# Jamaica Defence Force

The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) is the combined military of Jamaica, consisting of an infantry Regiment and Reserve Corps, an Air Wing, a Coast Guard fleet and a supporting Engineering Unit. 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 in 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 Kingdom, and the United States.

## History

The JDF is directly descended from the West India Regiments formed during the period of British rule. The regiments were used extensively by the British to garrison the Colony of Jamaica and possessions in the West Indies. Other units in the JDF heritage tree include the early colonial Jamaica Militia, the Kingston Infantry Volunteers of WWI and reorganised into the Jamaican Infantry Volunteers in WWII. The West India Regiments were 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.
On 5 January 1978, the JDF carried out a covert operation that came to be known as the Green Bay Massacre, in which five Jamaica Labour Party (JLF) supporters were shot dead after being lured to a military shooting range. A specially selected team of snipers led by Major Ian Robinson laid an ambush outside the range while members of the JDF's Military Intelligence Unit (MIU) drove a group of JLF supporters towards them in an army ambulance. After the supporters exited the ambulance, an MIU soldier killed one member while the sniper team opened fire on the rest. Four supporters were killed and the remainder fled into nearby bushes.
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 did not garner 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.
* The Jamaica Regiment - The Jamaica Regiment is the operationalization of a terrestrial and combat focused Regular Force formation with an overarching operational headquarters in command of five battalions; the First, Second, Fourth and Fifth Battalions the Jamaica Regiment (1, 2, 4, 5 JR) and the Combat Support Battalion (Cbt Sp Bn).
* The Support Brigade (Sp Bde) - Regular Force formation that provides both combat support and service support functions with an overarching operational headquarters for five units:A Jamaica Defence Force soldier (left) with a Sergeant of the Royal Bermuda Regiment in the Blue Mountains in 1996
** Support and Services Battalion
** 1 Engineer Regiment (JDF)
** Health Services Corps
** Corps of Military Police
* The Maritime, Air and Cyber Command (MACC) - The Maritime, Air and Cyber Command (MACC) is a multi-domain focused Regular Force formation with an operational headquarters in command of six units; the First and Second Districts Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard (1st and 2nd Dist JDF CG), the Jamaica Defence Force Air Wing (JDF AW), the Military Intelligence Unit (MIU), the Special Activities Regiment (SPEAR), Counter Terrorism Operations Group (CTOG) and the Military Cyber Corps (MCC).
* Caribbean Military Academy (CMA) - The Caribbean Military Academy (CMA) was established on 1 May 2019 to function as a Military University, becoming the first of its kind in the Caribbean.
* The Jamaica National Reserve (JNR) - The Jamaica National Reserve (JNR) is a multi-domain focused Reserve Force formation that has been expanded to include a headquarters element in command of four units; the Third, Sixth and Ninth Battalions the Jamaica Regiment (3, 6 and 9 JR (NR)) in addition to the Support Battalion (National Reserve) (Sp Bn (NR).

### 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.
* 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 West Indies Federation. 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.

## Army equipment

| Name | Origin | Type | In service | Notes |
| Small arms |||||
| GP35 | United States | Pistol | | |
| Glock | Austria | Pistol | 17 | |
| M16 rifle | United States | Assault rifle | M4 | |
| SA80 | United Kingdom | Assault rifle | | |
| FN MAG | Belgium | Machine gun | L7A1 | |
| M2 machine gun | United States | Heavy machine gun | | |
| Springfield M79 | United States | Grenade launcher | | |
| Artillery |||||
| L16 81mm Mortar | United Kingdom | Mortar | | |
| 2-inch mortar | United Kingdom | Mortar | | |
| Transport |||||
| Land Rover | United Kingdom | Patrol vehicle | | |
| Toyota Land Cruiser | Japan | Utility vehicle | | |
| Toyota Hiace | Japan | Minibus | | |
| Toyota Coaster | Japan | Minibus | | |
| Ford L Truck | United States | Heavy-duty truck | LN7000/8000 | |
| Toyota Dyna | Japan | Van | | |
| Armoured vehicles |||||
| Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle | Australia | Infantry mobility vehicle | | 18 |
| Cadillac Gage Commando | United States | Armoured personnel carrier | | Retired |
| Staff cars |||||
| Volvo S90 | Sweden | Executive car | | 1 for use by the Chief of Staff |
| Toyota Crown | Japan | Executive car | | Used by senior staff and commanding officers |
| Toyota Corona | Japan | Executive car | | Used by senior officers |
| Toyota Hilux | Japan | Pickup truck | | Used for administrative purposes |
| Toyota Camry | Japan | Executive car | | Used for senior officers |
| Toyota Land Cruiser Prado | Japan | Utility vehicle | | For administrative purposes |

## JDF Air Wing
### Current inventory

| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes |
| Maritime Patrol ||||||
| Super King Air | United States | maritime patrol | 350 | 1 | |
| Helicopter ||||||
| Bell 412 | United States | utility / SAR | | | 1 on order |
| Bell 429 | United States | utility / SAR | | 8 | 1 on order |
| Trainer Aircraft ||||||
| Bell 505 | United States | trainer / utitity | | 6 | |
| Diamond DA40 | Canada | trainer | DA40 CS | 4 | |
| Diamond DA42 | Canada | multi-engine trainer | DA42 NG | 2 | |

### Retired

Previous aircraft operated by the JDF Air Wing consisted of the Aero Commander 500 family, BN-2 Islander, Beechcraft Duke, Beechcraft King Air, Cessna Skymaster, Cessna 185 Skywagon, Cessna 210, DHC-6 Twin Otter, Eurocopter AS355 Écureuil 2, Bell UH-1 Iroquois, Bell 47G, Bell 212, Bell 204/205, and the Bell 222UT helicopter.

