The Cadet Force came into being on
1st November, 1943, and was then known as the Army and Air Cadet Force. The
first Commandant was Colonel (then Major) Michael Ralph DeCordova, M.B.E.,
who evolved the organization, rules and regulations and also designed its
badge. At the end of 1943, sixteen (16) Cadet Units were formed in Secondary
and Technical schools.
The fifth and tenth anniversaries of the Force were celebrated by special
parades held at Knutsford Park (now New Kingston) in 1948 and Up Park Camp
in 1953.
The Force Standard, donated by parents of Cadets and Ex-cadet, was presented
at the Tenth Anniversary Parade on November 26, 1953 .
On April 12, 1954, the Force received a great honour. The Mayor and
Corporation of Kingston awarded it the Freedom of the City and its symbolic
“Key”. Advantage is occasionally taken of this high privilege and the force
marches through Kingston with fixed bayonets.
From as early as 1944, efforts were
made to start an exchange of Cadets between Canada and Jamaica.
From 1962 to 1972 the annual camp was at an international level, attended by
officers and cadets from Canada and, from other Caribbean territories with
air cadets from the United States participating on one occasion. A group
from Jamaica attended the camp of
these countries in exchange. This was possible through co-operation of the
Canadian authorities and the Royal Canadian Air Force. On one occasion the
Jamaican Defence Force Air Wing flew five (5) cadets to the Southern
Caribbean.
Col DeCordova relinquished command in 1963 and was succeeded by
Lt. Col W.
R. Goldsworthy. The rank of Honorary Colonel (of the Cadet Force) was
bestowed on Col DeCordova and in 1966 he received the honour of C.B.E.
(Commander of the British Empire) from Her Majesty the Queen. Lt. Col
Goldsworthy resigned in 1964 because of ill-health and was succeeded by Lt.
Col A. N. C. Ince JP, who left Jamaica for several years and was succeeded
by Lt. Col M. K Nunes
Lt Col Nunes became the fourth (4th) Commandant of the Force in 1969 and
relinquished command on November 25, 1991. He was succeeded by
Col S B
Francis the Fifth (5th) Commandant of the Force. Col Francis relinquished
command on January 30, 1999 and is succeeded by Col Lemuel Augustus Lindo
the sixth Commandant.
With the introduction of Seamanship
training, the Force’s name was changed to the "Jamaica Combined Cadet Force"
in 1967.
Originally, the Force was under the control of the Ministry of Education,
but was transferred to the Ministry of Defence on the request of the then
Prime Minister, The Honourable Alexander BUSTAMANTE, who had always
displayed a keen interest in the Cadet movement. When the office of the
Prime Minister became a separate Ministry, the responsibility for the Cadet
Force was transferred to the Ministry. Presently we are the responsibility
of the Ministry of National Security and Justice, Defence Branch.
The JCCF now consists of a moderate headquarters staff, sixty (60)
post-primary schools. On September 17, 1988 HQ JCCF was relocated at the
southern end of Up Park Camp, (De Cordova Barracks, named after its
founder). The official opening was on December 10, 1988 by the then Governor
General Sir Florizel Glasspole.
In 1975, the Force was presented with a Cessna - 150 Aircraft registration
number 6Y - JJK by Air Jamaica. It is decorated in the colours of Air
Jamaica and has the JCCF Crest painted on its tail fin. This acquisition has
made the training of Cadets in aviation easier. On July 12, 1980, girls in
Co-Ed Schools were permitted to join units at their schools. On the 14th
February, 1983, the Force provided a Guard of Honour at The National Stadium
on the occasion of the visit of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II and His
Royal Highness, The Duke of Edinburgh.
In 1985, the Force was presented with a Yacht, S/V China, to conduct Sea
Training.
