The Royal Montserrat Defence Force has commenced its annual training camp, a requirement by law.
The camp started Saturday October 26 2019 and will run until Sunday November 10 2019. The end date of the Camp would coincide with the annual Remembrance Day Service and Parade. In recent times the Annual Training Camp would take place during the end of summer but due to logistical and operational reasons the dates were rescheduled to the current dates. The Camp is being held between the Salem Park and the Salem Police Station.
The camp provides an opportunity for members of the Force to combine and build on their skills, character and team working under pressure over an extended period.
This year three Members of the Irish Guards are on island to assist in training for this year’s annual camp. They are Staff Sergeant David McKay, Staff Sergeant Stedroy Perkins and Lance Sergeant Mozart Samuels. This follows on from visits from Officers of the Irish Guards in January of this year and the Minister of State for the Armed Forces Col. Hon. Mark Lancaster late last year. These visits were to re-energize the historic ties between the Royal Montserrat Defence Force and Irish Guards.
This year the RMDF Camp is entitled Camp Renaissance and the training for this camp is focused on enhancing members’ core Military skills. This would aide in the ability of the Force to be able to provide assistance to the Civil Powers when needed and be prepared for any eventuality. This camp aims to update the skills of the local training unit by adding techniques currently being used by the British Armed Forces.
During the camp members of the Force along with security personnel from the Bank of Montserrat, Montserrat Port Authority and the RMPS will be put through a one week, “Basic Security Guarding Course”. The course is being run in conjunction with the Montserrat Community College and the Royal Montserrat Police Service.
Major Alvin Ryan Commanding Officer of the RMDF stated “We do take our role to provide Internal Security Assistance very seriously and we want to be prepared for any eventuality. We are very pleased to have members of the Irish Guards here with us on our training camp. It shows that the bonds of friendship and cooperation between our two units continues to strengthen. It is important that we continue to update our skills and be aware of new techniques and methodologies.
Further updates will be provided as the Training Camp progresses.
