Caribbean: A total of 77 officer cadets from Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis, Surinam, and Uganda graduated from the Initial Officer Training Programme (IOTP) Friday, March 24, 2022, at Up Park Camp, St. Andrew, Jamaica.
While applauding Jamaica Defence Force, Prime Minister Andrew Holness noted, “I commend the JDF for developing and delivering a strategic and comprehensive programme for Officer training”.
He emphasized that this historic achievement is a reflection of the work being done as the JDF continues on the path of excellence in producing exemplary leaders.
On March 25, 22, Major General (Maj Gen) Duncan Francis Capps and his delegation visited the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), where he had a series of events that ended with an office call on Rear Admiral Antonette Wemyss Gorman, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) at the Force Headquarters, Up Park Camp.
(Maj Gen) Capps is the Commandant, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS), a position he has held since March 2020. By virtue of his position as RMAS Commandant, he is also considered the Army’s de facto Director of Leadership.
The Caribbean Military Academy has collaborated with Sandhurst in the developing and delivery of the Initial Officer Training Programme (IOTP) and Commissioning Parade, they did this by way of assisting with the course design and providing consultation and subject matter experts to work alongside the CMA instructing staff on a periodic basis.
Today, during his visit, gifts were exchanged with the CDS, who is pleased to see deepening relations between The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and the Caribbean Military Academy (CMA).
The IOTP is the first of its kind in the Jamaica Defence Force’s history, where Military officers are trained locally. The programme included both local and overseas Cadets and members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.
Further, the Barbados Defence Force also applauded their commanders after graduating from Jamaica.
The Chief of Staff, Commodore Errington Shurland and the members of the Barbados Defence Force, congratulate Captain (Capt) Paul Alexander and Sub-Lieutenant (SLt) Alexander Kellman, who recently completed the Junior Command and Staff Leadership Course , at the Caribbean Military Academy, Jamaica.
At their graduation ceremony, the officers were joined by Staff Advisor to the Chief of Staff (SACCOS) Commander Mark Peterson.
