Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force

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Flag of Trinidad and Tabago Trinidad
and Tobago Defense Force Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force
Coat of arms of the Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force
guide
Commander in Chief : President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Military Commander: Major General Kenrick Maharaj
Military strength
Active soldiers: 4,000
Conscription: No
Eligibility for military service: 18th
history
Founding: 1962

The Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (TTDF) represents the 4,000 soldiers strong military of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago . It is divided into the armed forces Army ( Trinidad and Tobago Regiment ), Air Force (Air Wing), Coast Guard and reserve units .

Introduced in 1962 after the country gained independence, it is the largest military unit in the English-speaking Caribbean. The TTDF is subordinate to the Ministry of National Security . The Commander in Chief is the President, currently Paula Mae Weekes . Major General Kenrick Maharaj is Chief of Defense Staff . The TTDF has the world's only military steel band , the Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force Steel Orchestra .

Army (Trinidad and Tobago Regiment)

Regimental flag

The army includes the so-called Trinidad and Tobago Regiment with 2,800 soldiers.

It was set up in 1962 from parts of the West India Regiment . The regiment is divided into a headquarters and four battalions :

  • Regimental Headquarters at St. James (Camp Ogden)
  • 1st Battalion ( Infantry ) at St. James (Camp Ogden)
  • 2nd Battalion (Infantry) in Chaguaramas (Camp Mausica)
  • 3rd Battalion ( Pioneers ) in Wallerfield (Cumuto Barracks)
  • Support Battalion in Chaguaramas (Teteron Barracks)

Air Force

cockade

The Air Wing , founded in 1966, has:

Aircraft Country of manufacture operation area version in stock Working time
Swearingen C-26B Metro United States Maritime reconnaissance 2 2000–
AgustaWestland AW139 European Union Maritime reconnaissance / SAR 4th 2011–

In addition, the National Security Operations Center (NSOC) has the following helicopters:

helicopter Country of manufacture operation area version In stock Working time
Eurocopter AS 350 France Transport helicopter 1
Sikorsky S-76 United States Transport helicopter 1
MBB Bo 105 Germany Transport helicopter 2

Military Commander in Chief

Initially, the role of Commander of the Defense Force was linked to being the commander of the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment. It was not until 1970, when the already retired Joffre Serrette was reactivated, that the command functions were separated. Since 1979 the Commander-in-Chief has been called the Chief of Defense Staff.

Period Commander in chief Life dates
Commanders of the Defense Force born died
1962-1964 Lieutenant Colonel Peter Leslie Pearce Gould 1919 1979
1964-1968 Colonel Joffre Charles Harold Serrette 1916 1988
1969-1970 Colonel Stanley Johnson
1970-1976 Brigadier Joffre Charles Harold Serrette 1916 1988
1976-1979 Commodore Mervyn Oliver Williams 1929 (?) 2003
Chiefs of Defense Staff (CDS) born died
1979-1991 Brigadier Joseph “ Joe ” L. Theodore 1935 2013
1991-1993 Major General Ralph Newton Brown
1993-1999 Brigadier Carlton “ Carl ” Alfonso 1944
2000-2002 Brigadier John Chrisostom Edmund Sandy
2002-2006 Brigadier Ancil Wayne Antoine
2006-2010 Major General Edmund Ernest Dillon 1955
2010–2012 Brigadier Roland Garth Maunday 1957 (?) 2014
2012-2015 Major General Kenrick Maharaj 1959
2015-2017 Brigadier General Rodney A. Smart
since 2017 Captain Hayden Pritchard

Web links

Commons : Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ TTWhistleblower.com: Is Rodney Smart getting an extension? Retrieved July 21, 2018 .
  2. ↑ LoopTT.com: New Chief of Defense Staff replaces Major General Rodney Smart. Retrieved July 21, 2018 .