Supported by Canadian Military Training and Cooperation Programme

On 14 June, the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, formally opened the headquarters of the Jamaica Defence Forces (JDF) new Directorate of Training and Doctrine (DTD) at Up Park Camp.

Developed with support from the Canadian government’s Military Training and Cooperation Programme, the DTD provides state of the art facilities for streamlining the training programmes to be delivered by its five Centres of Excellence: the Caribbean Military Aviation school at Norman Manley International Airport, Kingston; the Caribbean Military Maritime Training Centre at Port Royal; the Technical Training Institute at Up Park; the Military Training Wing in Newcastle; and the Caribbean Junior Command and Staff College in Moneague. Their training programmes are also used by military personnel from other Caribbean and Latin American nations. “These Centres of Excellence have seen not only the ongoing certification and standardisation of Jamaica Defence Force, regional and international military personnel, but also the police, fire and correctional officers and other civil organisations,” the Prime Minister, who is also Minister of Defence, added.

Maj.Gen. Rocky Meade, Chief of Defence Staff, commented that the DTD represents a continuation of Canada’s support to capacity building for the JDF and to enhance its ability to deliver training and readiness across a wide spectrum of requirements, adding that, “there are many of our partner forces that do not promote their personnel unless they have been through our Caribbean Junior Command and Staff College.”

Tim Mahon