males, age 15–49, 14,947 females, age 15–49 |
| Reaching military age annually |
507 males, 494 females |
| Active personnel | 185 (1999) |
| Reserve personnel | 30 (1999) |
The Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force is the armed force of Antigua and Barbuda. The RABDF consists of four major units:
- 1st Battalion, Antigua and Barbuda Regiment - this is the infantry unit and fighting arm of the defence force.
- Service and Support Unit - established in 1997, this provides administrative, logistic and engineer support to the rest of the defence force.
- Coast Guard - this is the maritime element of the defence force, and is divided into four units:
- Commanding Officer's office
- Engineer Unit
- Administration Unit
- Flotilla - the flotilla is the operational part of the Coast Guard, and consists of four vessels.
- Antigua and Barbuda Cadet Corps
The RABDF has responsibility for several different roles: Internal security, prevention of drug smuggling, the protection and support of fishing rights, prevention of marine pollution, search and rescue, ceremonial duties, assistance to government programs, provision of relief during natural disasters, assistance in the maintenance of essential services and support of the police in maintaining law and order.
The RABDF is one of the world's smallest militaries, consisting of 185 people. It is thus much better equipped for fulfilling its civil roles as opposed to providing a deterrance against would-be aggressors or in defending the nation during a war.
[edit] Alliances
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
|
||||||||||||||
 |
This Antigua and Barbuda-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 |
This article about a specific military unit is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
