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.^[1]

Royal Monserrat Defence Force
Badge of the Royal Monserrat Defence Force
Active	1898-present
Country	Montserrat United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Type	Military reserve force
Role	Civil Defence, local and regional humanitarian operations, Ceremonial Duties
Size	40 Reserve personnel as of 2018-19; Objective for 2021-22: 50 personnel[1]
Garrison/HQ	Brades
Commanders
Commanding officer	Lt Col Alvin E. Ryan, ED CCM BEM
Regimental Sergeant Major	WO1 Barry Carlisle Williams
Commander-In-Chief	King Charles III
Insignia
Abbreviation	RMDF

History

Foundation

The Royal Montserrat Defence Force was raised in 1898. The unit has a historical association with the Irish Guards.^[2][3][4][5]

The World Wars

At the outbreak of World War 1 in 1914 very quickly many in the Caribbean including in Montserrat mobilised.^[6]

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 (HADR) Operations.^[7]

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.^[8][9]

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.^[10] 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.^[11]

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