{"id":116144,"date":"2020-08-31T06:46:54","date_gmt":"2020-08-31T10:46:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=116144"},"modified":"2020-08-31T06:46:54","modified_gmt":"2020-08-31T10:46:54","slug":"abdf-celebrates-39th-anniversary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/abdf-celebrates-39th-anniversary\/","title":{"rendered":"ABDF Celebrates 39th Anniversary"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Prime Minister the Hon. Gaston Browne has congratulated the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force on its 39th<\/sup>\u00a0Anniversary.<\/p>

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The Defence Force was established in 1897 and consisted of 1 company of Infantry and 1 company of mounted cavalry.\u00a0 Most males between the ages of 18 and 45 who earned more than 50 GBP annually were required to serve.\u00a0 In 1981, on the country attaining its independence, legislation\u00a0was enacted to establish the Antigua Barbuda Defence Force comprising of a new Regular Element, a Volunteer element (which is the old Defence Force) and the Reserves.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ABDF has been playing a significant role in the country\u2019s security and has contributed towards the preservation of peace and the advancement of volunteerism in Antigua and Barbuda.\u00a0 The ABDF has been a source of development for our young men and women through training opportunities.\u00a0 It\u00a0 has deployed a significant number of very well-trained soldiers who continue to play significant roles in civilian life. The discipline and the adherence to excellence have driven the ABDF soldiers to perform outstandingly.\u00a0 Congratulations on this your 39th<\/sup>\u00a0Anniversary,\u201d stated PM Browne.<\/p>

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On Sunday, Prime Minister Browne and Governor General, His Excellency Sir Rodney Williams participated in the anniversary service at Camp Blizzard.\u00a0 Both leaders read lessons during the service.<\/p>

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During the coming week Prime Minister Browne will tour the Force\u2019s farm, one of the initiatives of the force that he has encouraged development.<\/p>\n

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In 1914, the Force was put on active service due to the commencement of the 1st<\/sup>\u00a0World War.\u00a0 During the period of the 2nd<\/sup>World War, the Antigua Defence Force became part of the Leeward Islands Battalion and towards the end of 1943, ADF members were deployed to Europe as part of the 1st<\/sup>\u00a0Battalion, The Caribbean Regiment and returned in 1946.\u00a0 The Force was disbanded in 1952 as it had no Headquarters and was reactivated in 1956 under the Command of Captain E.M. Blackman.<\/p>\n

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In 1983, command of the force was handed over to Lt. Col. Clyde Walker who served until 1990.<\/p>

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In 1990 command of the Force was handed over to Col. Trevor A. Thomas who served as the Chief of Defence Staff until March 2020.\u00a0 Under his command the force commissioned its first female officers in 1992.\u00a0 Colonel Thelbert Benjamin assumed Command of the Force on March 20, 2020.<\/p>\n

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In 1995 the ABDF acquired and occupied Camp Blizard, a former US military base.\u00a0 In 1995 the Coast Guard was transferred to the Defence Force. In December 2000, a milestone was again achieved, when members of the ABDF received Medals of Honour for service in Grenada and Haiti and for meritorious and distinguished service in the Force. Another hallmark in the life and history of the Force occurred when the Queens and the Regimental Colours were consecrated and presented to the Force in August of 2001.<\/p>\n

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Prime Minister the Hon. Gaston Browne has congratulated the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force on its 39th\u00a0Anniversary. The Defence Force was established in 1897 and consisted of 1 company of Infantry and 1 company of mounted cavalry.\u00a0 Most males between the ages of 18 and 45 who earned more than 50 GBP annually were required […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":116149,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-116144","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nABDF Celebrates 39th Anniversary - Antigua News Room<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/abdf-celebrates-39th-anniversary\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"ABDF Celebrates 39th Anniversary\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Prime Minister the Hon. Gaston Browne has congratulated the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force on its 39th\u00a0Anniversary. 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