Bronze Medal for BDF
BDF Media Release| 30 Oct 19
Photography credit: Corporal Maynard D
The Barbados Defence Force (BDF) hosted a Press Conference in recognition of its successes at the 7th International Military Sports Council (CISM) Games held this year in Wuhan China. During the Games, Private Kimberley Gittens won a bronze medal in the first ever installation of Boxing into the Games. Her BDF colleague, Recruit Sade Sealy, while performing out of her track and field season, placed fourth in the Women’s 800 Metre final.
The BDF’s participation and successes at the CISM Games are as a result of the contributions from its many stakeholders, including the Prime Minister’s Office, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and various sporting associations. Unquestionably, the discipline, desire and determination of the athletes themselves to put “Barbados on the map” is most praiseworthy and encouraging.
As a modernizing, multi-dimensional military organization, the BDF has gained some experience as a conduit for producing world-class athletes throughout its history. The BDF will nevertheless strive to make even greater contributions to the sporting landscape of Barbados.
Founded in 1948, CISM is one of the largest multidisciplinary organizations in the world. CISM organises various sporting events for the Armed Forces of its 136 member countries and is one of the global sports organizations in which the largest number of disciplines is represented. Servicepersons from across the globe, who may have previously met on the battlefield, now meet in friendship through sports (CISM’s motto).
Highlights
Commodore (Cdre) Errington Shurland enlisted in the Barbados Defence Force in February 1984.
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.
