Tradewinds 2018 Exercise Set for June 14-21 in The Bahamas

#Nassau, June 11, 2018 – Bahamas – The Royal Bahamas Defence Force will be hosting the largest military training exercise of its kind next month. Tradewinds 2018 is an annual regional military training exercise that will be held in The Bahamas from the 14th to 21st of June.  This year’s exercise will focus on Countering Transnational Organized crime in the region.

The main objective of the highly regarded military event is to foster training for security forces that is ‘tailored for the region by the region.’ The annual exercise is sponsored by the United States Southern Command.

This year’s Tradewinds will consist of 22 partner nations from the Caribbean region, the wider Americas and Western Europe. Additionally, the exercise will consist of over 800 troops from various Caribbean nations that are expected to put their military training to test.

Phase one of the Tradewinds Exercise will take place in St. Kitts and Nevis beginning June 3rd and culminates on June 12th. This preliminary training will prepare forces for the final training and implementation phase in The Bahamas. This final phase will take place from June 14th to 21st, and will consist of simulated terrorist attacks on the island of New Providence.

During the training exercise, a military presence comprising of land and sea will be visible in New Providence. Phase Zero of the training commenced on May 28. This included troops working with dive team, Caribbean Task Force, Headquarters, Intelligence, Cyber and Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams. The training is to prepare the troops for Phases One and Two of the exercise.

Tradewinds 2017 was held in Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago from June 6th to 17th. The Bahamas last hosted Tradewinds in 2009.

(For further information please contact the RBDF Public Relations Department or visit our website: www.rbdf.gov.bs, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and view our Youtube channel)

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Photo Caption:

Commander of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) Commodore Tellis Bethel (seated centre) and Acting Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of National Security Eugene Poitier (seated, third left) are pictured on June 7, 2018, with national and international stakeholders in the upcoming Tradewinds 2018 exercise, during the press conference at the RBDF Base HMBS Coral Harbour, announcing its hosting in The Bahamas.  According to the RBDF, Tradewinds 2018 is an annual regional military training exercise that will be held in The Bahamas June 14 -21 and this year’s exercise will focus on Countering Transnational Organized crime in the region.  The Bahamas last hosted the event in 2009.  The main objective of the highly regarded military event is to foster training for security forces that is “tailored for the region by the region”, and the annual exercise is sponsored by the United States Southern Command.  Also, according to the RBDF, 22 partner nations from the Caribbean region, the wider Americas and Western Europe representing a total of over 800 troops are expected to participate in the exercise.

(BIS Photo/Eric Rose)