Guyana Defence Force
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is the military of Guyana, established in 1965. It has military bases across the nation.[6] The Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Force is always the incumbent President of Guyana.[7] The branches include the Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
Although a small nation, recent petro wealth has destabilized the region, re-igniting border disputes inherited from the colonial period.
Three main roles exist for the GDF:
The GDF is an integral part of the Guyanese nation. Resources and equipment of the GDF are used to help other Guyanese; examples include medical mercy flights and the construction of roads and airstrips by the Engineering Corps.
Enlistment into the force is voluntary for officers and soldiers. Basic training is done within GDF training schools, which has also trained officers and soldiers from Commonwealth Caribbean territories. However, officers are trained at one of two British officer training schools: Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (Infantry Training) and Britannia Royal Naval College (Coast Guard Training).
The training and skills gained by the members of the GDF have been used when they move either into civilian life or into the sister military organizations, the Guyana National Reserve (now the Second Infantry Battalion Group Reserve) and formerly the Guyana National Service (disbanded in 2000) and the Guyana People's Militia.
The maritime branch was founded January 9, 1967, with the Guyanese Coast Guard founded in 1990, before this they were called the Buccaneers. Various light vessels were built or used through the 1970s and 80s, especially for customs, maritime, fisheries, and river patrol.[41]