An Historic moment as the Royal Montserrat Defence Force has an Officer at the Rank of Lieutenant Colonel

Five members of the Royal Montserrat Defence Force (RMDF) have recently received welcome promotions.

And for the first time in its history, the Royal Montserrat Defence Force has an officer at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Commanding Officer of the RMDF, Alvin Ryan, has created history by being promoted to the post of Lieutenant Colonel…..He previously held the post of Major.

Then Governor, His Excellency Andrew Pearce presided over a brief ceremony for the Royal Montserrat Defence Force last Friday, March 4th 2022, where three other officers received promotions.

Glenroy Foster has been promoted from Lieutenant to Captain, while 2nd Lieutenant officers Kelvin White and Darion Darroux have both being promoted to full Lieutenant.

Meantime, Ms Carmencita Duberry was inducted into the Corps of Officers where she is expected to create her own history when she eventually becomes the first woman to receive a commission in the RMDF.

Captain Foster joined the RMDF in 2010. He currently serves as the Force Adjutant with overall responsibility for the force's financial, personnel, logistics and administrative matters.

He has also served as Acting Commanding Officer of the Montserrat Cadet Corps and a Platoon Officer.

Lieutenant Darion Darroux, is the first officer of the RMDF to complete the Reserve Officer’s Commissioning Course at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst in 2019.

He joined the RMDF as a Private in 2015 formally after being a member of the Montserrat Cadets corps from 2018.

Lieutenant Darroux currently serves as the Platoon Commander for the RMDF’s Internal Security Platoon.

And Lieutenant Kelvin White joined the RMDF as a Sergeant in 2009 after serving in the Royal Montserrat Police Service for 17 years. He was transferred the Officers’ Corps in 2016 receiving his commission in 2017.

White’s training includes the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Protection Officer course with the Royal Navy and Defence Management. He was also certified as firearms instructor with the Police Service.

Lieutenant White currently serves as the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Platoon Commander.

Carmencita Duberry was inducted in to the Officers’ Corps as an Officer Cadet (officer in training). Ms Duberry enlisted in the RMDF in 2007. Through her dedicated service Ms. Duberry gained promotions in 2014 and 2016 as Lance Corporal and then Corporal respectively.

Speaking on his promotion, Lieutenant Colonel Ryan who has been Commanding Officer since 2014 says he is humbled and honoured to become the first officer of the Force to be promoted to this coveted rank.

He expressed profound gratitude to his mentors Major Joseph Lynch, Captain Peter White and the late Captain Horatio Tuitt as well as the unwavering support of the officers and members of the RMDF.

He extends heartfelt thanks to the many persons within the Montserrat Community both at home and abroad for their support for him and the Force over the years.

The Royal Montserrat Defence Force has been working towards a plan to expand its capacity and capability to support Montserrat. The recent promotions have been viewed as a major step in that direction.