Regimental Sergeant’s Major Baton Passed in Confidence
BDF Media Release| 10 September 20
Photography and Story credit: Private Kyle Straker
The Barbados Defence Force (BDF) is privileged to witness yet another change of command. After over four years of committed service to the Barbados Regiment (BR), Warrant Officer Class One (WO1) Adrian Lopez passes the Regimental Sergeant Major baton over to Warrant Officer Class Two (WO2) Collin Marshall.
WO1 Lopez’s illustrious 35-year career started in the Reserve element of the Force before transitioning to Full-time service. Since assuming the appointment of Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) on Tuesday 1 November 2016, WO1 proudly stated that as the face of the Barbados Regiment, his “…interactions with the men and women of the Regiment were satisfying, positive and provided memories that I will always cherish”. He reminisced glowingly on highlights such as the Independence and Remembrance Day parades where he was able to serve the BR and by extension BDF as the Conducting Warrant Officer.
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Incoming Regimental Sergeant Major, WO2 Colin Marshall, who is well versed in the Force’s military principles and training, eagerly said he is more than ready for the task at hand. WO2 Marshall who enlisted in the BDF on Wednesday 17 August 1994, having completed 26-years, noted that although, “…it will not be an easy task or walk in the park”, he will endeavour to continue serving the BDF and continually uphold its Core Values and high standards. WO2 Marshall went on to mention that, “WO1 Lopez has always been a mentor for me throughout my career and to follow in his footsteps has and will be a privilege…”.
WO1 Lopez summed up the handover ceremony by simply stating, “I know the Regiment and by extension the BDF are in good hands, Colin and I share the same alma matter, the St Michael School and I have continuously shared instruction with him (since), which started during his recruit intake batch in 1994…”
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.
