Last Updated on January 21, 2025, 5:21 AM AST by Anthony Morris
The St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force (SKNDF) collaborated with the Virgin Islands National Guard (VING) to hold a Medical Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) at the Defence Force Base in Camp Springfield, the former’s headquarters, between January 13 and 17, 2025.
At the event, a team of American medical personnel staged a Subject Matter Expert (SME) exchange with members of the SKNDF. The St. Kitts and Nevis’s team included 13 members of SKNDF, a police officer from the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF), a paramedic from the Alexandra Hospital, and two fire officers from the St. Kitts and Nevis Rescue Services.
The exchange aimed to help members of VING strengthen their relationships with SKNDF. Best practices related to TCCC were followed on the occasion, according to the SKNDF’s website.
The US team was led by Captain Rasheed Escober, who coordinated the exercise to ensure that all logistical and strategic elements were in order to make the mission successful. The team included Lt. Keyvil King, Staff Sgt. Symone Simon, Sgt. Shaniah Edwards, and Sgt. Kinberli King.
Each of them brought unique expertise and skills to the training. The personnel spoke with their SKNDF counterparts on critical issues such as emergency response, trauma care, and tactical field medicine.
Prime Minister Drew expresses confidence in SKNDF personnel
The prime minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr Terrance Drew, who is also the country’s health and national security minister, was present at the culminating exercise on the final day and appreciated the troops’ demonstration of skills.
Stressing how much the initial minutes matter when it comes to giving medical care to someone who sustained severe injuries, PM Drew said he has confidence in the SKNDF members who quickly catered to their colleagues who played victims with gun-shot injuries during the mock military exercise. The prime minister himself is a medical practitioner by profession.
The SKNDF aims for more collaborations with the US Army in the future as part of its efforts to build a robust foundation of mutual respect and shared knowledge. The US has in the past took part in military exercises with SKNDF.
US Army and SKNDF have cooperated in past
In May 2024, service members of SKNDF were present in Tradewinds 24, a multi-dimensional training exercise in the Caribbean focused on ground, sea, air, and cyber-related issues. The US Southern Command is responsible for planning Tradewinds 24 maritime strategy.
Also in August 2023, the Florida National Guard held a three-day Non-commissioned Officers Development Workshop in tandem with the SKNDF at the latter’s headquarters, to enhance soldiers’ capacity with skills and knowledge.
US relations with St. Kitts and Nevis
Washington DC’s ties with Basseterre aim to improve security, promote economic success and strengthen democracy on the island-nation.
The American assistance for St. Kitts and Nevis, which is strategically located in the Leeward Islands and holds importance for the former, mainly takes place through multilateral agencies and the US Agency for International Development in Barbados.
St. Kitts and Nevis also gains from America’s military exercises and civic action projects. The State Department also provides training and equipment to RSCNPF.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
