Editing Jamaica Defence Force (section)

==History==
[[File:Cast-away in Jamaica - West Indian Soldiers.jpg|thumb|left|West Indian soldiers, c. 1861]]

The JDF is directly descended from the [[West India Regiments]] formed during the period of [[British Empire|British rule]]. The regiments were used extensively by the British to garrison the [[Colony of Jamaica]] and [[British West Indies|possessions in the West Indies]]. Other units in the JDF heritage tree include the early colonial Jamaica Militia, the Kingston Infantry Volunteers of [[World War I|WWI]] and reorganised into the Jamaican Infantry Volunteers in [[World War II|WWII]]. The West India Regiments were reformed in 1958 as part of the [[West Indies Federation]]. The dissolution of the Federation resulted in the establishment of the JDF.

The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) comprises an [[The Jamaica Regiment|infantry Regiment]] and Reserve Corps, an Air Wing, a Coast Guard fleet and a supporting Engineering Unit. The infantry regiment contains the 1st, 2nd and 3rd (National Reserve) battalions. The JDF Air Wing is divided into three flight units, a training unit, a support unit and the JDF Air Wing (National Reserve). The Coast Guard element is divided between seagoing crews and support crews. It conducts maritime safety and maritime law enforcement as well as defence-related operations. The support battalion contains a Military Police platoon as well as vehicle, armourers and supply units. The 1st Engineer Regiment provides military engineering support to the JDF. The Headquarters JDF contains the JDF commander, command staff as well as intelligence, judge advocate office, administrative and procurement sections.

On 5 January 1978, the JDF carried out a covert operation that came to be known as the [[Green Bay Massacre]], in which five [[Jamaica Labour Party]] (JLF) supporters were shot dead after being lured to a military [[shooting range]]. A specially selected team of [[sniper]]s led by [[Major (rank)|Major]] Ian Robinson laid an ambush outside the range while members of the JDF's [[Military intelligence|Military Intelligence Unit]] (MIU) drove a group of JLF supporters towards them in an army ambulance. After the supporters exited the ambulance, an MIU soldier killed one member while the sniper team opened fire on the rest. Four supporters were killed and the remainder fled into nearby bushes.<ref>{{Cite book|first=Laurie|last=Gunst|title=Born Fi' Dead: A Journey Through the Yardie Underworld|publisher=[[Canongate Books]]|year=2003|isbn=978-1-8419-5386-1}}</ref>

In recent years the JDF has been called upon to assist the nation's police, the [[Jamaica Constabulary Force]] (JCF), in fighting drug smuggling and a rising crime rate which includes one of the highest murder rates in the world.{{citation needed|date=September 2017}} JDF units actively conduct armed patrols with the JCF in high-crime areas and known gang neighbourhoods. There has been vocal controversy as well as support of this JDF role. In early 2005, an opposition leader, [[Edward Seaga]], called for the merger of the JDF and JCF. This move did not garner support in either organisation nor among the majority of citizens.

In 2024 the JDF, alongside the JCF deployed personnel as part of the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti.<ref>https://apnews.com/article/jamaican-soldiers-police-arrive-haiti-gangs-deployed-230accf4bc1531f5f9a07d6aa2a9876c</ref>