As the old millennium draws to a close, the Engineer Regiment has found itself being thrust into the forefront of activities. What follows is a glimpse of our operations, projects, and training activities.

Operations

Operations remain the priority of the Engineer Regiment and the years 1998 and 1999 saw the Regiment deploying troops on several occasions. These included supporting the Infantry with clearing and mine detector teams, as well as assisting in the infantry role.

But our deployments were not always of an aggressive nature. An example was the staging of the Sixth Summit of the G15 countries, which was held in Montego Bay in February 1999. The Engineer Regiment spearheaded the planning and implementation of the necessary infrastructure that facilitated the success of the Summit. Participation in such a historic event is one of which all Sappers can be proud.

Major clearing operations were conducted during citizens’ protests against increased fuel prices in 1999. Some of the equipment used were provided by civil agencies to make up for our shortfall. In the end, the cooperation between the Regiment, external agencies and the Infantry units we supported, worked well.

Projects

In 1998 the Engineer Regiment was tasked with the coordination of Operation ‘Nice and Clean’ aimed at restoring some of the lost glory to depressed communities of Jamaica. This proved invaluable, as residents once again felt proud to be part of a community. The Engineer Regiment in conjunction with the Social Development Commission continues to provide proper toilet facilities for the citizens of several inner city communities. The expressions of gratitude on the faces of residents indicate how much these basic facilities are appreciated.

Other major projects undertaken include the building of a new running track at the GC Foster College of Physical Education in Spanish Town and another to the east of the National Stadium. The Regiment was also involved in the construction of a new Wing and other restoration work done at the Kingston Public Hospital, as well as the building of a new bus depot at Rockfort in Kingston. Under the Lift Up Jamaica Programme, the Engineer Regiment is responsible for technical supervision, in conjunction with other government agencies, for projects intended to provide work for the unemployed. These include the building of sidewalks, river training and the renovation of some Basic schools.

As the only English speaking Engineer Regiment in the Caribbean, members of 1 Engineer Regiment (JDF) were deployed to assist neighbouring countries in times of disaster. These include the restoration work in St. Kitts/Nevis and Antigua following Hurricane Georges and in Montserrat following the volcanic eruptions. This form of regional cooperation will, undoubtedly, foster regional integration as we journey into the new millennium.

Training

In order to effectively carry out our roles, we embarked on numerous training activities both locally and abroad. These included training in combat engineering, various cadres, trades and other upgrading courses. The training culminated in the "Regiment Exercise" held in St. Thomas in August 1998. During the exercise troops were exposed to the engineer roles performed in a natural disaster scenario. The exercise also tested the regiment’s ability to deploy on such operations at short notice.

There were also a number of joint training exercises with other countries. Most notable was JOT 98 which involved members of the United States Army Corp of Engineers in training locally with the JDF. The end result was the construction of a new canteen in Moneague Training Camp.

Conclusion