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History was created on Friday 5 September 2008 when the Jamaica Defence Force Technical Training Institute (JDF TTI) graduated its first set of students. Forty-eight (48) students were enrolled in the General Construction Level 2 Course, the pioneer course since the inception of JDF TTI. When the course commenced on Monday 14 January 2008, it started out as a level 1 course but was upgraded to a level 2 course to meet the changing needs of the Jamaica Defence Force.  

For many years JDF relied on the HEART Trust/NTA for its artisan training. Today, with the establishment of the artisan training school, JDF is able to produce many more skilled personnel in a more cost effective way. However, the HEART Trust is still in partnership with JDF TTI, conducting training assessments and certifications. Chief of Defence Staff Major General Stewart Saunders lauded HEART Trust for its involvement, saying that the graduation ceremony is evidence of the effort of the students, instructors and partners. He continued that it is difficult to survive in this present environment without partners.

It was very fitting to have Miss Clover Barnett, Chief Technical Director of HEART Trust/NTA as the Guest Speaker. She expressed her pleasure in partnering with JDF TTI and said that the students have benefitted from the training at JDF TTI which is second to none. Miss Barnett charged the graduates to take hold of the opportunities that will come as a result of the skills and expertise garnered from this course. Among the several points she made, the HEART Trust Director implored the graduates to, “demonstrate competence with pride, develop employable skills and choose lifelong learning.”

Commanding Officer 1Engineer Regiment (JDF), Lieutenant Colonel Rocky Meade, told the graduates to see their skills just as important as academic qualifications. Lt Col Meade joined the Chief of Defence (CDS) in thanking the National Training Agency for the part it has played in “recognizing skills and certifying them.”

All graduates were presented with certificates by the CDS. However, two (02) students were singled out and given special awards for topping the course; each obtaining over 90 percent average.   Sappers Marlon Davis and Barrington Biggs were the proud recipients of the Most Outstanding Performer and the Runner-up Best Performer Awards, respectively. The top performers said that they were not expecting these awards. In fact, they were not working to be top students they simply worked hard and maintained the standard.

When asked what their strategies were for performing so well, Spr Davis said, “I studied very hard and avoided taking a lot of time offs.” While Spr Biggs said, “I was not going for it [award], I just did the necessaries – read over my notes at nights and studied hard.”