By Sergeant Patrick Robinson
First Battalion The Jamaica Regiment

A delegation headed by His Excellency the Governor of Bermuda, Sir Richard Gozney paid a courtesy call on the JDF Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Stewart Saunders while on a recent visit to Jamaica to observe troops of the Bermuda Regiment on their Overseas Training.

A contingent of 151 troops from the Bermuda Regiment will be conducting their annual training camp from 24 April to 07 May 2010. Throughout this period they will be conducting various aspects of military training to include conventional tactics, basic military police training and seamanship. The Bermudian soldiers will be operating primarily from the Titchfield camp, Portland with detachments to the Military Police Company (MP Coy), Up Park Camp, Kingston and the JDF Coast Guard (CG) in Port Royal. There is also a detachment of medics undergoing an advance medical course at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI).

While at Up Park Camp, the Governor had a first hand view of his troops in action. With traffic piling up and orange reflectors glowing in the mid-morning sun, one could tell that something unusual was happening. It was a moment of apprehension for some drivers at the sight of the military policemen as they stood at strategic positions directing the movement of vehicular traffic. The Bermudians on attachment to the JDF MP Coy took part in a vehicle search operation and spot checks.

Sir Richard Gozney was pleased to see his troops being integrated into the operation and the level of professionalism that was displayed. He spoke with the Officer Commanding MP Coy, Major Norman Beckles who put into perspective the relevance of the training and how the troops were benefitting form it. Members of the delegation randomly spoke with soldiers to get feedbacks as to how the training exercise was going.

 “We simply integrate them into the normal MP Coy’s routine so as to give them hands-on experience,” said Corporal Rohan Traille from the JDF, responding to questions relating to the Bermudians involvement in the exercise.

The JDF has had a longstanding relationship in training and doctrine with the Bermuda Regiment. The JDF has offered tremendous assistance to their annual overseas training exercise, by providing instructors, troops and logistic support. In the meantime, the JDF has also assisted in the Bermuda Regiment’s Annual Recruit Training Camp (conducted in Bermuda) with the provision of guest instructors. As recent as January 2010, two Sergeants were sent to Bermuda to that effect.

The Bermudian delegation visited Jamaica from 29 April to 02 May 2010. As part of their visit, they also went to UHWI, JDF CG; and Titchfield where they observed troops in the field conducting conventional training. The Governor used this opportunity to address the troops where he commended them as well as the training staff on the effort injected in the exercise.