1 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption –
Soldiers from the D.C. National Guard hone marksmanship skills at Twickenham Park Range in St. Catherine, Jamaica, on July 17, 2025. As part of the Caribbean Regional Training Camp, activities included zeroing, firing from different positions, march-and-shoot practice, and a march-and-shoot competition. The District of Columbia National Guard's (DCNG) partnership with Jamaica, facilitated by the U.S. National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program (SPP), promotes security cooperation through military engagements and interagency collaboration.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Jason M. Melton)VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption –
Soldiers from the D.C. National Guard, Barbados Defence Force Reserves, Jamaica Defence Force, and Jamaica National Reserve hone marksmanship skills at Twickenham Park Range in St. Catherine, Jamaica on July 17, 2025. As part of the Caribbean Regional Training Camp, activities included zeroing, firing from different positions, march-and-shoot practice, and a march-and-shoot competition. The District of Columbia National Guard's (DCNG) partnership with Jamaica, facilitated by the U.S. National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program (SPP), promotes security cooperation through military engagements and interagency collaboration.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Jason M. Melton)VIEW ORIGINAL3 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption –
Maj. Gen. John Andonie, Commanding General (Interim) for the DC National Guard, engages with other senior leaders during the Caribbean Regional Training Camp in Kingston, Jamaica, July 17-19, 2025. The D.C. National Guard's partnership with Jamaica, facilitated by the National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program (SPP), promotes security cooperation through military engagements and interagency collaboration.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Jason M. Melton)VIEW ORIGINAL4 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption –
Soldiers from the D.C. National Guard, Barbados Defence Force Reserves, Jamaica Defence Force, and Jamaica National Reserve hone marksmanship skills at Twickenham Park Range in St. Catherine, Jamaica, on July 17, 2025. As part of the Caribbean Regional Training Camp, activities included zeroing, firing from different positions, march-and-shoot practice, and a march-and-shoot competition. The District of Columbia National Guard's (DCNG) partnership with Jamaica, facilitated by the U.S. National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program (SPP), promotes security cooperation through military engagements and interagency collaboration.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Jason M. Melton)VIEW ORIGINAL
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Soldiers from the District of Columbia National Guard; Jamaica Defence Force, or JDF; Jamaica National Reserve; and Barbados Defence Force Reserves recently participated in the Caribbean Regional Training Camp 2025, a joint exercise aimed at bolstering regional security, enhancing disaster response capabilities and strengthening interoperability among the participating nations.
The July 12-27, 2025, training took place at various sites across Jamaica, providing a realistic and challenging environment for the troops.
The Caribbean Regional Training Camp, or CRTC, offered a valuable opportunity for the participating forces to train together in a realistic setting that mirrored real-world operational demands. The D.C. National Guard members, alongside their counterparts from Jamaica and Barbados, engaged in activities designed to sharpen their skills and enhance their readiness. These activities included advanced marksmanship training, focusing on close-quarters battle techniques, pistol proficiency and competitive marksmanship drills aimed at improving speed and accuracy under pressure.
1 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption –
Soldiers from the D.C. National Guard, Barbados Defence Force Reserves, Jamaica Defence Force, and Jamaica National Reserve hone marksmanship skills at Twickenham Park Range in St. Catherine, Jamaica on July 17, 2025. As part of the Caribbean Regional Training Camp, activities included zeroing, firing from different positions, march-and-shoot practice, and a march-and-shoot competition. The District of Columbia National Guard's (DCNG) partnership with Jamaica, facilitated by the U.S. National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program (SPP), promotes security cooperation through military engagements and interagency collaboration.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Jason M. Melton)VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption –
Soldiers from the D.C. National Guard, Barbados Defence Force Reserves, Jamaica Defence Force, and Jamaica National Reserve hone marksmanship skills at Twickenham Park Range in St. Catherine, Jamaica on July 17, 2025. As part of the Caribbean Regional Training Camp, activities included zeroing, firing from different positions, march-and-shoot practice, and a march-and-shoot competition. The District of Columbia National Guard's (DCNG) partnership with Jamaica, facilitated by the U.S. National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program (SPP), promotes security cooperation through military engagements and interagency collaboration.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Jason M. Melton)VIEW ORIGINAL3 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption –
Maj. Gen. John Andonie, Commanding General (Interim) for the D.C. National Guard, learns about upcoming training activities at Moneague Training Camp during a senior leader visit to Jamaica, on July 18, 2025. The D.C. National Guard's partnership with Jamaica, facilitated by the U.S. National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program (SPP), promotes security cooperation through military engagements and interagency collaboration.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Jason M. Melton)VIEW ORIGINAL4 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption –
Soldiers from the D.C. National Guard, Barbados Defence Force Reserves, Jamaica Defence Force, and Jamaica National Reserve hone marksmanship skills at Twickenham Park Range in St. Catherine, Jamaica on July 17, 2025. As part of the Caribbean Regional Training Camp, activities included zeroing, firing from different positions, march-and-shoot practice, and a march-and-shoot competition. The District of Columbia National Guard's (DCNG) partnership with Jamaica, facilitated by the U.S. National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program (SPP), promotes security cooperation through military engagements and interagency collaboration.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Jason M. Melton)VIEW ORIGINAL
Soldiers also honed their skills in land navigation, rappelling, and conventional operations, encompassing patrolling tactics and terrain modeling — critical skills for effective area security and reconnaissance. The exercise culminated in specialized training in helocasting, which involves inserting troops via helicopter into water, as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster response scenarios, river crossings, kayaking and team-building sports competitions. This humanitarian assistance and disaster response training was particularly relevant because of the region's vulnerability to hurricanes and other natural disasters.
