Warrant Officer Class One (WO1) Richard Saunders was appointed Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) for the Third Battalion The Jamaica Regiment (National Reserve) (3 JR (NR)) on 25 February 2010. Prior to this appointment, he acted as the RSM for over one year.

Richard Clive Saunders was born on 22 October 1969 in the parish of St. Catherine.  He obtained primary and secondary education at the Tulloch Primary and Charlemont High Schools both in St. Catherine.  At Charlemont, he was named the top Agricultural Science student in his graduating class. After leaving high school, he worked with his father on their farm for a year.  In 1989 he joined 3 JR (NR) Intake 89/01 where he was awarded Best Recruit.

After completing basic training, the then Private Saunders was posted to Bravo Company where he served on the Call Out for a period of six years.  During his tenure on the Call Out, he was attached to the Battalion Intelligence Cell for approximately two years where he was employed as the Intelligence Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO).  He has completed several courses in the Jamaica Defence Force including Basic Military Intelligence and Security Course, Potential NCO Cadre, Section Commander and Platoon Sergeant Battle courses.  He trained several recruit intakes in 3 JR (NR) and has also worked in the Military Training Wing (then JDF Training Depot), Newcastle as a Squad Instructor.  Between 2002 and 2005, WO1 Saunders successfully completed a Sergeant Major Instructor Course, Warrant Officers Course and the Regimental Sergeant Majors Course.  RSM Saunders has also successfully participated in several small unit exchange programmes in Jamaica, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom. 

In January 2000, he was transferred to Delta Company, Burke Barracks in Montego Bay.  He was promoted to Staff Sergeant and appointed Sergeant Major Instructor (SMI) in 2001.  In 2003 he was promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer Class Two (WO2) and shortly thereafter appointed Company Sergeant Major (CSM).  In 2008, he was transferred to the Battalion Headquarters and appointed Acting Regimental Sergeant Major.

WO1 Saunders has successfully completed several other professional courses.  These include Certificate Courses in Effective Negotiating and Incident Investigation and Root Cause Analysis, a Diploma in Management Studies from the Jamaica Institute of Management, a Diploma in Close Protection Management and a Certificate in Control and Restraint Tactics from Controlled Training Solutions (CTS) in Old Trafford, Manchester, England. He also holds a Master of Science Degree (MSc) in Security and Risk Management from the University of Leicester, England.

In 2002 WO1 Saunders was awarded the Medal of Honour for Efficient Service to the Jamaica Defence Force and in 2008 the First Bar to the Medal of Honour for Efficient Service.

In his civilian role, RSM Saunders is a Certified Port Facility Security Officer and the Chief Security Officer at Noranda Bauxite Limited.  RSM Saunders has always been involved in sporting activities. He represented his primary school in track and field, his high school in football and 3 JR (NR) in March and Shoot, cross-country and football. He is the proud father of three boys, Alex, Richard Jr. and Tyler.