The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) hosted an expert exchange to improve instruction techniques with members of U.S. Northern Command and the Rhode Island National Guard in December 2024. ROYAL BAHAMAS DEFENCE FORCE
Instructors shared best practices to improve technical and other types of military training during an expert exchange involving the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF), the U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) Office of Defense Cooperation and the Rhode Island National Guard in December 2024. The weeklong training “focused on emphasizing instructional strategies and equipping participants with essential skills for effective teaching and leadership,” according to an RBDF news release.
Comprehensive sessions covered the fundamentals of instructional preparation, instructional delivery methods, instructional design principles, and assessment techniques and professionalism. Three National Guard instructors led the program: a sergeant first class and two staff sergeants. “The program provided practical insights and best practices to enhance instructional efficacy and professionalism,” the release stated.
RBDF Capt. Michael Simmons thanked the National Guard for its training support. “Training and growth never stop,” Simmons said. “It is vital to embrace opportunities like these, which not only strengthen individual capabilities but also fortify the future of our organization.”
The trainers commended the participants for their courage and commitment and encouraged them to lead by example and to pass along their lessons learned. “Led by Commander Defence Force, Commodore Raymond E. King, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force remains steadfast in its mission to develop its personnel through meaningful training opportunities, ensuring they are well-prepared to meet the dynamic demands of their roles. This collaboration marks another step in fostering strong partnerships and advancing the capabilities of the force,” the release stated.
The Bahamas falls within USNORTHCOM’s area of responsibility and the command’s training staff and senior leadership regularly visit the islands as part of a bilateral security cooperation framework, which was signed in 2022. The Rhode Island National Guard often takes a lead role in exchanges with the Bahamas, and the leadership of the two forces know each other well and have worked closely together on multiple exercises.
In his remarks to the House Armed Services Committee in March 2024, Gen. Gregory M. Guillot, commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and USNORTHCOM, said the relationship between the Bahamas and the U.S. is critical for homeland defense and security in the Caribbean region. “The Bahamas is a growing and willing partner in maritime security and associated intelligence and information sharing, and USNORTHCOM’s programs with the Bahamas improve disaster response and climate resiliency for both nations. The USNORTHCOM bilateral frameworks with the Royal Bahamian Defence Force (RBDF), and with other U.S. partners such as the United States Coast Guard and the Rhode Island National Guard, are important to advancing mutual defense and security objectives,” Guillot said.