"This training camp represented a vital opportunity to build readiness with our allies and partners in the SOUTHCOM [U.S. Southern Command] region," said Army Maj. Gen. John C. Andonie, commanding general (interim) for the D.C. National Guard. "The partnership between the JDF and the DCNG [D.C. National Guard] is over 25 years old and represents one of the strongest State Partnership Program relationships in the world, and we were pleased to have the Barbados Defense Force Reserves join us for this important exercise, expanding the scope of our regional cooperation."
The Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program fosters security cooperation and long-term relationships through military-to-military engagements and broader interagency collaboration.
1 / 3Show Caption +Hide Caption –
Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald L. Smith Jr., Command Senior Enlisted Leader (CSEL) for the D.C. National Guard, partakes in training activities at Moneague Training Camp during a senior leader visit to Jamaica, on July 18, 2025. The D.C. National Guard's partnership with Jamaica, facilitated by the U.S. National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program (SPP), promotes security cooperation through military engagements and interagency collaboration.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Jason M. Melton)VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 3Show Caption +Hide Caption –
Maj. Gen. John Andonie, Commanding General (Interim) for the DC National Guard, practices rappelling techniques at Moneague Training Camp, St. Ann, during a senior leader visit to Jamaica, on July 18, 2025. The D.C. National Guard's partnership with Jamaica, facilitated by the U.S. National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program (SPP), promotes security cooperation through military engagements and interagency collaboration.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Jason M. Melton)VIEW ORIGINAL3 / 3Show Caption +Hide Caption –
Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald L. Smith Jr., Command Senior Enlisted Leader (CSEL) for the D.C. National Guard, speaks with Brig. Ricardo Blidgen, Commander of the Jamaica National Reserve, during his to visit to the Caribbean Regional Training Camp in Kingston, Jamaica, July 17-19, 2025. The D.C. National Guard's partnership with Jamaica, facilitated by the National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program (SPP), promotes security cooperation through military engagements and interagency collaboration.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Jason M. Melton)VIEW ORIGINAL
Brig. Ricardo Blidgen, commander, Jamaica National Reserve, highlighted the importance of the exercise for the region's security and stability.
"Hosting CRTC 2025 allowed us to not only refine our own capabilities but also to foster deeper integration with our regional partners, including our friends from the Barbados Defense Force Reserves," he said. "It's imperative that we continue small unit exchanges like these on a regular schedule, as they are vital for enhancing interoperability and contributing to regional security, particularly in addressing transnational threats and providing humanitarian assistance during crises."
A Small Unit Exchange Program was a key component of the CRTC, fostering a deeper understanding of each nation's military doctrine, equipment and procedures, improving coordination and communication in joint operations. Participants also experienced Jamaican culture, heritage and cuisine, promoting cross-cultural understanding and strengthening personal bonds.
1 / 3Show Caption +Hide Caption –
Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald L. Smith Jr., Command Senior Enlisted Leader (CSEL) for the D.C. National Guard, partakes in training activities at Moneague Training Camp during a senior leader visit to Jamaica, on July 18, 2025. The D.C. National Guard's partnership with Jamaica, facilitated by the U.S. National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program (SPP), promotes security cooperation through military engagements and interagency collaboration.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Arthur Wright)VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 3Show Caption +Hide Caption –
Maj. Gen. John Andonie, Commanding General (Interim) for the DC National Guard, meets with Brig. Ricardo Blidgen, Commander of the Jamaica National Reserve, during his to visit to the Caribbean Regional Training Camp in Kingston, Jamaica, July 17-19, 2025. The D.C. National Guard's partnership with Jamaica, facilitated by the National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program (SPP), promotes security cooperation through military engagements and interagency collaboration.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Jason M. Melton)VIEW ORIGINAL3 / 3Show Caption +Hide Caption –
Soldiers from the D.C. National Guard, Barbados Defence Force Reserves, Jamaica Defence Force, and Jamaica National Reserve stand for a photograph at Twickenham Park Range in St. Catherine, Jamaica, on July 17, 2025. As part of the Caribbean Regional Training Camp, activities included zeroing, firing from different positions, march-and-shoot practice, and a march-and-shoot competition. The District of Columbia National Guard's (DCNG) partnership with Jamaica, facilitated by the U.S. National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program (SPP), promotes security cooperation through military engagements and interagency collaboration.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Jason M. Melton)VIEW ORIGINAL
Army Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald L. Smith Jr., command senior enlisted leader for the D.C. National Guard, highlighted the crucial role of non-commissioned officers, or NCOs, in the exercise.
"The dedication and professionalism displayed by all three forces here truly exemplified the strength of our partnerships," he said. "The eagerness of our NCOs to learn from the Jamaica and Barbados Defense Forces and share their own expertise highlighted the profound impact of this exchange on professional development and fostered a deep sense of mutual respect and understanding between our forces. NCOs are the backbone of our military, and their ability to work seamlessly with our partners is critical to our collective success."
Key leaders of the D.C. National Guard, including Maj. Gen. Andonie and Command Sgt. Maj. Smith Jr., visited the troops from July 17-19 to observe the training, assess its effectiveness and meet with Jamaica Defence Force leadership to discuss future collaboration.
The 25-year partnership between the D.C. National Guard and the Jamaica Defence Force was established in 1999. The program is a key element of U.S. security cooperation, fostering long-term relationships and facilitating military-to-military engagements as well as broader interagency collaboration. The program focuses on shared security goals, including disaster response, non-commissioned officer development, border security and counter-narcotics operations. The D.C. National Guard also maintains a partnership with Burkina Faso, demonstrating its commitment to global security cooperation.
Social Sharing