Commissions
There are two types of Queen’s Commissions
open to men and women who wish to join the Jamaica Defence Force as officers – the
Regular Commission (RegC) and the Short Service Commission (SSC). Both RegC and SSC are
open to university graduates (of any academic discipline) as well as to non-graduates.
Regular Commission
The holder of a Regular
Commission must complete 12 years service and may reasonably be expected to serve for up
to 22 years. Where vacancies exist RegCs can be granted to those who have satisfactorily
completed basic officer training. If there is no RegC vacancy, a Short Service Commission
will be offered, with the opportunity to apply later for a Regular Commission.
Short Service
Commission
The Short Service
Commission is awarded for a minimum of five years for men and three years for women from
completion of basic officer training. Upon recommendation, an officer may apply for a
Regular Commission on completion of two years service.
Eligibility
Candidates must fulfil the
following requirements:
Age
Candidates should be
between the ages of 18 to 23 years on entry into basic officer training. However, persons
over 23 years may be selected if they hold academic qualifications which would make them
suitable for employment in the technical or other specialised fields.
Educational
Qualifications
Minimum educational requirements
for Regular or Short Service Commissions are five GCE O’ Level or CXC General Proficiency
passes, including Mathematics and English Language, and at least two ‘A’ Level passes
(Grades A-C) or equivalent.
Nationality Requirements
To be eligible for selection a
candidate must be a Jamaican citizen and normally must have been a Jamaican citizen ever
since birth.
Selection and Training
In addition to the
previously indicated requirements applicants must also pass the JDF medical examination
and Officer Selection Board before being selected for training. Successful candidates are
appointed to the rank of Potential Officer and sent to the JDF Training Depot at
Newcastle, St Andrew where they are integrated into the standard recruit training
programme. Based on their performance, Potential Officers are then selected for basic
officer training overseas at one any of the following training institutions:
Royal Military Academy
Sandhurst,
Camberley, England
Commando Training Centre, Royal Marines
Lympstone, England
The Combat Training Centre
New Brunswick, Canada
Royal Air Force College
Cranwell, England
Britannia Royal Naval College
Dartmouth, England.
|