| Jamaica Defence Force | |
| Headquarters: | Up Park Camp, Kingston, Jamaica |
| Website: | jdfweb.com |
| Commander-In-Chief: | King Charles III |
| Commander-In-Chief Title: | Commander-in-chief |
| Chief Minister: | Andrew Holness |
| Chief Minister Title: | Prime Minister |
| Minister: | Horace Chang |
| Minister Title: | Minister of National Security |
| Commander: | Rear Admiral Antonette Wemyss Gorman |
| Commander Title: | Chief of Defence Staff |
| Age: | 16 years of age for selection process, 17 years of age is actual serving age (as of 2007) |
| Manpower Data: | 2005 est. |
| Manpower Age: | 16–49 |
| Available: | 747,043 |
| Fit: | 523,550 |
| Reaching: | 27,729 |
| Active: | 5,950[1] |
| Reserve: | 2,580 |
| Amount: | $238 million |
| Ranks: | Military ranks of Jamaica |
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.
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.[2]
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.
The JDF also supports two military bands:
| Name | Origin | Type | In service | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small arms | |||||
| GP35 | United States | ||||
| Glock | Austria | 17 | |||
| United States | Assault rifle | M4 | |||
| SA80 | United Kingdom | Assault rifle | |||
| FN MAG | Belgium | Machine gun | L7A1 | ||
| M2 machine gun | United States | ||||
| Springfield M79 | United States | ||||
| 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 | |||
| Japan | Minibus | ||||
| Ford L Truck | United States | Heavy-duty truck | LN7000/8000 | ||
| Japan | Van | ||||
| Armoured vehicles | |||||
| Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle | Australia | Infantry mobility vehicle | 18 | ||
| United States | Armoured personnel carrier | Retired | |||
| Staff cars | |||||
| Volvo S90 | Sweden | Executive car | 1 for use by the Chief of Staff | ||
| Japan | Executive car | Used by senior staff and commanding officers | |||
| Japan | Executive car | Used by senior officers | |||
| Japan | Pickup truck | Used for administrative purposes | |||
| Japan | Executive car | Used for senior officers | |||
| Japan | Utility vehicle | For administrative purposes | |||
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maritime Patrol | ||||||
| Super King Air | United States | maritime patrol | 350 | 1[4] | ||
| Helicopter | ||||||
| Bell 412 | United States | 1 on order | ||||
| Bell 429 | United States | 8 | 1 on order | |||
| Trainer Aircraft | ||||||
| Bell 505 | United States | trainer / utitity[5] | 6 | |||
| Diamond DA40 | Canada | trainer | DA40 CS | 4[6] | ||
| Diamond DA42 | Canada | multi-engine trainer | DA42 NG | 2 | ||
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.[7]
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.
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.
As of 2016, the Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard was staffed by 241 individuals.
| Vessel | Origin | Type | In service | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMJS Nanny of the Maroons | Netherlands | Fast Crew Supplier | 1[8] | 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 | ||
| United States | Interceptor | 2 | 37 foot Justice model |
See main article: Military ranks of Jamaica.
The rank insignia for commissioned officers for the army and Coast Guard respectively.
The rank insignia for enlisted personnel for the army and Coast Guard respectively.