The
Barbados Regiment is the land force component of the
Barbados Defence ForceThe Barbados Defence Force is the name given to the combined armed forces of Barbados. The BDF was established August 15th, 1979, and has responsibility for the territorial defence and internal security of the island. The headquarters for the Barbados Defence Force are located in the St...
. Its main tasks are the defence of
BarbadosBarbados , situated just east of the Caribbean Sea, is an independent West Indian Continental Island-nation in the western Atlantic Ocean. For over three centuries Barbados was a colony and protectorate of the United Kingdom; and still currently maintains Queen Elizabeth II as head of state...
from external threats, internal security and assisting the local police in maintaining law and order. The regiment also provides Barbados' contribution to international
peacekeepingPeacekeeping, as defined by the United Nations, is "a way to help countries torn by conflict create conditions for sustainable peace." It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
and other missions. In its present form, the regiment was formed in 1979 along with the BDF, replacing the old Barbados Regiment.
The
Barbados Regiment is the land force component of the
Barbados Defence ForceThe Barbados Defence Force is the name given to the combined armed forces of Barbados. The BDF was established August 15th, 1979, and has responsibility for the territorial defence and internal security of the island. The headquarters for the Barbados Defence Force are located in the St...
. Its main tasks are the defence of
BarbadosBarbados , situated just east of the Caribbean Sea, is an independent West Indian Continental Island-nation in the western Atlantic Ocean. For over three centuries Barbados was a colony and protectorate of the United Kingdom; and still currently maintains Queen Elizabeth II as head of state...
from external threats, internal security and assisting the local police in maintaining law and order. The regiment also provides Barbados' contribution to international
peacekeepingPeacekeeping, as defined by the United Nations, is "a way to help countries torn by conflict create conditions for sustainable peace." It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
and other missions. In its present form, the regiment was formed in 1979 along with the BDF, replacing the old Barbados Regiment. The Barbados Regiment is affiliated to the
Royal Anglian RegimentThe Royal Anglian Regiment is an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Queen's Division.The regiment was formed in 1964 as the first of the new large infantry regiments, through the amalgamation of the four regiments of the East Anglian Brigade.* 1st Battalion from the 1st Bn of the...
.
History
The Barbados Regiment was founded in 1902 as the
Barbados Volunteer Force, a volunteer unit raised to provide for the local defence of the island following the withdrawal of the British garrison. Soldiers of the BVF was involved in both the First and Second World Wars as part of both the
South Caribbean Force and the
Caribbean Regiment.
In 1948, the BVF was re-established and re-named the
Barbados Regiment. The regiment received its first stand of
coloursIn military organizations, the practice of carrying colours, standards or Guidons, to act both as a rallying point for troops, and to mark the location of the commander, is thought to have originated in Ancient Egypt some 5,000 years ago...
in 1953. These colours were later changed after the country gained Independence. Between 1959 and 1962, Barbados was part of the Federation of the West Indies, and thus contributed to the 3rd Battalion,
West India RegimentThe West India Regiment was an infantry unit of the British Army recruited from and normally stationed in the British colonies of the Caribbean between 1795 and 1927. The regiment differed from similar forces raised in other part of the British Empire in that it formed an integral part of the...
. On the break-up of the Federation, Barbados regained its independence and saw the Barbados Regiment returned to service.
Although the regiment's primary role is to defend Barbados, it also provides the country's commitment to UN
peacekeepingPeacekeeping, as defined by the United Nations, is "a way to help countries torn by conflict create conditions for sustainable peace." It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
forces, predominantly in the
CaribbeanThe Caribbean is a region consisting of the Caribbean Sea, its islands , and the surrounding coasts...
region. The regiment also participated, along with the Jamaica Regiment and the
Rifle Company, Antigua and Barbuda Defence ForceThe Antigua and Barbuda Regiment is the infantry unit and main fighting arm of the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force. Previously known as the Rifle Company, it was formed in 1995 and consists of a single light infantry battalion, commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel and made up of four...
, in the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
led
invasion of GrenadaThe Invasion of Grenada, codenamed Operation Urgent Fury, was an invasion ordered by U.S. President Ronald Reagan on the nation of Grenada, an island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela, and over southeast of the United States...
in 1983.
Current Organisation
The Barbados Regiment is stationed as part of the BDF headquarters at
The GarrisonSt. Ann's Garrison or more commonly today the Garrison Historic Area is a small district located in the country of Barbados. At times just called "The Garrison". During Barbados' colonial days the area was the settlement base and headquarters for members of the British West Indies Regiment...
.
The regiment today is divided into regular and reserve forces, essentially making up two 'battalions', though they are not described as such:
Regular
The regular force consists of three
companiesA company is a military unit, typically consisting of 75-200 soldiers. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
:
- Headquarters Company: This provides the logistic and administrative support for the entire regiment.
- Technical Support Company: This provides the engineering and mechanical support.
- Special Operations Company: This is the main fighting unit. Its primary task is to provide a quick reaction force, but it also works closely with both the Royal Barbados Police Force
The Royal Barbados Police Force , as outlined by the Constitution of Barbados is a part of the government responsible for local law enforcement. The Commissioner of the police force is Darwin Dottin., who also serves in the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police as president of that...
,
and the Maritime arm
- The Barbados Coast Guard
The Barbados Coast Guard is the maritime division of the Barbados Defence Force. Its responsibilities are patrolling Barbados' territorial waters as well as drug interdiction and humanitarian and life-saving exercises. The Barbados Coast Guard currently is based at HMBS Willoughby Fort in...
in anti-drug missions.
Reserve
It is the reserve element of the BDF that maintains the traditions of the old Barbados Regiment, and is responsible for the regiment's colours. The reserve element also consists of three companies:
- Headquarters Company (which includes the Band of the Barbados Regiment)
- 2 Rifle Companies
- Coast Guard Reserve