Trinidad and Tobago Regiment

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Trinidad and Tobago Regiment
TTR Logo1.jpg
Cap badge of the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment
Active1962-present
CountryFlag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago
Branch Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force emblem.svg Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force
Type
  • Infantry
  • Engineers
  • Service
  • Support
RoleLight role (two battalions)
Engineers (one battalion)
Logistic Support (one battalion)
SizeFour battalions ~ 4000
Part of Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force
Garrison/HQ'Regiment HQ' - Port of Spain
'1st Infantry Battalion' - St. James
'2nd Infantry Battalion' - La Romaine
'Engineer Battalion' - Cumuto
'Support & Service Battalion' - Chaguaramas
Nickname(s)The Regiment or "Army"
Motto(s)To Guard and Defend
ColorsGreen and Yellow
AnniversariesJuly 23rd
Commanders
President President Christine Kangaloo
Notable
commanders
Lt Col P Pierce Gould (First Commanding Officer: 1962-1964)
Maj Gen Ralph Brown (1988 - 1991)
Maj Gen Edmund Dillon' former CDS, Min of National Security and Current Ambassador

The Trinidad and Tobago Regiment is the main ground force element of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force. It has approximately 10,000 men and women organized into a Regiment Headquarters (located in Port of Spain) and four battalions. There is also a Volunteer Defence Force that has been renamed the Defence Force Reserves. The regiment has two primary roles: maintaining the internal security of Trinidad and Tobago, and the assistance of local law enforcement.

Contents

As one of the largest military forces in the region, the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment is also one of the main units used in peacekeeping and humanitarian situations from the Caribbean region, most recently in Grenada after Hurricane Ivan.

The Trinidad and Tobago Regiment also provides the bulk of the musicians assigned to the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Steel Orchestra, the world's only military steel band.

History

The Trinidad and Tobago Regiment has its origins the late 19th century, though it was directly spawned from the break-up of the Federation of the West Indies in 1962. At that time, the two battalions of the West India Regiment were split and came under the control of the main nations formed by the split. The 1st Battalion became the 1st Battalion, Jamaica Regiment, while the 2nd Battalion was transferred to Trinidad and Tobago to become the 1st Battalion, Trinidad and Tobago Regiment. A second battalion was raised in 1965, but was disbanded in 1972.

Major conflicts

Captain (Capt) Roger McLean with the Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force, at the V.C. Bird International Airport, on the island of Antigua in 2002. Trinidad and Tobago Soldier.jpg
Captain (Capt) Roger McLean with the Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force, at the V.C. Bird International Airport, on the island of Antigua in 2002.

The Trinidad and Tobago Regiment has been involved in two major conflicts.

See: Jamaat al Muslimeen coup attempt

International missions

Other incidents

Organisation

President's Colour of the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment President's Colour of the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment.png
President's Colour of the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment
Regimental Colour of the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment Regimental Colour of the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment.png
Regimental Colour of the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment

Although it is called the Trinidad & Tobago Regiment, the unit is in fact structured more like a light infantry brigade, with a pair of infantry battalions, plus engineering and logistic support units as well as a Headquarter and Special Forces Detachments:

The Regiment maintains a base at Camp Omega, also at Chaguaramas, used primarily for specialised training.

Equipment

Infantry weapons

Ground vehicles

Aircraft

Fixed wing aircraft

Helicopters

Ranks

The ranks employed by the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment: [4]

Officers
Rank groupGeneral / flag officersSenior officersJunior officers
Flag of the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment.svg  Trinidad and Tobago Regiment [5]
TaT-Army-OF-7.svg TaT-Army-OF-6.svg TaT-Army-OF-5.svg TaT-Army-OF-4.svg TaT-Army-OF-3.svg TaT-Army-OF-2.svg TaT-Army-OF-1b.svg TaT-Army-OF-1a.svg
Major general Brigadier general Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant
Enlisted
Rank groupSenior NCOsJunior NCOsEnlisted
Flag of the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment.svg  Trinidad and Tobago Regiment [6]
Trinidad and Tobago-Army-OR-09.svg Trinidad and Tobago-Army-OR-08a.svg Trinidad and Tobago-Army-OR-07.svg TaT-Army-OR-06.png TaT-Army-OR-04.png TaT-Army-OR-03.png No insignia
Warrant officer class 1 Warrant officer class 2 Staff sergeant Sergeant Corporal Lance corporal Private

References

Bibliography

Notes

  1. Trinidad and Tobago - FOREIGN RELATIONS
  2. UNITED NATIONS MISSION IN HAITI - Facts and Figures
  3. HISTORY OF THE FIRE SERVICE
  4. Močoch, Pavel (10 March 2013). "Trinidad and Tobago Regiment". Uniform Insignia. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  5. "Rank Chart (Commissioned Officers)". 69.0.195.188. Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  6. "Rank Chart (Enlisted)". 69.0.195.188. Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force. Retrieved 27 May 2021.