Cayman Islands Regiment

EXERCISE EXERCISE EXERCISE

The Cayman Islands Regiment has moved into the next phase of Annual Camp, responding to the impacts of a ficticuous Hurricane Carter.

Deploying one of its Field Squadrons to establish a temporary operating base at Barefoot Beach, troops have spent the last 72 hours conducting realistic disaster response operations while living and working in the field with only the equipment they can carry and sustain. The exercise tests not only technical skills, but also the resilience, robustness and self-sufficiency required to operate for extended periods in challenging conditions.

Training has included route clearance with chainsaws and JCBs near HMP Northward , breaking into a damaged building near Bluff Bay to rescue casualties trapped within, supporting the RCIPS canine unit in the search for missing persons in Salt Creek, handing casualties over to colleagues from the Cayman Islands Coast Guard and RCIPS Air Ops for rapid extraction. Working alongside both agencies like this helps strengthen the interoperability and relationships that are essential during any major incident response.

Behind every task are the planning, command, communications and leadership processes that allow the Regiment to coordinate an effective response. The exercise also draws upon and tests the skills developed throughout the training year, including first aid, casualty evacuation, search and rescue, engineering support and teamwork.

These are exactly the kinds of capabilities the Regiment may be called upon to provide in support of the Cayman Islands, making this some of the most important training we undertake.

PREPARING TO PROTECT CAYMAN

Following its participation in the King's Birthday Parade, the Cayman Islands Regiment has shifted its focus to storm preparedness, bringing together personnel, vehicles and equipment for the first phase of a nine-day disaster response exercise.

Since Tuesday, reservists have refreshed critical storm response skills, including medical assistance, casualty evacuation, recovery operations, and urban search and rescue. Training has covered lifting and moving heavy loads, breaking and breaching structures, and casualty handling, alongside daily physical training to maintain operational readiness and instil personal resilience.

The Regiment has also welcomed support from partner agencies, receiving communications training from 911 and hosting a Distinguished Visitors Day attended by His Excellency the Governor, partner agencies and really importantly our reservists' employers. The event provided an opportunity to thank the employers who support our reservists and offer an insight into the training and capabilities they help make possible.

With the first phase complete, attention is turning to the next stage of the exercise. Troops will receive orders to respond to a fictitious hurricane scenario, deploying out across the island to put their skills, resilience and teamwork to the test in a series of realistic disaster response challenges spread over 3 days.

As the Cayman Islands move further into storm season, exercises such as this ensure the Regiment remains ready to support partner agencies and help protect the people of the Cayman Islands when they need us most.

The Cayman Islands Regiment continues to strengthen relationships across the region's disaster response community, with Corporal Salmon and Lance Corporal Ayton recently representing the Regiment at the Caribbean Disaster Response Unit (CDRU) Sub-Regional Training Exercise in Jamaica.

The CDRU is a team of specially trained personnel drawn from across the Caribbean who provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to CARICOM Member States following natural disasters. This year's exercise brought together participants from The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, Cayman Islands, and host nation Jamaica to train for multi-island disaster response scenarios.

The exercise also provided an opportunity for Cayman to be represented on the regional stage, showcasing the professionalism and capability of our emergency response community while strengthening relationships with partner nations across the Caribbean.

Lessons identified during last year's response to Hurricane Melissa reinforced the importance of building strong professional relationships before a major incident occurs. Exercises such as this provide a valuable opportunity to develop those connections, improve interoperability, and work alongside regional partners in realistic disaster response scenarios.

It was also a pleasure to deploy alongside colleagues from the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service and Hazard Management Cayman Islands, demonstrating the whole-of-government approach that underpins Cayman’s emergency response capability.

As the region enters another hurricane season, training and partnerships such as these help ensure that when disaster strikes, Caribbean nations are ready to support one another quickly and effectively.

Last week the Cayman Islands Regiment welcomed the new UK Defence Attaché to the Caribbean, Lieutenant Colonel Dack, based in Jamaica, for his first official visit to the Cayman Islands.

During the visit, the Defence Attaché (DA) was briefed on the Regiment’s strategy to achieve Full Operational Capability by 2030, while Regimental staff received updates on planned UK support across the region, including preparations for this year’s storm season.

The DA attended Regimental training, observed capability demonstrations as the Regiment prepares for storm season, and joined in celebrating recent promotions. Lieutenant Colonel Dack also attended a hosted dinner with H.E. The Governor, DG, DG (Designate), Minister DaCosta, and agency heads; visited the Cayman Islands Coast Guard; received a briefing from HMCI to better understand how the Regiment and partner agencies come together to respond to major incidents; conducted an aerial tour of the Islands with RCIPS Air Operations; and gave an interview to The Cayman Compass (thanks for the photos!)

The close relationship between the Cayman Islands Regiment and UK Defence strengthens the Regiment’s access to training, expertise, and regional support, further enhancing its mission to protect the people of the Cayman Islands by strengthening national resilience and supporting civil authorities. A better trained and better equipped Regiment contributes directly to a more resilient Cayman Islands.

We look forward to welcoming Lieutenant Colonel Dack back to Grand Cayman in August for the Cohort 5 Pass Off Parade.

Recruiting for the Cayman Islands Regiment 2026 intake is now officially closed.

A sincere thank you to our community for the strong interest and support. This year has seen one of the most encouraging turnouts to date, with a higher number of eligible applicants than in recent years—a clear sign of the growing commitment to service across the islands.

We’re also grateful to everyone who helped get the message out—our reservists, partner agencies, supportive employers, and local media. The Regiment has a strong story to tell, and your efforts have made sure it’s been heard across the Cayman Islands.

With the paper sift complete and final assessment day concluded, the Regiment will now move forward by inviting successful recruits to attend a two-week basic training camp this summer. This marks the fifth cohort since the Regiment’s inception.

What this means in practice:

For the second year in a row—and as a clear sign of the Regiment’s growing strength—this training will be delivered by the Regiment’s own instructors, without reliance on an external training team. These recruits won’t just be training—they’ll be preparing to contribute to five core operational capabilities, joining teams ready to deploy across all three islands, and when required, across the wider region. Whether responding to severe weather or supporting other civil contingencies, this cohort will add real depth and resilience where it matters most.

To those not selected this time:

Stay connected. Recruitment will reopen in 2027, and we look forward to seeing many of you return even stronger.

To Cohort 5:

Get ready—basic training awaits. 💪

“To protect the people of the Cayman Islands by strengthening national resilience and supporting civil authorities.”