Ministry of National Security

The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), the arm of Government charged with defending the country's borders, has been making a significant contribution to national development since its establishment in 1962.

Over the years, the JDF has aided the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) in maintaining law and order; assisted in the maintenance of essential services; provided law enforcement, safety and environmental protection in Jamaica's marine zone; supported Government sponsored programmes; assisted in search and rescue operations, and participated in ceremonial functions.

Since its inception, the Force has been commanded by seven Chiefs of Staff. Major General John Simmonds who has served as Chief of Staff from 1998 demits office this week. He will pass the baton to Captain (N) Hardley Lewin, who will officially take up office on Saturday, May 11, in the largest ever Change of Command Parade to be staged by the JDF. The event will take place at Up Park Camp, Kingston.

The JDF has provided assistance to the Police Narcotics Department in ganja eradication operations, provided troops for security duties at the Tower Street and St. Catherine Adult Correctional centres and the Kingston Public Hospital, where prisoners are admitted.

Apart from its involvement in security operations, the JDF has also been involved in civic operations by providing engineers and technicians to man and operate the Jamaica Public Service Company power barge at Rockfort, provided instructors for the National Youth Service, and the JDF Air Wing has carried out a total of 145 emergency casualty evacuations for the Ministry of Health.

Its involvement in Government programmes has resulted in the JDF's Engineering Division helping in the relocation of squatters to National Housing Trust constructed homes under Relocation 2000; assisting with the construction and renovation of public facilities such as schools, parks, sidewalks, community centres, markets and sanitary conveniences; building of the new Remand Centre on Spanish Town Road; and providing site management for the extension of the port facilities at Gordon Cay.

A number of Government agencies have received officers on secondment from the JDF. These include the Maritime Authority, Civil Aviation Authority, Ministry of National Security and Justice, Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, Department of Corrections, National Firearm and Drug Intelligence Centre and the National Youth Service.

The JDF has also played a full role on ceremonial occasions, and in the numerous State visits that have taken place since Independence, including the visit of Her Majesty the Queen last February, to commemorate her Golden Jubilee.

The force has been very active in environmental protection and disaster relief internationally. The Coast Guard is trained and equipped to deal with marine oil spills, and in 1990 officers were sent to Alaska to assist with the clean-up of the Exxon Valdez oil spill.

Members of the JDF were a part of the regional forces that restored democracy to Grenada between 1983 and 1985, part of a United States led force which entered Haiti in 1994 to assist in the restoration of democracy to that country and subsequently provided a contingent for peace-keeping duties there, serving for the first time under the flag of the United Nations.

Formed in July 1962, just a few days before the country gained Independence on August 6, the JDF's original predecessor was the Jamaica Militia of 1662, which was disbanded in 1906.

On the onset of World War II, a Troop called the Jamaica Infantry Volunteers (JIV) was formed and towards the end of the war in 1944, the JIV was renamed the Jamaica Battalion. Eleven years later, the Jamaica Battalion was renamed the Jamaica Regiment.

The JDF comprises eight major units - the First Battalion the Jamaica Regiment (1JR); the Second Battalion (2JR); Support and Services Battalion, which is basically the administrative and logistic unit; JDF Air Wing; Coast Guard; the Engineering Division, which comprises field, construction, support and maintenance squadrons and a power plant troop; Intelligence Unit, and The Third Battalion, which is made up of the National Reserve.