BDF Barbados China Returned Scholars Partnership
BDF Media Release | 04 SEPT 18
Photography credit: Lt S Gollop
Barbados Defence Force personnel who attended training courses in the People’s Republic of China participated in the launch of the Barbados China Returned Scholars (BCRS) celebration on Saturday 1 September 2018. The event was held at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, under the patronage of Ambassador His Excellency Yan Xiusheng.
The BCRS initiative is intended to provide returned scholars with an opportunity to network in order to enable the delivery of enhanced service to Barbados. Studying in China offers individuals and organizations a unique opportunity of navigating Chinese culture, practicing Chinese language up to and including become fluent in speaking it, in addition to the acquisition of knowledge in specific areas of study.
Diplomatic relations between Barbados and the People’s Republic of China were established in 1977 and the Barbados Defence Force has participated in training courses there since 2000.
BDF and Barbados China Returned Scholars; Lt (CG) Shawn Hazelwood, Lt Cdr Graham Rocheford Executive Officer (Ag) BCG, Captain Shane Drakes, Captain Jamal Sobers, Lt Cdr Jerome Belle and Asl Jamal Wiggins. (left to right)
Commodore (Cdre) Errington Ricardo Shurland was appointed Chief of Staff of the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) on 1 September 2021. He enlisted in the BDF in February 1984 and in a military career spanning over 34 years, has served in various operational and administrative appointments.
Colonel Glyne Grannum joined the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) on 18 October 1985 and underwent career development training at the Canadian Forces Officer Candidate School, Chilliwack and the Combat Training Centre, Gagetown New Brunswick, Canada. He subsequently attended the Infantry Training Centre and the Signal Wing in Warminster, UK (PCBC and RSO Courses respectively), the International Institute of Humanitarian Law in San Remo, Italy; the Lester Pearson Canadian Peacekeeping Centre, the Canadian Land Forces Command and Staff College, Kingston, the Canadian Forces Command and Staff College, Toronto, the National Defence University of the People’s Liberation Army People’s Republic of China and the Centre for Hemispheric Defence Studies, National Defence University, Washington. He also attended a Defence Resources Management programme at National Defence Headquarters, Ottawa, Canada. In addition to being a qualified infantry officer, Col Grannum is a qualified Regimental Signals Officer and a former Operations Officer and Finance Officer of the BDF.
Colonel Banfield joined the Barbados Battalion of the South Caribbean Force in 1941 having just left the Cadet Corps at Combermere School, and was granted a commission as a Second Lieutenant in 1942. He was a Platoon Commander and a Company Commander during the war and served in Barbados, Dominica (as part of the Gale Force), St Lucia and St Vincent.
Warrant Officer Class 1 Colin Marshall is a graduate of the St Michael, and was born on the 5 November 1969 and enlisted in the Barbados Defence Force on 16 August 1994. He was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal in August 1997, Corporal in 1999, Sergeant in 2007, Color Sergeant in 2014, Warrant Officer Class Two in 2017 and Warrant Officer Class One in 2020. He was Most Outstanding Student on Junior Leadership Course in 1998, the Most Outstanding Student on Junior Non Commissioned Officer Cadre in Jamaica in 2000, best at Leadership on the Search Adviser Course in Jamaica in 2007 and the Most Outstanding Student on the Warrant Officer Course in Jamaica in 2015.
