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.

History

Foundation

The Royal Montserrat Defence Force was raised in 1898. The unit has a historical association with the Irish Guards.

The World Wars

At the outbreak of World War 1 in 1914 very quickly many in the Caribbean including in Montserrat mobilised.

1995-1999 Soufrière Hills Volcanic Eruption

During the Soufrière Hill Eruption the RMDF along with support from mainland UK Military forces was a vital asset the response in the evacuations and Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief Operations.

King Charles III Coronation

In 2023, the Royal Montserrat Defence Force was one of four Caribbean British Overseas Military forces that took part in King Charles III Coronation Parade. The RMDF was joined by Royal Bermuda Regiment, Cayman Islands Regiment, and Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment from the Caribbean.

Current Day

The Defence Force is today a reduced force of about forty to fifty volunteer soldiers, primarily concerned with civil Defence and ceremonial duties. 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. As a British Overseas Territory, 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.

Uniform

Ranks

Ranks are as follows: