Royal Montserrat Defence Force

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

Raised 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

Ranks

Ranks 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
Royal Montserrat Defence Force
													Lieutenant Colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second lieutenant			Officer cadet

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Royal Montserrat Defence Force																													No insignia
	Warrant officer class 1						Warrant officer class 2		Staff		Sergeant												Corporal				Lance corporal		Private

See also

• Royal Bermuda Regiment
• Cayman Islands Regiment
• Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment
• Royal Gibraltar Regiment
• Falkland Islands Defence Force
• British Army Training and Support Unit Belize
• Overseas military bases of the United Kingdom

References

1. "Government of Montserrat 2019-2020 Budget Statement, p. 101" (PDF). 15 May 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Government of Montserrat 2019-2020 Budget Statement, p. 101" (PDF). 15 May 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
3. "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.
4. Government of Montserrat: Lively and colourful Queen's Birthday Parade. 21 June 2012
5. "Montserrat Reporter: Defence Force Marks 100 Years of Service". Archived from the original on 18 October 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
6. "The Montserrat Reporter: 2012 Queen's Birthday Parade at Salem Park". Archived from the original on 4 August 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
7. "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.
8. https://www.gov.ms/2024/09/06/new-appointment-of-honorary-colonel-to-the-royal-montserrat-defence-force/