Cayman Regiment

The Cayman Regiment is the home defence unit of the British Overseas Territory of the Cayman Islands. It is a single territorial infantry battalion of the British Armed Forces that was formed in 2020.

Cayman Regiment
Active2020 –present
Country Cayman Islands (British Overseas Territory)
Branch British Army
TypeLine Infantry
RoleInternal Security, Local & Regional Humanitarian Operations
Motto(s)In Arduis Paratus (Prepared in Adversity)
Commanders
Commanding officerLieutenant Colonel Simon Watson
Regimental Sergeant MajorWO1 David Shelton

History

2019

On 12 October 2019, the government announced the formation of the Cayman Regiment, a new British Armed Forces unit. The Cayman Regiment was planned to become operational in 2020, with an initial 35–50 personnel of mostly reservists that are locally recruited and likely initially trained as engineers. The expected growth of the Regiment is expected to see an increase of personnel to several hundred. One of the main goals of the Regiment would be humanitarian relief, responding to natural disasters on the islands as well as regionally to events such as hurricanes. However, the Regiment is to be assisted by the UK Ministry of Defence and Foreign and Commonwealth Office and is likely to be in the form of logistical advice and support and further along include operational training and equipment. It was said to be in ways similar to the Royal Bermuda Regiment, the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, the Falkland Islands Defence Force and Royal Montserrat Defence Force and is to be linked with the British Army Corps of Royal Engineers. A team of experts from the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will deploy to the Cayman Islands before end of year for operational needs assessment, to begin the advisory and support roles and to determine a suitable location to base the Regiment.[1][2][3]

On 15 October 2019, Government of Bermuda issued a statement that the Royal Bermuda Regiment is ready to assist the Cayman Regiment and to share their experiences, as the Cayman Regiment builds. [4]

in mid-November 2019, the team from the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence from 131 Commando Squadron Royal Engineers, 40 Commando Royal Marines, and Royal Navy arrived in Grand Cayman to begin work on setting up the Cayman Regiment.[5]

In mid-December 2019, recruitment for junior and commanding officers began, with the commanding officers expected to begin work in January 2020 and the junior officers to begin work in February 2020.[6]

In December 2019, Turks and Caicos Islands Governor Nigel Dakin had announced that they will also follow the Cayman Islands in the formation of the Turks and Caicos Regiment. The Turks and Caicos Regiment will operate similarly to the Cayman Regiment and the Royal Bermuda Regiment and the roles of the Regiment will also be the same as their British Overseas Territories counterparts. The Turks and Caicos Regiment also will be assisted by the UK Ministry of Defence and Foreign and Commonwealth Office.[7]

2020

In late January 2020, the first set of senior officers and junior officers were chosen. The Commanding Officer was announced to be Lieutenant Colonel Simon Watson, who was formerly an Officer for the Royal Dragoon Guards. The Second in Command is Lieutenant Colonel Simon Spiers. The Staff Judge Advocate and Regimental Legal Advisor is Major Andre Mon Desir, who was the Supreme Court Judge in Trinidad and Tobago and also a member of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force. The first six Jr. Officers were chosen, these six will be sent for training in mid-February 2020 to Bermuda with the Royal Bermuda Regiment, and thereafter onwards to the United Kingdom for additional officer training at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. An additional 50-60 personnel will be recruited and will also be sent for training in Bermuda with the Royal Bermuda Regiment in early Summer 2020. The Regimental Sergeant Major is Warrant Officer 1 David Shelton, who has had 13 years of Non-Commissioned Officer experience in the British Army with Operational Tours of Duty, Training, and Recruitment.[8]

In early June 2020, five of the junior officer cadets began their officer training at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and the recruitment of the 50 additional personnel began. [9][10]

Commanding officers

As of January 2020, the commanding officer is Lieutenant Colonel Simon Watson.[11]

Recruitment and training

The first set of junior officer recruits were sent to Bermuda to train at Warwick Camp in Bermuda to train alongside recruits of the Bermuda Regiment for their basic military training. This is a two-week course. On the completion of this course the officer recruits will take on an intense condensed 8 week Officer course at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.[12]

Uniforms

The uniforms, weapons, and equipment for the Cayman Regiment will be provided by the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence. During the basic training, the recruits are given the same kits as those of the Bermuda Regiment recruits. This is mainly the British Army's No. 8 Combat Dress Multi-Terrain Pattern Personal Clothing System – Combat Uniform (PCS-CU). The PCS-CU mostly consists of a windproof smock, a lightweight jacket, and trousers with a range of ancillaries such as thermals and waterproofs. Recruits are also issued with British Army Standard Issued Brown Combat Boots.[12][13]

Insignia

Cap Badge

The Cap Badge of the Cayman Regiment is a gold badge. On top, is the Queen's Crown. In the middle, a grey Thatch Palm leaf (one of the Cayman Islands' symbols is the Silver Thatch Palm) and a Blue background with gold circular band and rope with engraving of Cayman Islands on top half and Regiment on bottom half. On bottom, a banner with the Regimental motto In Arduis Paratus, meaning "Prepared in Adversity".

Badges of Rank

Cayman Regiment Rank slides has the badge of Rank and wording on bottom of 'CAYMAN ISLANDS'

Main articles: British Army officer rank insignia and British Army other ranks rank insignia
Officers
NATO codeOF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D)Student officer
United Kingdom
(Edit)		 No equivalent
Field marshal[note 1] General Lieutenant-general Major-general Brigadier Colonel Lieutenant-colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant Officer cadet
Abbreviation: FM Gen Lt Gen Maj Gen Brig Col Lt Col Maj Capt Lt 2Lt OCdt

203Rank in abeyance.

Enlisted ranks
NATO CodeOR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1
United Kingdom
(Edit)		 No equivalent No insignia
Warrant officer class 1 Warrant officer class 2 Staff/Colour sergeant Sergeant Corporal Lance corporal Private
(or equivalent)
Abbreviation: WO1 WO2 SSgt /
CSgt		 Sgt Cpl /
Bdr /L/Sgt		 LCpl /
L/Bdr		 Pte

See also

Notes
  1. Title; Honorary or posthumous rank; war time rank; ceremonial rank

References
  1. "Cayman regiment would provide disaster relief | Cayman Compass". www.caymancompass.com.
  2. "Cayman to set up its own regiment | Cayman Compass". www.caymancompass.com.
  3. "Cayman to create military regiment - Cayman Islands Headline News". 11 October 2019.
  4. Johnston-Barnes, Owain. "Regiment ready to help Cayman Islands | The Royal Gazette:Bermuda News". The Royal Gazette.
  5. "MoD team working on CI military - Cayman Islands Headline News". 24 November 2019.
  6. "Regiment begins recruitment". www.gov.ky.
  7. "TCI to build its own military regiment". tcweeklynews.com.
  8. "Regiment senior officers appointed | Cayman Compass". www.caymancompass.com.
  9. "Activities of Defence Regiment to proceed amid crisis". www.loopcayman.com.
  10. "Cayman Islands Regiment recruitment campaign kicks off". www.loopcayman.com.
  11. Ragoonath, Reshma (30 January 2020). "Regiment senior officers appointed". Cayman Compass.
  12. Hainey, Raymond; Editor, Assistant News. "Royal Bermuda Regiment takes on 30 recruits | The Royal Gazette:Bermuda News". The Royal Gazette.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  13. Muckenfuss, Mark (14 October 2019). "Cayman regiment would provide disaster relief". Cayman Compass.
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