Since the establishment of the T&T Defence Force (TTDF) in 1962, the concept of “Aide to the Civil Power” has been an integral part of military operations. This concept of military operations, then so named by the British military and called by various terminologies such as Military Operations Other than War (MOOTW) or Civil Military Operations (CMO) by other forces, involves the military supporting law-enforcement agencies, disaster relief or government in various operations where there is a lack of manpower or resources in which government or civilian agencies cannot cope or have the necessary expertise to efficiently manage.
Such joint operations and collaborations started in the 60s and continued throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s to this present day with increasing regularity. This was especially in the area of law enforcement operations, assisting the T&T Police Service (TTPS) in specific law-enforcement initiatives and general duties such as joint army and police patrols in designated hotspots.
Such operations provide an excellent opportunity for the TTDF to contribute, to interact and to work alongside their counterparts in the police and assist them in maintaining law and order in communities. The TTPS is the primary law enforcement agency in T&T and the benefits derived from assisting them must not be lost on the servicemen of the TTDF. Assisting the TTPS in law enforcement operations and exercises provide the TTDF with excellent opportunities to hone their skill of their troops in operational planning, logistics, command and control, communications, computers, surveillance, intelligence and reconnaissance (C4SIR).
Under normal circumstances, the operational services of the TTDF would not be required unless assisting in disaster relief, insurgency or war, which have been statically infrequent in T&T.
Concerns have arisen from all quarters as to the suitability of Defence Force personnel “on the streets” providing such collaborative support to the police in law enforcement, and justifiably so. The two entities have different operational ideologies and operational procedures, and fears have been expressed about the clash of such ideologies and procedures on actual operations.
But the benefits derived from such joint operations far outweigh the concerns that have been expressed and to date no empirical data has shown or proven to justify such concerns. Yes, there have been isolated cases of alleged abuse by soldiers on duty with the police, but such cases are rare and in instances where they do occur, military investigations and justice is swift and sure.
Collaboration between the military and the police have increased over the past 30 years and have become an integral part of law-enforcement operations. Entities such as the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) and the joint army/police patrols provide ready examples of such collaboration. What is needed to ensure effectiveness is a proper understanding of each other’s roles and functions but also the necessary training for members of the Defence Force, who are not fully geared to law-enforcement operations.
Proper training for soldiers includes specific instruction in criminal law, use of force policy, customer service, media relations, court procedures and giving evidence in court in order for them to fully support the Police Service, but also to limit any liability to themselves in the course of such operations. Lately, revamped initiatives such as the National Operations Centre (NOC) have been implemented by the Ministry of National Security to further strengthen collaboration among the various law enforcement and intelligence agencies. The Defence Force and the police are primary agencies involved in such collaboration; all agencies benefit and the result is maximisation of effort, resources and manpower in combating the criminality permeating our society.
So where are we heading in the future? Collaborative enterprises will only continue to strengthen and increase. New initiatives and mechanisms will remain a part of the national security landscape, ensuring the human resources, skills and capacity of the Defence Force will contribute more effectively to the national effort.
Is the Defence Force benefiting from such efforts? Some may say no and purport that the purist nature of the military operations has been eroded; but the populist view has proven wrong, on the basis of similar operations regionally and worldwide. The capability of the Force to operate in all aspects of operations has increased exponentially. Public opinion of the Defence Force has risen, with its brand name being held in high regard by most of the population, and the ensuing trust that accompanies such regard; especially by the State. The benefits of such collaboration provide excellent opportunities for formation commanders to hone the skills of their formation in most aspects of their operational roles and such opportunities must always be embraced.
The Caribbean Institute for Security and Public Safety offers professional development training programmes in crime, security and public safety.
Lt Col (ret’d) Richardo Garcia