Officer cadets from the newly formed Cayman Islands Regiment have graduated from the short commissioning course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS).

The five Service personnel were set to complete the gruelling eight-week package in August, becoming the first to commission into the home defence force of the British Overseas Territory.

Commanded by former British officer Simon Watson (ex-RDG), the Reserve formation’s primary role is to provide security, humanitarian aid and disaster relief to Cayman and the wider Caribbean, and is due to become operational this year following delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Despite describing the training as physically and mentally demanding,
policeman Gabe Rabess told the Cayman Compass: “When an opportunity came up, I obviously took it with open arms, and I am very proud and honoured to be part of it.”

Other members of the cohort included brother and sister Theodore Jr and Shanice Kelly – who both served in the island’s Cadet Corps – aeronautical
engineer Jonassi Swaby and teacher Halston Farley. They were appointed in February as junior officers. A total of 50 recruits are currently being assessed to join the regiment as reservists.

They completed three weeks of initial training with the Royal Bermuda Regiment before attending RMAS and will serve full-time for a year at their new unit, before reverting back to their previous careers and part-time military roles.

Reference

Ragoonath, R. (2020) Cayman Regiment officers on final leg of training. Available from World Wide Web: https://www.caymancompass.com/2020/07/18/cayman-regiment-officers-on-final-leg-of-training/. [Accessed: 11 September, 2020].

Soldier. (2020) Pioneering Personnel Pass Out. Soldier: Magazine of the British Army. August 2020, pp.8.