### 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.

## JDF Coast Guard

A year after the JDF was formed in 1962, a naval arm, the Jamaica Sea Squadron was added. The squadron's initial vessels were three 63 ft wooden World War II torpedo recovery boats provided by the United States. They were commissioned “Her Majesty's Jamaican Ship” HMJS Yoruba (P1), HMJS Coromante (P2) and HMJS Mandingo (P3). A training team from the Royal Navy assisted with the unit's early development. In 1966 they changed names from the Jamaica Sea Squadron to the Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard. JDF Coast Guard Headquarters "HMJS Cagway" located at Port Royal, Kingston. The coast Gurad had 4 additional stations: Discovery Bay, Black River, Pedro Cays, and Port Antonio.
As of 2016, the Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard was staffed by 241 individuals.

### Equipment

| Vessel | Origin | Type | In service | Notes |
| HMJS Marcus Garvey | Netherlands | Patrol Vessel | 1 | Honour-class |
| HMJS Norman Manley | Netherlands | Patrol Vessel | 1 | Honour-class |
| HMJS Nanny of the Maroons | Netherlands | Fast Crew Supplier | 1 | Honour-class |
| HMJS Cornwall | Netherlands | Patrol Vessel | 1 | County-class |
| HMJS Middlesex | Netherlands | Patrol Vessel | 1 | County-class |
| HMJS Fort Charles | United States | Patrol Boat | 1 | Fort-class |
| HMJS Paul Bogle | United States | Patrol Boat | 1 | Hero-class |
| Boston Whaler | United States | Interceptor | 2 | 37 foot Justice model |

## Ranks of the JDF
### Commissioned officers

The rank insignia for commissioned officers for the army and Coast Guard respectively.
| Rank group | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers |
| Jamaican Army vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jamaican Army vte | | | | | Lieutenant general | Lieutenant general | Major general | Major general | Brigadier | Brigadier | Colonel | Colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Major | Major | Captain | Captain | Lieutenant | Lieutenant | Lieutenant | Second lieutenant | Second lieutenant | Second lieutenant |
| Jamaican Coast Guard vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jamaican Coast Guard vte | | | | | Vice admiral | Vice admiral | Rear admiral | Rear admiral | Commodore | Commodore | Captain | Captain | Commander | Commander | Lieutenant commander | Lieutenant commander | Lieutenant | Lieutenant | Lieutenant (junior grade) | Lieutenant (junior grade) | Lieutenant (junior grade) | Sub-lieutenant | Sub-lieutenant | Sub-lieutenant |
| Jamaican Air Wing vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jamaican Air Wing vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | Lieutenant colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Major | Major | Captain | Captain | First lieutenant | First lieutenant | First lieutenant | Second lieutenant | Second lieutenant | Second lieutenant |
| Rank group | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers |

### Enlisted

The rank insignia for enlisted personnel for the army and Coast Guard respectively.
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted |
| Jamaican Army vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | No insignia | No insignia | No insignia | No insignia | No insignia | No insignia | No insignia | No insignia |
| Jamaican Army vte | Warrant officer class 1 | Warrant officer class 1 | Warrant officer class 1 | Warrant officer class 1 | Warrant officer class 1 | Warrant officer class 1 | Warrant officer class 2 | Warrant officer class 2 | Staff sergeant | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Corporal | Corporal | Corporal | Lance corporal | Lance corporal | Private (or equivalent) | Private (or equivalent) | Private (or equivalent) | Private (or equivalent) | Private (or equivalent) | Private (or equivalent) | Private (or equivalent) | Private (or equivalent) |
| Jamaican Coast Guard vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | No insignia | No insignia |
| Jamaican Coast Guard vte | Master chief petty officer 1 | Master chief petty officer 1 | Master chief petty officer 1 | Master chief petty officer 1 | Master chief petty officer 1 | Master chief petty officer 1 | Master chief petty officer | Master chief petty officer | Chief petty officer | Chief petty officer | Petty officer | Petty officer | Petty officer | Petty officer | Petty officer | Petty officer | Petty officer | Petty officer | Petty officer | Petty officer | Petty officer | Petty officer | Leading seaman | Leading seaman | Leading seaman | Leading seaman | | | Able seaman | Able seaman | Able seaman | Able seaman | Able seaman | Able seaman | Ordinary seaman | Ordinary seaman |
| Jamaican Air Wing vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | No insignia | No insignia | No insignia | No insignia | No insignia | No insignia | No insignia | No insignia |
| Jamaican Air Wing vte | Warrant officer class 1 | Warrant officer class 1 | Warrant officer class 1 | Warrant officer class 1 | Warrant officer class 1 | Warrant officer class 1 | Warrant officer class 2 | Warrant officer class 2 | Staff sergeant | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Corporal | Corporal | Corporal | Lance corporal | Lance corporal | Private (or equivalent) | Private (or equivalent) | Private (or equivalent) | Private (or equivalent) | Private (or equivalent) | Private (or equivalent) | Private (or equivalent) | Private (or equivalent) |
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted |