Barbados Defence Force

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other uses, see
Barbados Defence Force SC and Barbados Defence Force Band
.
Barbados Defence Force
Barbados Air Wing
HeadquartersSaint Ann's Fort[1]
Websitebdfbarbados.com
Leadership
President of BarbadosSandra Mason
Prime MinisterMia Mottley
Chief of StaffCommodore Errington Shurland
Personnel
Military age18 years of age[2]
ConscriptionVoluntary service
Active personnelapprox. 600[2]
Expenditures
Percent of GDP0.8% (2022 est.)[2]
Industry
Foreign suppliersFrance
Netherlands
United States
Related articles
RanksMilitary ranks of Barbados

The Barbados Defence Force (BDF) is the name given to the combined

armed forces of Barbados. The BDF was established 15 August 1979, and has responsibility for the territorial defence and internal security of the island. The headquarters for the Barbados Defence Force is located at St. Ann's Fort, The Garrison, Saint Michael
.

Organization

There are three main components of the BDF:

  • The Barbados Regiment – This branch is commanded by the Commanding Officer of the Barbados Regiment Major Pedro Drakes and is based at St Anns Fort and Paragon Base. This is the main land force component, and encompasses both regular and reserve units.
  • Lieutenant Commander
    Derrick Brathwaite and is based at BCGS Pelican. This is the maritime element, with responsibility for patrolling Barbados' territorial waters as well as drug interdiction and humanitarian and life-saving exercises. It too encompasses both regular and reserve units.
  • Barbados Air Wing – This branch was formed in 1971, it operated one Beech Queen Air. In 1981 a Cessna 402C was acquired. Since 1985 all aircraft have been retired and the air wing ceased to exist but the BDF is looking to re-establish an air wing.[citation needed
    ]

Other formations

Barbados Cadet Corps

Commander
David Dowridge who is also a former Deputy Chief of Staff (DCOS). This is the military youth organisation of the Defence Force. Includes Infantry and Sea Cadets. This organisation was started in 1904. The first females joined the cadet corps in the 1970s to 1980s. The Cadet Corps has a pledge and also a song. It started with 3 normal units but today has expanded to 22. These units are grouped into zones. There are also a band, sea cadet, and medical units along with a shooting programme.

BDF Sports Program

The

athletics and boxing
.

Barbados Legion

Similarly to its American, British and Canadian counterparts, the BDF has a voluntary veteran's organization known as the Barbados Legion. It was founded in 1957, nine years prior to independence. Being a registered charity, it receives assistance from the Barbados Poppy League and the national government.[3][4]

Bands

The

West India Regiment, which is considered to be the precursor to most Caribbean military bands formerly under British control. As a result, the band also has a shared lineage with the Jamaica Military Band.[5]

The BCC maintains a marching band known as the National Cadet Band and performs on national occasions with the BCC and the BDF. It is composed of students from public and private schools in the area. They performs in two modes configurations: a marching band and a concert band. The band of dates back to the early 1920s when the local cadet corps maintained a fife and drum corps. Between 1950 and 2006, individual school units had drum corps which catered to the activities of the unit and school. In 1973, the Combermere Cadet Band was formed and for 22 years it was the only brass and reef cadet band among other secondary schools on the island. Its last performance was at the Independence Day Parade of 1995 when the National Cadet Band was formed. As part of the centennial anniversary celebrations of the BCC in 2004, the Band became a permanent full-time unit, performing at an Independence Day Parade that year and again the following year.[6]

Traditions and ceremony

Uniform

In 1856, a French

fez wound together by a white turban and a scarlet sleeveless jacket.[8] It survives as the full dress uniform and is where the band's nickname; the Zouave Band; derives from.[9] It is commonly believed that Queen Victoria saw the uniform worn by the colonial Zouaoua tribe in French Algeria. She was immediately struck with the style of the uniform and the British Army to adopt the uniform for one of its regiments, with the honour being conferred onto the West India Regiment.[10]

Changing of the Sentry

The

Corps of Drums provides musical accompaniment. It is performed every Thursday morning at 11:45 am.[11][12]

Leadership

Commander in Chief

Since 30 November 2021, President Dame

Queen Elizabeth II, was head of the Defence Force, with the Governor-General of Barbados
as her viceregal representative.

List of Chiefs of Staff

Main article: Chief of Staff (Barbados)

Leadership structure

  • Chief of Staff - Commodore Errington Shurland
  • Deputy Chief of Staff - Commander Aquinas Clarke
  • Force Sergeant Major - Master Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Austin Howell

Gallery

  • The former Commander of The Barbados Coast Guard, the late lieutenant Commander Sean Reece, meets two US Chiefs of Staff during a visit to the island
    The former Commander of The Barbados Coast Guard, the late lieutenant Commander Sean Reece, meets two US Chiefs of Staff during a visit to the island
  • A US Marine participates in a BDF training exercise concerning crowd control
    A US Marine participates in a BDF training exercise concerning crowd control
  • Members of the BDF disassemble a boat engine during training exercises with the US Navy
    Members of the BDF disassemble a boat engine during training exercises with the US Navy
  • A Cessna 402C similar to the one used by the BDF
    A Cessna 402C similar to the one used by the BDF

See also

References

  1. ^ "Barbados Defence Force". Barbados Defence Force.
  2. ^ a b c CIA (16 March 2023). "Barbados". World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Barbados Legion still marching on - Barbados Today".
  4. ^ "Barbados Legion - The Barbados Defence Force".
  5. ^ "The National Geographic Magazine". 1952.
  6. ^ "Band | The Barbados Cadets".
  7. ^ "Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research". 1953.
  8. ISBN 0-89141-292-1
    .
  9. ISBN 9789766401450
    .
  10. ISBN 9781893643512
    .
  11. ^ "Barbadian Traditions: Changing Of The Sentry | Sugar Bay Barbados". Archived from the original on 2020-07-26.
  12. ^ "Changing of the Sentry in Barbados - Barbados.org BlogBarbados.org Blog".

Further reading

  • World Aircraft information files Brightstar publishing London File 342 Sheet

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Barbados Defense Force.
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