Jamaica Defence Force
The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) comprises the Army, Air Wing and Coast Guard, together forming the military of Jamaica. The Jamaica Defence Force is constituted under the provisions of Section 4 of the Defence Act. Under this Act, the JDF has responsibility for the defence and protection from external forces or threat to the sovereignty of Jamaica. The JDF also supports the maintenance of order in Jamaica as well as any other duties that may occasionally be defined by the Defence Board.
The Defence Board is under the general authority of the Prime Minister who has Ministerial responsibility for defence matters of the land including command, discipline and administration. The Ministry of National Security functions as the ministerial home of the JDF.
The JDF’s mandate is to maintain the integrity of Jamaica’s waters and airspace and to provide aid to the Civil Authorities, relating to:
- Restoration/maintenance of law and order
- Counter-narcotics operations
- Search and Rescue (SAR)
- Casualty Evacuation
- Humanitarian and disaster relief operations
- Defence diplomacy
- Nation building projects
- Contingency planning
- State ceremonial duties
Major General Rocky Meade is the Chief of Defence Staff of the Jamaica Defence Force.
