Royal Monserrat Defence Force | |
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![]() Badge of the Royal Monserrat Defence Force | |
Active | 1898-present |
Country | ![]() ![]() |
Branch | ![]() |
Type | Military reserve force |
Role | Civil Defence, local and regional humanitarian operations, Ceremonial Duties |
Size | 40 Reserve personnel as of 2018-19; Objective for 2021-22: 50 personnel [1] |
Garrison/HQ | Brades |
Commanders | |
Commanding officer | Lt Col Alvin E. Ryan, ED CCM BEM |
Regimental Sergeant Major | WO1 Barry Carlisle Williams |
Commander-In-Chief | King Charles III |
Insignia | |
Abbreviation | RMDF |
The Royal Montserrat Defence Force is the home defence unit of the British Overseas Territory of Montserrat. The force has an authorized strength level objective of 50 reserve personnel as of 2021-22, akin in size to that of a platoon-sized unit. [2]
The Royal Montserrat Defence Force was raised in 1898. The unit has a historical association with the Irish Guards. [3] [4] [5] [6]
At the outbreak of World War 1 in 1914 very quickly many in the Caribbean including in Montserrat mobilised. [7]
During the Soufrière Hill Eruption the RMDF along with support from mainland UK Military forces was a vital asset the response in the evacuations and Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) Operations. [8]
In 2023, the Royal Montserrat Defence Force was one of four Caribbean British Overseas Military forces that took part in King Charles III Coronation Parade. The RMDF was joined by Royal Bermuda Regiment, Cayman Islands Regiment, and Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment from the Caribbean. [9] [10]
The Defence Force is today a reduced force of about forty to fifty volunteer soldiers, primarily concerned with civil Defence and ceremonial duties. The current Commanding Officer is Lieutenant-Colonel Alvin Ryan, who was first appointed the force commanding officer in 2014, and who assumed command from the late Captain Horatio Tuitt. The appointment of a unit commander at the Lieutenant-Colonel level in 2022 was a first-time event for the force. [11] As a British Overseas Territory (BOT), defence of Montserrat remains the responsibility of the United Kingdom. On 5 September 2024 Governor of Montserrat announced Major General Alex turner as Honorary Colonel of RMDF. [12]
Ranks are as follows:(The RMDF use the Star of St Patrick as a 'pip' like Irish Guards)
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lieutenant Colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second lieutenant | Officer cadet |
Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant officer class 1 | Warrant officer class 2 | Staff | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance corporal | Private |