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]
| Royal Montserrat Defence Force | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Founded | 1898 |
| Service branches | Royal Montserrat Defence Force Montserrat Cadet Corps |
| Headquarters | Brades |
| Leadership | |
| Commander-in-Chief | King Charles III |
| Commanding Officer | Lt Col Alvin E. Ryan, ED CCM |
| Personnel | |
| Military age | 17 |
| Conscription | No |
| Available for military service | males age 17-49: 1,291, age 15–49 |
| Fit for military service | males age 17-49: 1,291 females age 17-49: 1,252 (2010 est.), age 15–49 |
| Reaching military age annually | male: 35 female: 34 (2010 est.) |
| Reserve personnel | 40 personnel as of 2018-19; Objective for 2021-22: 50 personnel[1] |
| Deployed personnel | 0 |
| Industry | |
| Foreign suppliers | United Kingdom |
| Related articles | |
| History | Montserrat in World War I |
History
editRaised in 1898, the unit is today a reduced force of about forty to fifty volunteer soldiers, primarily concerned with civil Defence and ceremonial duties. The unit has a historical association with the Irish Guards.[3][4][5][6] 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.[7] 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. [8]
Uniform
editRanks
editRanks 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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 Royal Montserrat Defence Force
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| Lieutenant Colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second lieutenant | Officer cadet | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Royal Montserrat Defence Force
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No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warrant officer class 1 | Warrant officer class 2 | Staff | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance corporal | Private | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Government of Montserrat 2019-2020 Budget Statement, p. 101" (PDF). 15 May 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
- ^ "Government of Montserrat 2019-2020 Budget Statement, p. 101" (PDF). 15 May 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
- ^ "UK Government White Paper on Overseas Territories, June, 2012. Page 23" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 October 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
- ^ Government of Montserrat: Lively and colourful Queen's Birthday Parade. 21 June 2012
- ^ "Montserrat Reporter: Defence Force Marks 100 Years of Service". Archived from the original on 18 October 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
- ^ "The Montserrat Reporter: 2012 Queen's Birthday Parade at Salem Park". Archived from the original on 4 August 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
- ^ "An Historic moment as the Royal Montserrat Defence Force has an Officer at the Rank of Lieutenant Colonel". ZJB Radio Montserrat. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
- ^ https://www.gov.ms/2024/09/06/new-appointment-of-honorary-colonel-to-the-royal-montserrat-defence-force/