Jamaica Defence Force 1238462 219317467 2008-06-14T17:26:44Z Leithp 225576 shuffle images {{Infobox National Military |country=[[Jamaica]] |name=Jamaica Defence Force |image=[[Image:Jamaicadefenceforce.jpg|200px|Badge of the JDF]] |caption='''Badge of the JDF''' |image2= |caption2= |founded= |current_form= |branches= |headquarters=[[Up Park Camp]], [[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]] <!-- Leadership --> |commander-in-chief= |minister=[[Bruce Golding]] |minister_title=Minister of Defence |commander=Major-General Stewart Emerson St Leonard Saunders |commander_title=Chief of Staff |chief_of_staff= <!-- Manpower --> |age=16 years of age for selection process, 17 years of age is actual serving age (As of 2007) |conscription= |manpower_data=2005 est. |manpower_age=16–49 |available=747,043 males |available_f= |fit=523,550 males |fit_f= |reaching=27,729 males |reaching_f= |active= |ranked= |reserve= |deployed= <!-- Financial --> |amount=$31,170,000 ([[List of countries and federations by military expenditures|ranked 141st]]) |percent_GDP= 0.6%(2007) <!-- Industrial --> |domestic_suppliers= |foreign_suppliers= |imports= |exports= <!-- Related aricles --> |history= |ranks= }} [[Image:Jamaican_Defence_Force_roundel.svg|thumb|Roundel of Jamaica Defence Force Air Wing]] The '''Jamaica Defence Force''' (JDF) is the overall name given to the combined military forces of [[Jamaica]]. 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 specialty training in [[Canada]], the [[United States]], and the [[United Kingdom]]. ==History== [[Image:FN FAL DA-SD-04-01067.jpg|thumb|left|Soldiers from the JDF during the Tradewinds 2002 Field Training Exercise, on the island of Antigua.]] 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 [[The Jamaica Regiment|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== [[Image:Jamaican Defence Force & Bermuda Regiment soldiers.jpg|thumb|Jamaican Defence Force soldier with a [[sergeant]] of the [[Bermuda Regiment]]]] *[http://www.jdfmil.org/units/hq_jdf/hqjdf_home.htm 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. *[http://www.jdfmil.org/units/hq_jdf_int/hqjdf_Int.htm 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.) *[http://www.jdfmil.org/units/infantry/1jr/1jr_home.htm 1st Battalion, The Jamaica Regiment (1JR)] - raised in 1962, one of the two light [[infantry]] [[battalion]]s comprising the main formation of the JDF. *[http://www.jdfmil.org/units/infantry/2jr/2jr_home.htm 2nd Battalion, The Jamaica Regiment (2JR)] - raised in 1979, second of the two light [[infantry]] [[battalion]]s comprising the main formation of the JDF. *[http://www.jdfmil.org/reserve/3jr/3jrinfan_hist.html 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. *[http://www.jdfmil.org/units/ssb/ssb_home.htm Support and Services Battalion (Sp Svcs Bn)]- this unit provides logistic and administrative support, and is divided into the following units: **[http://www.jdfmil.org/units/ssb/sub_units/jdf_au.htm Administration Unit (AU)] **[http://www.jdfmil.org/units/ssb/sub_units/jdf_sd.htm Supply Unit (JDF SD)] **[http://www.jdfmil.org/units/ssb/sub_units/jdf_trg_depot.htm Training Depot (JDF Trg Depot)] **[http://www.jdfmil.org/units/ssb/sub_units/jdf_w.htm Workshop (JDF W)] **[http://www.jdfmil.org/units/ssb/sub_units/jdf_tu.htm Transport Unit (TU)] **[http://www.jdfmil.org/units/ssb/sub_units/jdf_pu.htm Provost Unit (PU)] *[http://www.jdfmil.org/units/air_wing/airwing_home.htm JDF Air Wing (JDF AW)] - this provides air support for the infantry, and [[surveillance]] and maritime patrol, which is used in anti-[[Psychoactive drug|drug]] missions. *[http://www.jdfmil.org/units/coast_guard/cg_home.htm JDF Coast Guard (JDFCG)] - this is the naval arm of the JDF, and has responsibility for maritime law enforcement and maritime safety. ==Chiefs of Staff of The Jamaica Defence Force== {| class="wikitable" |- | 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, 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 [[zouave]]s. *'''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]]. ==JDF Coast Guard== '''Ships in Active Service''' {| class="wikitable" |- ! Name of Ship ! Length ! Max speed ! Crew/Capacity ! Class |- | HMJS Cornwall | 42.8 m | 26 knots | 12 + 4 | County |- | HMJS Middlesex | 42.8 m | 26 knots | 12 + 4 | County |- | HMJS Surrey | 42.8 m | 26 knots | 12 + 4 | County |- | HMJS Paul Bogle | 32.3 m | 30 knots | 17 | Hero |- | HMJS Fort Charles | 35.3 m | 32 knots | 16 | Fort |} '''Retired Ships of the JDF Coast Guard''' HMJS Yoruba<br /> HMJS Coromante<br /> HMJS Mandingo<br /> HMJS Discovery Bay<br /> HMJS Holland Bay<br /> HMJS Manatee Bay<br /> ==JDF Air Wing== This is a list of currently-active [[military aircraft]] in use: {{Standard table|0}} ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes |----- | [[Bell 407]] || {{USA}}/{{CAN}} || Support Helicopter || 407|| 2 (further 2 will be delivered) || ?? |----- | [[Bell 412]] || {{USA}}/{{CAN}} || Support Helicopter || 412EP || 3 || 2nd Flight |----- | [[Britten Norman Islander]] || {{UK}} || Light Transport || BN-2A || 1 || 1st Flight |----- | [[Cessna 210]] || {{USA}} || Light Transport || 210M || 1 || 1st Flight |----- | [[Diamond DA40]] || {{AUT}} || Trainer || DA40-F || 2 || Jamaica Military Training School |----- | [[Eurocopter Squirrel]] || {{FRA}} || Support Helicopter || AS355N || 4 || 3rd Flight |} ==Ranks of the Jamaica Defence Force== '''Commissioned Officers''' {| class="wikitable" |- ! 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''' {| class="wikitable" |- ! 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 / Staff Sergeant |- | Petty Officer | Sergeant |- | Leading Seaman | Corporal |- | Able Bodied Seaman | Lance Corporal |- | Ordinary Seaman | Private |} ==References== *[http://www.jdfmil.org/info/bios/officer/bio_officer_home.htm Jamaica Defence Force Senior Officers Biography] *[http://www.jdfmil.org/equipment/ships/ships_home.htm Ships of the Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard] *[http://www.jdfmil.org/equipment/aircraft/aircraft_home.htm Jamaica Defence Force Aircraft] *[http://www.jdfmil.org/overview/background/background.html Jamaica Defence Force History] *[http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20071010/lead/lead1.html Jamaica Gleaner - Change of Guard] *[http://www.regiments.org/biography/defchiefs/jmCinC.htm Land Forces of Britain, The Empire and Commonwealth] ==External links== *[http://www.jdfmil.org/units/units_home.htm Jamaica Defence Force website] [[Category:Military of Jamaica]]