CHIEF of defence staff, Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), Major General Rocky Meade, says that the newly opened Caribbean Military Academy (CMA) will transform the way in which the military serves and trains soldiers.

He said JDF has established a strong foundation in the area of professional military education, on which the CMA will now build.

“The establishment of the CMA is yet another stage in the evolution [of the JDF]. The CMA is the first of its kind in the English-speaking Caribbean, and is in line with similar establishments in other militaries across the world that have received academic accreditations for their professional military education institutions,” he pointed out.

“The CMA will allow the JDF and other regional forces to train our own soldiers and officers at all levels, utilising international curriculums which are tailored to meet our own specific needs in the region and the needs of militaries from other developing countries,” he added.

General Meade was speaking at a security symposium at the CMA located at Up Park Camp, St Andrew, last Friday.

He informed that the CMA will cover all aspects of training, from artisan to degree.

“We are going to seek, through adjunct professors, to have our senior officers do research, and they [will be] accredited with degrees in the long run,” he said.

Meanwhile General Meade said the JDF is embarking on a number of partnerships, citing engagement with the University Council of Jamaica which has provided the force with a self-study guide, while discussions are advanced with The University of the West Indies (UWI) on the delivery of training over the next five to 10 years.

The security symposium, entitled ‘Great Power, Global Competition: Opportunity or Threat’, included presentations from Professor Laurence McCabe from the United States Naval War College and UWI Professor Anthony Clayton.