Jamaica Defence Force

West Indian soldiers, c. 1861

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. 26. 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.

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.

Jamaican soldiers in 2010

• 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 (5) 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) - The Support Brigade is a Regular Force formation that will provide both combat support and service support functions with an overarching operational headquarters for five (5) units; the Directorate of Training and Doctrine ( Dir of Trg and Doct), 1 Engineer Regiment JDF (1 Engr Regt (JDF), the Support and Services Battalion (Sp and Svcs Bn), the Military Police Battalion (MP Bn) and the Health Services Corps (HSC). In addition it will also see the creation of the Caribbean Military Academy (CMA). The CMA is the academic institutional arm of the JDF that will provide internationally recognized, accredited, doctrinally relevant professional military education and training to a common standard in support of the operational needs of Jamaica and also to partner military and paramilitary organizations across the Caribbean region and around the world.

• 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 (6) units; the First and Second Districts Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard (1stand 2ndDist JDF CG), the Jamaica Defence Force Air Wing (JDF AW), the Military Intelligence Unit (MIU), the Special Activities Regiment (SPEAR) and the Military Cyber Corps (MCC).

• 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 (4) 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).

• The Jamaica National Service Corps (JNSC) - The Jamaica National Service Corps (JNSC) is the newest category of service in the JDF. It was designed to instill positive values and attitudes, whilst providing young men and women with a range of life skills in order to make them better equipped for success in their chosen career path; which may on completion include service in the JDF.

Jamaican naval ensign

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 63ft 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.[15]

As of 2016, the Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard was staffed by 241 individuals.[1]

Equipment

Jamaican Coast Guard patrol vessels

Vessel	Origin	Type	In service	Notes
HMJS Nanny of the Maroons	Netherlands	Fast Crew Supplier	1[16]	Honour-class
HMJS Cornwall	Netherlands	Patrol Vessel	1[17]	County-class
HMJS Middlesex	Netherlands	Patrol Vessel	1[17]	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[18]	37 foot Justice model

Commissioned Officers

The rank insignia for commissioned officers for the army and Coast Guard respectively.

Equivalent NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D) and student officer
Jamaican Army	No equivalent
					Lieutenant General		Major General		Brigadier		Colonel		Lieutenant Colonel		Major		Captain		First Lieutenant			Second Lieutenant			Officer Cadet
Jamaican Coast Guard	No equivalent
					Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Commodore		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Lieutenant (junior grade)			Sub-Lieutenant			Midshipman
Jamaican Air Wing	No equivalent
													Lieutenant Colonel		Major		Captain		First Lieutenant			Second Lieutenant			Officer Cadet
Equivalent NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D) and student officer

Enlisted

The rank insignia for enlisted personnel for the army and Coast Guard respectively.

Equivalent NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
Jamaican Army																													No insignia
	Warrant Officer Class 1						Warrant Officer Class 2		Staff sergeant		Sergeant												Corporal				Lance corporal		Private (or equivalent)
Jamaican Coast Guard																											No equivalent								No insignia
	Force Sergeant Major	Brigade Sergeant Major	Regulating Master Chief Petty Officer I	Master Chief Petty Officer I - Technical			Master Chief Petty Officer II (Technical)	Master Chief Petty Officer II	Chief Petty Officer		Petty Officer												Leading Seaman						Able Seaman						Ordinary Seaman
Jamaican Air Wing																													No insignia
	Regimental Sergeant Major			Warrant Officer Class 1 - Technical			Warrant Officer Class 2 - Technical	Warrant Officer Class 2	Staff sergeant		Sergeant												Corporal				Lance corporal		Private (or equivalent)
Equivalent NATO Code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1

Besides inhouse training, the JDF has been trained by members of the Canadian Forces to deal with special needs.[19]

• The Jamaica Regiment
• Green Bay massacre
• Darren Jordon

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Military of Jamaica.

• Jamaica Defence Force