Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment

The Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment is the home defence unit of the British Overseas Territory of the Turks and Caicos Islands. It is a single territorial infantry battalion of the British Armed Forces, formed in 2020.

Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment
Active2020 – present
Country Turks and Caicos Islands
 United Kingdom
Branch British Army
Royal Marines
TypeLine Infantry
Marines
RoleInternal security, local and regional humanitarian operations, maritime security operations
Commanders
Commanding officerLieutenant Colonel Ennis Grant
Warrant OfficerWO2 Joel Richards

Background

The Turks and Caicos Islands, as a British Overseas Territory, are defended by the United Kingdom.[1]

History

Governor Nigel Dakin announced in early December 2019 that the Turks and Caicos was going to build its own defence regiment, the Turks and Caicos Regiment, with the assistance of the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence, similar to the Royal Bermuda Regiment, the Cayman Islands Regiment, the Royal Montserrat Defence Force, the Falkland Islands Defence Force, and the Royal Gibraltar Regiment. The Turks and Caicos Regiment, like the Royal Bermuda Regiment and the Cayman Islands Regiment, would focus on increasing the nation's security, and, in times of natural disasters, the regiment would be trained in engineering and communications. In mid-December 2019, a team from the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence was on Turks and Caicos to start building the regiment. It is projected that the Turk and Caicos Regiment will become operational sometime in the third quarter of 2020.[2]

In spring 2020, a Security and Assistance Team from the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence arrived in Turks and Caicos to assist with the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, and to help build the new Turks and Caicos Regiment.[3]

In early June 2020, Lieutenant Colonel Ennis Grant was appointed as commanding officer of the new Turks and Caicos Regiment.[4] An additional five permanent staff and forty reserve posts consisting of non-commissioned officers and marines will be recruited later in 2020.[4]

Major John Galleymore was appointed as Second-in-Command of the Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment.[5]

Commanding officers

As of January 2020, the commanding officer is Lieutenant Colonel Ennis Grant.[5]

Recruitment and training

Cadet Officers and or Officers take on training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Junior Soldiers or Marines do an on-islands training course.

Uniforms

Clothing

The uniforms, weapons, and equipment for the Turk & Caicos Islands 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 Royal Bermuda Regiment and Cayman Islands 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. Regimental Personnel also have the No.2 Service Dress, This is (part of Future Army Dress (FAD) programme)a khaki Jacket and Trousers with Fawn dress shirt with tie and dress shoes. No.3 Warm Weather Dress, This is a white Tunic with black Trousers with a red stripe at the sides. No.4 Warm Weather Service Dress, This is for the Officers its similar to the No.2 however in a Stone colour. The No.13 Barracks Dress, This is similar to the No. 2 without the jacket and could be worn with green 'wolly-pully' jumper or woollen jersey.

Ranks
Rank group General/flag officers Field/senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
Turks & Caicos Islands Regiment
Lieutenant-colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant Officer cadet
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
Turks & Caicos Islands Regiment
No insignia
Warrant officer class 1 Warrant officer class 2 Staff Sergeant Corporal Lance corporal Marines

Cap badges

The Regimental Cap Badge consist of two symbols laid on top of one another. The phoenix – a mythical bird that rises renewed and strengthened from the ashes of disaster, in Turk and Caicos Island’s case natural disaster, and The Crossed Tridents – representing the support The Regiment will provide to the protection of the island's maritime borders both on land and sea.

See also

References
  1. "CIA World Factbook- Turks and Caicos Islands". Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  2. "TCI to build its own military regiment". Turks and Caicos Weekly News. 16 December 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  3. "Arrival Of A Security Assistance Team In TCI From The UK". Turks and Caicos Tourist Board. 23 April 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  4. "TCI Regiment gets its first commanding officer". Turks and Caicos Weekly News. 12 June 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  5. "Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment".
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