Origin and Activities

JDF Coast Guard (National Reserve) is a sub-unit of the JDF Coast Guard and has been in existence since 1963. It originated from two marine reserve organisations – Jamaica Marine Reserve (Harbour) and Jamaica Marine Reserve (Coast Guard).

Roles

The unit assists in maintaining the sovereignty of Jamaica’s territorial waters, search and rescue, and international maritime communications.

Joining the Coast Guard Reserve

The requirements of the JDF Coast Guard (National Reserve) for those wishing to join as officers, or as ordinary seamen are the same as those of the infantry reserve. The steps taken in applying, and the expectations are identical. The procedure to become an officer is the only area of difference. The potential officer attends a selection board only after his initial training, whereupon he is appointed an officer cadet. If at any stage of his officer processing, testing, or training he is disqualified, he cannot re-join the lower ranks.

All persons join as ordinary seamen, and those who wish to become officers, after a period of service, are then trained as such while holding the rank of Officer Cadet.