Jamaica Defence Force

Jamaica Defence Force
Jamaica Defence Force badge
Headquarters	Up Park Camp, Kingston
Leadership
Minister of Defence	Andrew Holness
Chief of Defence Staff	Major-General Rocky R. Meade
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 of Jamaica, consisting of an Army, Air Wing and Coast Guard.^[1] The JDF is based upon the British military model, with similar organisation, training, weapons and traditions. Once chosen, officer candidates are sent to one of several British or Canadian basic officer courses depending upon the arm of service. 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.

History

West Indian soldiers, c. 1861

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 seagoing 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.

Jamaican soldiers in 2010

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

• Headquarters, Jamaica Defence Force (HQ JDF) - divided into the Operations Branch and Adjutant Quartermaster's Branch, this is the main command of the entire JDF.
• Headquarters, Jamaica Defence Force Intelligence Unit (HQ JDF Int)- provides intelligence to the JDF and The Jamaica Constabulary Force. (Despite its name this is not a sub-unit of JDF HQ, as it was given full unit status in 1983 and is headed by a Lt. Colonel.)
• 1st Battalion, The Jamaica Regiment (1JR) - raised in 1962, one of the two light infantry battalions comprising the main formation of the JDF.
• 2nd Battalion, The Jamaica Regiment (2JR) - raised in 1979, second of the two light infantry battalions comprising the main formation of the JDF.
• 3rd Battalion, The Jamaica Regiment (National Reserve) (3JR) (NR) - this is a volunteer infantry battalion.
• 1 Engineer Regiment (JDF) - this unit provides engineering support to all units of the JDF.
• Support and Services Battalion (Sp Svcs Bn)- this unit provides logistic and administrative support, and is divided into the following units:
  • JDF Administration Company
  • JDF Logistics Company
  • JDF Workshop (JDF W)
  • JDF Transport Company
  • JDF Military Police Company (MP)
  • JDF Military Pay and Records Company
  • JDF Communication and Information System Company
  • JDF Medical Company (Med Coy)
• JDF Air Wing (JDF AW) - this provides air support for the infantry, and surveillance and maritime patrol, which is used in anti-drug missions.
• JDF Coast Guard (JDF CG) - this is the naval arm of the JDF, and has responsibility for maritime law enforcement and maritime safety.
• JDF Combat Support Battalion (JDF Cbt Sp Bn) - this unit will perform an essential role as a force multiplier and it will ensure the operational readiness of the Force by facilitating essential competence training.

• Directorate of Training and Doctrine Battalion - the new Batallion will streamline training programmes delivered by the JDF’s five Centres of Excellence.

Army Equipment

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

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)

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.^[5]
• 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.^[6]

JDF Coast Guard

The Coast Guard was formed in 1962 as The Jamaica Sea Guards and under the current name in 1966.^[7]

In 2016 the Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard was staffed by 241 individuals.^[1] Eurasia Review reported its vessels were short of spares, poorly maintained, and hardly ever put to sea.

Ships in Active Service

Other smaller vessels include:^[9]

• 37 ft Boston Whaler^[10]
• 9m Boston Whaler
• 6m Boston Whaler
• RHIB
• 12m Fast Patrol Craft (CG 121 - 124)
• 13m Fast Coast Interceptors

Retired Ships of the JDF Coast Guard

The Coast Guard's first ships were 63 ft wooden World War II torpedo recovery boats (torpedo retrievers) from the United States Navy and operated from 1962 to 1966.^[7]

• HMJS Yoruba (P 1)
• HMJS Coromante (P 2)
• HMJS Mandingo (P 3)
• HMJS Discovery Bay (P 4)
• HMJS Holland Bay (P 5)
• HMJS Manatee Bay (P 6)
• HMJS "Surrey" (Damen Stan 4207 delivered in 2006)^[8]
• HMJS "Cornwall" (Damen Stan 4207 delivered in 2006)
• HMJS "Middlesex" (Damen Stan 4207 delivered in 2006)

JDF Air Wing

Roundel of Jamaica Defence Force Air Wing

Current inventory

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.
• Eurocopter AS355N Ecureuil 2 - Four helicopters used by the 3rd Flight, for utility transport and support duties. In service from 1999 to 2009.
• 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.^[13]

Ranks of the Jamaica Defence Force

Commissioned Officers

Enlisted Ranks

Additional training

Besides inhouse training, the JDF has been trained by members of the Canadian Forces to deal with special needs.^[14]

See also

• The Jamaica Regiment
• Green Bay massacre
• Darren Jordon

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Military of Jamaica.

• Jamaica Defence Force