Despite complaints of frequent military helicopter flights causing noise and disruption, the head of the armed forces has praised the public for support and understanding during Exercise Tradewinds, as the annual military readiness campaign winds down.
The collaborative effort to enhance regional security and cooperation involves multinational forces training on land, sea, air and cyberspace ahead of the T20 Cricket World Cup. Sponsored jointly by the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) and the Florida-based United States Southern Command, Tradewinds involves over 1 200 troops from 36 nations.
The exercise, currently being held at various staging grounds across the island on and offshore, is intended to provide a platform for joint and interagency training aimed at increasing regional cooperation to counter transnational organised crime and conduct humanitarian/disaster relief operations.
US Black Hawk military helicopters have been a frequent sight for the past two weeks as they take part in several training exercises, including medical evacuation drills.
The BDF’s Acting Chief of Staff Lieutenant Colonel Carlos Lovell highlighted the public’s understanding of the exercise’s importance: “There were members of the public who actually came out in defence of the Barbados Defence Force, in defence of exercise Tradewinds, who understood the importance of this exercise, of this collaboration.”
He was speaking on the sidelines of the BDF’s Open Day at the Force’s Paragon, Christ Church base which attracted one of its largest crowds in the past decade.
The US Army Black Hawk was a centre of attraction during Saturday’s Open Day at the BDF’s Paragon, Christ Church base. (RG)
Lt Col Lovell also stressed the importance of this year’s Exercise Tradewinds in testing the regional security and disaster response mechanism to ensure that all systems are ready for the Cricket World Cup.
“Even though in the past we’ve tested things for humanitarian and disaster response in response to severe weather systems and a number of other scenarios, this year we thought it prudent to ensure that Exercise Tradewinds was formed on a platform, a scenario of actual Cricket World Cup.
“The purpose of the exercise is to make sure that all of our security and disaster response mechanisms are working as they should. The scenario itself was meant to test and stress the systems that we have in place to ensure that whatever Cricket World Cup may present, in regard to security or disaster, the systems that we have not only in Barbados but across the region and from our international development partners . . . are ready, are synchronised. The interoperability is at a high level so that when we respond, the response is robust and comprehensive and we can ensure that we return Barbados to a sense of normalcy in a short period of time.”
Regarding the readiness for the Cricket World Cup, Lt Col Lovell expressed confidence in the outcomes of Exercise Tradewinds, emphasising the comprehensive planning and training undertaken.
Some of the attendees of the BDF Open Day got hands-on. (RG)
“Based on the planning, based on the training, based on the assets that we have brought to bear to the region, we are fully confident that we are able to respond in a comprehensive manner and in a robust manner and effective manner to any situations that may arise during Cricket World Cup,” he said.
Addressing recruitment concerns, the top military advisor acknowledged ongoing efforts to bolster the BDF’s manpower. While recognising the need for more resources, he praised the recent recruitment drives and highlighted the upcoming drive set to begin on September 1. He also expressed optimism about attracting quality applicants to fulfil the BDF’s mandate of protecting Barbados and its interests.
Lt Col Lovell said: “Based on the planning that we have done, we recognise that the forces that we have in Barbados were not sufficient. So, we have relied on the regional security system and our other international development partners to bring to bear those resources, whether they are general policing, military, or specialised resources in terms of manpower and assets. We ensure that we have a comprehensive plan where all those forces, assets and resources will converge on the region once again after exercise training to ensure that we have all of the resources required for the Cricket World Cup.
“And, at this time, we have approximately 170 applicants who we are processing. And by the time the recruiting starts in September, we will be able to recruit those individuals for a period of about four months and have them come into the Barbados Defence Force to assist the BDF with regard to our mandate, which is to protect Barbados and its interests,” he added.
In response to questions regarding the quality of recruits, Lt Col Lovell acknowledged existing challenges, but emphasised the BDF’s commitment to attracting high-calibre individuals and pointed to the Barbados Cadet Corps and other youth development programmes as avenues for instilling core values and character in potential recruits. (RG)
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