News
TCI REGIMENT UPDATE FROM NIGEL DAKIN, GOVERNOR
#TurksandCaicos, November 28, 2022 – Armed with their new Colt M5 Carbines and Glock Sidearms the Marines were exercising in North Caicos: small team tactics, 4 person contact drills, patrol harbors and, importantly for their counter irregular migration work, covert observation posts.
(The Governor was describing video he shared on his Instagram page.)
With new weapons now delivered the tenders are out for specialist vehicles and the Regiment’s first boats so they can work defending our borders in support of our Maritime Police and our allies, The Bahamas and US Coast Guard.
The exercise didn’t end quite as had been briefed. Those who have served will know what I’m about to say.
After boarding the buses believing the hard work was over they (of course) stopped some miles short of the dock and so the Marines then had to dig deep and start a final “tab”, on tired legs, that wasn’t expected.
It’s an old trick but a good one, as much a mental as a physical test: never assume the day or nights work is over!
Im proud of them, they have come a long way, quickly, and that only happens through leadership.
So concurrent to this exercise, and 4,000 miles away, Officer Cadet Rigby was passing off the square at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to join five of his colleagues who are already alumni of the Academy.
The Regimental Sergeant Major accompanied by Tracy Knight, TCI’s London Representative, was there to watch the spectacle and the Regiment got a special mention in the commentary.
Leadership in a Regiment has to run through it from top to bottom. Our Non-Commissioned Officers – the Corporals – continue to develop. This is a Force built on small teams of four and their roles are vital.
Finally a thanks to Sergeant Major Hood of the UK’s Rifles Regiment bringing operational experience and training expertise to our Islands.
Skill transfer, and junior leader development, is what his role is all about, and like the Marines he works with, he’s doing a great job for US.
Meanwhile I look forward to the Regimental Christmas Ball where I hope we can properly say thank you to the magnificent employers who release their staff to serve their Territory.