The National Poppy Appeal Committee seminar was held on Saturday, July 15, 2017 at the Jamiaca Defence Force’s (JDF’s) Moneague Training Camp. The main aim of the seminar was to strengthen communications between the national committee and the respective parishes in terms of governance and fund-raising initiatives.

While on the camp grounds, one could not help feeling mesmerised by the sense of order that permeated the environment in terms of cleanliness, the absence of burglar bars, and general peace and tranquility. The experience provided an opportunity for reflection on the potential role of the JDF as a military university.

Micheal Benson in his blog, The Meaning and Purpose of the University (www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-benson/the-meaning-and-purpose-o_b_14608092.html) admonishes us to: “Consider the word “university” itself. The prefix, uni, is Latin for “unity, to be one”; and the stem, vers, “to turn”. Although disciplines on campus may be as diverse as opinions and backgrounds as divergent as areas of study, those of us in the academy should be, ostensibly, committed to the same goal – the discovery, pursuit, and dissemination of knowledge”.

The main justification for the suggestion that the JDF consider rebranding itself as a military university is that training is its core function and at present there is an unassailable gap in the documentation of Jamaica’s military history. This can be addressed through undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate research and publication undertaken by soldiers as part of their expanded curriculum.

The following are some suggestions for such research and publication:-

1. Inventories of the personal collections (including photographs, documents and medals) of ex-service and long-serving service men and women

2. War memorials in all schools in Jamaica where students and staff left to serve in world wars I and II

3. Annual wreath-laying ceremonies in all these educational institutions conducted by cadets under the supervision of the JDF

4. Digital reconstruction of Swallowfield and Seaforth Recruitment Camps (WWI)

5. The creation of a peer-reviewed academic journal by the JDF

6. Community research from the various parishes on those who served in the Great Wars (including video-taped oral recordings from relatives); and

7. The changing landscape of Curphey Home (Mandeville)

Undoubtedly, given the sensitivity of national security, it would be imperative that the JDF continue to be directly aligned to the Office of the Prime Minister, with possible linkages to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information. But there is no doubt that greater benefits can redound to the JDF should it consider this rebranding.

Joan Francis is acting chair of the public relations sub-committee of the National Poppy Appeal Committee. Send coemments to her at francisj16@yahoo.com or to editorial@jamaicaobserver.com