The Jamaica Regiment

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Sentries of the Jamaica Regiment outside St James's Palace in July 2007

The Jamaica Regiment is the main formation of land troops in the Jamaica Defence Force. It is a non-mechanised infantry regiment consisting of five battalions, three regular infantry battalions, one territorial infantry battalion, and a Combat Support Battalion. A fifth infantry battalion (5 JR) is starting to be formed.[when?] The regiment has two main operational missions:

It also has been known to provide public duties in for the government and the capital on behalf of the JDF.

The regiment has two main camps. Traditionally, the two regular battalions (1 JR and 2 JR) rotated annually between them. This approach is evolving towards a geographic deployment in three regions. The battalion at

St Ann
is mainly committed to anti-drug patrols.

In 2018 the Jamaican government decided to have an enhanced, regional structure for the Jamaica Regiment. Thus, it decided to add a third regular battalion (4 JR) to support the police in Jamaica's central region.[1] In addition, the regiment is one of the main units that supplies United Nations peacekeeping troops for situations in the Caribbean region.

History

The Jamaica Regiment was initially formed in 1954 as a unit on the

mounting the guard at Buckingham Palace. The 1st Battalion undertook this during a visit to the United Kingdom in July and August 2007.[2]

In 1983, the regiment participated in the

invasion of Grenada. In 2019 the Jamaican government announced that the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) would be expanded. As a result of this growth the Jamaica Regiment will fulfill two functions. Firstly, it will continue as a "British-style" infantry regiment that is the spiritual home and repository of customs and traditions for a number of battalions that do not necessarily serve together operationally. Secondly, it will act as a brigade-level formation for four infantry battalions of the regiment as well as a combat support battalion.[3] At the end of the planned growth, the Jamaica Regiment will consist of four regular infantry battalions (1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th), a Combat Support Battalion, and three reserve infantry battalions (3rd, 6th, and 9th).[4]

Organization

Members of the JRB at Buckingham Palace.

Currently, the regiment consists of the following regular/reserve units:

  • 1st Battalion -
    Light Infantry
  • 2nd Battalion -
    Light Infantry
  • 3rd Battalion (reserve) -
    Light Infantry
  • 4th Battalion -
    Light Infantry Formed in 2018 to provide a battalion in Jamaica's central region. It achieved operational capability on 1 June 2019, in part by taking over assets from the Combat Support Battalion)[1]
  • 5th Battalion (forming) -
    Light Infantry
  • Combat Support Battalion[5]
    • Which now includes The Jamaica Regiment Band (JRB) - Public duties
    • Corps of Drums
      (part of 1st and 3rd Battalions)

Music

The regimental march of the Jamaica Regiment is the JDF March. However, each of the regiment's three battalions has its own march:

  • 1st Battalion – So Early In The Morning
  • 2nd Battalion – 2nd Battalion West India Regiment (Königgrätzer Marsch)

Alliances

  •  
    The Mercian Regiment
  •  
    The Royal Canadian Regiment

Former members

See also

  • The Barbados Regiment
  • West India Regiment

References

  1. ^ a b "Fourth Battalion The Jamaica Regiment | JDF.org The Official Website of The Jamaica Defence Force".
  2. ^ "BBC News | UK | Palace honour for Jamaican troops". news.bbc.co.uk.
  3. ^ "Jamaica Regiment | JDF.org The Official Website of The Jamaica Defence Force".
  4. ^ Regular battalions - https://www.jdfweb.com/jamaica-regiment. Reserve battalions - https://www.jdfweb.com/jamaica-national-reserve/
  5. ^ "Combat Support Battalion Duties | JDF.org The Official Website of The Jamaica Defence Force".
  6. ISBN 0-313-33158-8
    , p.144
  7. ISBN 0-7535-0242-9
    , p.131

External links
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