The Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF) is the military organisation responsible for the defence of the twin-island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It consists of the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment, the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, the Trinidad and Tobago Air Guard and the Defence Force Reserves.
Each of the three component services of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force is responsible for a different role and domain. The Trinidad and Tobago Regiment is responsible for land operations, the Air Guard is responsible for air operations, and the Coast Guard is responsible for maritime operations and simultaneously acts as a law enforcement agency in the maritime area of Trinidad and Tobago.
The Commander in Chief of the Defence Force is the country's President, Christine Kangaloo, it is mostly a ceremonial position. The Ministry of Defence is the current government department that has responsibility for the defence force, since 2025, previously it was the Ministry of National Security. The current Minister of Defence is Wayne Sturge. The operational commander of the TTDF is the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), with the current CDS being Commodore Don Polo, the former commanding officer of the Coast Guard. He replaced Air Vice Marshal Darryl Daniel, on 7 October 2025, whose appointment as CDS was revoked the same day. Rear Admiral Hayden Pritchard was the previous CDS before Darryl Daniel, he retired on 25 March 2019.
Organisation
thumb|TTDF headquarters, Chaguaramas
Established in 1962 after Trinidad and Tobago's independence from the United Kingdom, the TTDF is one of the largest Military forces in the English-speaking Caribbean. Its mission statement is to "defend the sovereign good of The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, contribute to the development of the national community and support the State in the fulfillment of its national and international objectives". The Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force is made up of four distinct arms; The Regiment/"Army" (TTR), the Coast Guard (TTCG), the Air Guard (TTAG) and the Defence Force Reserves (TTDFR), which all fall under the authority of the Ministry of Defence. The TTDF has the world's only Military steelband.
The Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF) comprises 5,622 uniformed personnel, 1 permanent, 35 contracted, and 156 daily paid civilian staff. The President of Trinidad and Tobago is the Commander-in-Chief, while the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) is responsible for the TTDF's operational use, subject to the Minister of Defence's directions as outlined in Section 191(2) of the Defence Act, Chapter 14:01.
The CDS leads the Defence Force Headquarters, supported by the VCDS and the Commanding Officers of the TTDF's four formations. whose appointment as CO Regiment was revoked by the government.
Also, as one of the larger military forces in the region, the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment is also one of the main units used in peacekeeping and humanitarian situations from the Caribbean region.
Although it is called the Trinidad & Tobago Regiment, the TTR is in fact structured more like a light infantry brigade, with a pair of infantry battalions, plus engineering and logistic support units:
1st Battalion (Infantry), Trinidad and Tobago Regiment:
This is a light infantry battalion. It is located at Camp Ogden, Long Circular Road, St James.
2nd Battalion (Infantry), Trinidad and Tobago Regiment: This is also a light infantry battalion.
Formerly located at Camp Mausica, since then it has been relocated to the Chaguaramas Heliport and La Romain.
3rd Battalion (1st Engineer Battalion): This provides engineering support, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
It is located at Camp Cumuto, Wallerfield.
4th Battalion (Support and Service Battalion): This provides logistic and administrative support for the regiment.
It is located at the Teteron Barracks, Teteron Bay, Chaguaramas.
The Regiment also maintains a Camp Omega, at Chaguaramas, which is used primarily for infantry training.
Special Forces
Trinidad and Tobago has a number of Special Units however the notable units are assets under the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF). The Special Forces Operations Detachment (SFOD) belongs to the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment with the motto "To Find a Way". SF's training mirrors the US Special Forces in training and mission.
The Special Naval Unit (SNU) is the Maritime aspect of the Special Operational Forces belonging to the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard and runs heavily on the US Navy Seals doctrines and training.
These units fulfill specific roles and functions however they do work collaboratively at times. Taskings from Jungle Operations (SFOD), Direct Action, Recon, PSD, Maritime Ops (SNU) and internal and foreign consultancy.
Coast Guard
thumb|Naval Ensign
The Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard is the seagoing branch of the TTDF which was established on 1 June 1962 and commissioned into service less than 3 months later on 27 August 1962. The Coast Guard consists of a number of vessels designated CG<number>. The Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard is Captain Akenathon Isaac, with his promotion to the rank of Captain and appointment as CO effective October 14, 2025. who was appointed Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) on October 7, 2025,
In April 2007, the Coast Guard contracted for three offshore patrol vessels from VT Shipbuilding (later BAE Systems Surface Ships) in Portsmouth, England. Construction of the s Port of Spain, Scarborough and San Fernando suffered significant delays and, in September 2010, though substantially complete, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago cancelled the order. The Brazilian Navy acquired all three ships as their s.
On 29 April 2015, the Ministry of National Security placed orders with the Dutch company Damen Shipbuilders for four coastal patrol vessels, two fast utility boats and six interceptors.
In August 2018, the government contracted with Austal to build two s at Henderson, Western Australia, scheduled for delivery in mid-2020. The two vessels, Port of Spain and Scarborough, were delivered to the TTCG in May 2021.
thumb|Scarborough at [[Portsmouth in 2010]]
thumb|Quinam in 2016
thumb|Port of Spain before delivery in 2021
{| class="wikitable"
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|Vessel
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|Hull No.
