As well as the search for reservists, Her Majesty’s Ship Medway and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Argus will be arriving off shore to begin their Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercises. In addition, the five junior officers from the Cayman Regiment have all started their training programmes at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the UK.

The recruitment campaign starts today and is open to British Overseas Territories Citizens and British Citizens, Irish Citizens and Commonwealth Citizens who have Permanent Residency in the Cayman Islands.

If you are interested, you will need to be aged 18 to 50 years, pass written and fitness tests and then an interview. Experience is not required but previous military service such as the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps is welcomed. Full training will be provided and successful candidates will be paid a per diem allowance when they attend.

For more information and the application and medical forms visit www.gov.ky/ciregiment

Meanwhile, HMS Medway and RFA Argus will be exercising their plans to support Cayman should a hurricane or similar natural disaster occur. This will include bringing troops and equipment ashore to test logistics and then checking to ensure they have appropriate communications and can carry out medical evacuations. The exercise this year will also ensure that appropriate measures are in place to avoid contact between the ships company and those onshore. Both ships are COVID19 free and the crews have been at sea and isolated for an extended period of time. But out of an abundance of caution and also to prevent possible infection being transmitted to the ships there will be no close contact with the population on shore.

RFA Argus will be arriving in Cayman territorial waters on Saturday 6th June and HMS Medway on Monday 8th June. The Royal Navy Merlin and Wildcat helicopters on board RFA Argus will be providing search and rescue cover, carrying out counter-narcotics and border protection patrols and will be available to attend critical incidents as requested whilst the RCIPS helicopters are being serviced in the USA.

The Security Assistance Team (SAT) has been supporting the arrangements including coordination of the exercises, obtaining the agreement for helicopter cover and support for the training and kit required for the 50 new reservists.

His Excellency The Governor Mr Martyn Roper said: “There’s lots happening next week but I am particularly pleased to be able to launch the recruitment of the first 50 reservists for the Regiment.

“It is highly appropriate that it’s happening this week which marks the beginning of the Hurricane Season, since that will be the primary focus of the Regiment. I’m delighted that even in the midst of the current crisis we are continuing to move forward with the recruitment programme. With weather forecasters predicting a busy hurricane season this year, having the first reservists available to the Cayman Islands by the end of August is a welcome addition to our resilience.

“Advancing the Cayman Regiment during a global pandemic is a significant achievement. I would like to thank the Commander of the Regiment, UK SAT team and my own staff for delivering this at great pace under much pressure.

“The Premier and I are committed to ensuring that Cayman is ready for the challenge and the formation of the Regiment is an important part of this. The extensive external assistance provided to Anguilla, BVI and TCI after the 2017 hurricanes and last year to The Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian, demonstrate the importance of ensuring that UK forces and OT responders are properly prepared. This is especially important this year as we have to adapt due to COVID19. I am therefore pleased that RFA Argus and HMS Medway will be able to carry out exercises in Cayman next week. I am also very grateful to the SAT team and RFA Argus for arranging to provide helicopter cover whilst the RCIPS helicopters are off island.

“All this work underlines the UK’s support and commitment to the British Overseas Territories.”