United Kingdom’s 4 RIFLES Trains Alongside
The Barbados Defence Force
BDF Media Release | 27 May 2018
Photography credit: 4 RIFLES
Following on the successful partnership with UK Joint Task Force for operations (Op RUMAN) in 2017 and through the British Army Training Support Unit Belize (BATSUB), HQ BDF hosted a 12-man infantry team (including a doctor) over the period 14 – 27 May 2018.
The programme of activity saw the delivery of bespoke training in the subject areas of marksmanship, patrolling, section and platoon leadership and tactics, care under fire/medical evacuations from hostile scenarios and advanced medical skills to include hygiene in austere field environments. Land-based search and rescue disaster response training was also included with BDF instructors sharing their knowledge and skills with 4 RIFLES’ personnel.
This advanced medical skills subject area was particularly useful for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief tasks such as needed in response to severe weather systems impact like the BDF’s 2017 experience on Operation SUPPETIOR in the Commonwealth of Dominica.
BDF soldier engaged in training.
The BDF benefitted from 4 RIFLES’ visit as they shared their experiences to enhance professional military skills and tactics relevant to modern operational environments. The project also represented a valued and timely addition to the BDF’s training trajectory and programmes.
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.