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|Shipbuilder
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|In service
! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|Notes
|-
! colspan="6" style="background: lavender;"| Offshore patrol vessels
|-
| TTS Nelson
| 2015-
| 1000-ton class Chinese surveillance vessel
|-
| TTS Port of Spain
| CG 41
| Australia
| Austal
| 2021-
|
|-
| TTS Scarborough
| CG 42
| Australia
| Austal
| 2021-
| Cape class
|-
! colspan="6" style="background: lavender;"| Coastal patrol vessels
|-
| TTS Scarlet Ibis
| CG 11
| Australia
| Austal
|
| Scarlet Ibis class
|-
| TTS Hibiscus
| CG 25
| Netherlands
| Damen
|
| Damen Stan Patrol 5009
|-
| TTS Quinam
| CG 23
| Netherlands
| Damen
| 2015-
| Damen Stan Patrol 5009
|-
| TTS Brighton
| CG 24
| Netherlands
| Damen
|
| Stan Patrol 5009; referred to as La Brea during construction who took over from Kester Weekes, in a promotion and appointment ceremony on July 10, 2023. Group Captain Weekes took command of the unit in 2019, succeeding then-Air Commodore Daryl Daniel upon his promotion to Chief of Defence Staff in March 2019.
Aircraft
Current inventory
{| class="wikitable"
! style="text-align:center; background:#acc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: center; background:#acc;"|Origin
! style="text-align:l center; background:#acc;"|Type
! style="text-align:left; background:#acc;"|Variant
! style="text-align:center; background:#acc;"|In service
! style="text-align: center; background:#acc;"|Notes
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Maritime patrol
|-
| | C-26B Metro
| United States
| Maritime patrol
|
| 2
|
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Helicopters
|-
| AgustaWestland AW139
| Italy
| Utility / SAR
|
| 4 In December 2020, The Minister of National Security announced that one AW139 is back up in the air.
The Minister of National Security announced that the establishment of a military airfield, construction of an operations/administrative building at the Piarco Air Station and new helicopters would be purchased to equip the Air Guard. The minister also promised training from various international bodies. Cabinet agreed to the change of rank designations from naval to the corresponding aviation designations and the creation of 66 ranks on the establishment of the Air Guard.
Defence Force Reserves
thumb|Flag of Defence Force Reserves
The Defence Force Reserves, previously called the Volunteer Defence Force, are the non-active duty arm of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force. Its mission statement is "To be a highly professional, well-trained combat-ready force that will respond effectively in support of our regular forces and the national community". The Defence Force Reserves are capable of providing reinforcement and be a force multiplier in the event that the Defence Force is called upon to carry out its roles of aid to the civil power. Established in September 1963, its primary purpose at that time was to provide essential reinforcements to the regular force. Today, those roles have grown to include assisting in the promotion of hemispheric and international security and development, with a well-equipped force, trained in a broad range of disciplines and actively involved in community development. In recent years, the Reserves have been called out to assist with law enforcement and most recently to assist with the security in Trinidad's hosting of the 5th Summit of the Americas in 2009. The current Commanding Officer (acting) is Major David Benjamin.
Ranks
National Awards
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+National awards of Trinidad and Tobago received by members of the Defence Force.
|-
|1978
|The Public Service Medal of Merit Gold
|Commander Mervyn Oliver Williams
|Commanding Officer, Coast Guard
|Public Service
|
|-
|1979
|The Hummingbird Medal Gold
|Lieutenant-Commander Anthony Franklin
|Captain, T.T.S. Chaguaramas
|Coast Guard Duty
|
|-
|1979
|The Hummingbird Medal Gold
|Lieutenant-Commander Curtis Roach
|Squadron Commander
|Coast Guard Duty
|
|-
|1980
|The Trinity Cross
|Commander Mervyn Williams - M.O.M.
|Chief of Defence Staff
|Defence
|
|-
|1989
|The Public Service Medal of Merit Gold
|Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard
|Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Unit
|Public Service
|
|-
|1989
|The Public Service Medal of Merit Gold
|Commander Jack Eugene Williams E.D.
|Commanding Officer, Coast Guard (Retired)
|Distinguished Service in the Defence Force and in the Community
|
|-
|1991
|The Trinity Cross
|The Regiment of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force
|Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Unit
|The Preservation of Democracy and Constitutional Government
|
|-
|2015
|The Hummingbird Medal Bronze
|Sub Lieutenant Edric Hargreaves
|Military Officer, Trinidad & Tobago Defence Force (Coast Guard)
|Bravery/Gallantry
|
|-
|2015
|The Hummingbird Medal Bronze
|Private Fernando Smith
|Soldier, Trinidad & Tobago Defence Force (Regiment)
|Bravery/Gallantry
|
|-
|2019
|The Hummingbird Medal Bronze
|Mr. Jeremy Lewis
|Coast Guard
|Gallantry
|
|-
|2022
|The Public Service Medal of Merit Gold
|Major General (Retired) Rodney Smart
|Chief Executive Officer, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management
|Defence and National Security
|
</references>
External links
- Ministry of National Security TTDF page Ministry of National Security TTDF page
- Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Official site
- TTDF Facebook
- Ministry of National Security: special publications