Seychelles People's Defence Force
 | This article needs to beupdated.(February 2021) |
| Seychelles People's Defence Force | |
|---|---|
 Flag of the SPDF | |
| Motto | Service before self |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Service branches |
|
| Website | Official website |
| Leadership | |
| Commander-in-Chief& Minister of Defence | Wavel Ramkalawan |
| Chief of Defence Forces | ColonelMichael Rosette[1] |
| Personnel | |
| Military age | 18 years of age |
| Conscription | Voluntary |
| Available for military service | 23,210 (2002 est.), age 15–49 |
| Fit for military service | 11,560 (2002 est.), age 15–49 |
| Active personnel | 650 (2012) |
| Expenditure | |
| Budget | €9.7 million (2012) |
| Percent of GDP | 1% (2012) |
| Related articles | |
| History | 1981 Seychelles coup d'état attempt |
| Ranks | Military ranks of the Seychelles |
TheSeychelles People's Defence Forceis the national military ofSeychelles.It consists of a number of distinct branches: the Infantry Unit, Coast Guard, Air Force and a Presidential Protection Unit.
Branches
[edit]Coast Guard
[edit]TheSeychelles Coast Guardis the maritime arm of the Seychelles People's Defence Force. Some of the ships they currently have include:
- 1 42mpatrol boat- 268 tons full load - commissioned 1983[2]
- 2 Rodman 101 crafts - Donated byUAE[3]
- 2 Type 062-class gunboats - Donated by China[4]
- 2SDB Mk5 patrol vessels-PSConstantandPSTopazbuilt byGRSEofIndiatoSeychellesdefence as INSTarasaand INSTarmugliand donated byIndiain 2014 and 2015.[5]
- 2 Wave Rider Class inshore patrol vessels - Donated bySri Lankain 2019.[6]
Air Force
[edit]TheSeychelles Air Forcewas originally formed in 1978 as the Air Wing and has the following aircraft:[7]
Current inventory
[edit]| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transport | |||||
| Dornier 228 | Germany | SAR/utility | 2[8] | donated byIndia[9] | |
| Harbin Y-12 | China | MEDEVAC/patrol | 1[10] | ||
| DHC-6 Twin Otter | Canada | SAR/ patrol | 1[8] | STOLcapable aircraft | |
Presidential Security Unit (PSU)
[edit]The Presidential Security Unit (PSU) was created in 1977 alongside the Infantry Unit to engage in protection duties for thePresident of Seychellesand their residence. It also provides support during transit, and social gatherings.
Various instructors from foreign nations conduct training with the PSU. It is one of the most elite units in the SPDF. The PSU is located at State House and is administratively attached to the Special Forces Unit.[11]
Other components
[edit]National Brass Band
[edit]The National Brass Band is the officialmilitary bandof the SPDF. Its origins date back to 1925 as the Brass Ensemble. It began when the Mariste Brothers of the Roman Catholic Mission training musicians to play the various instruments. The band was disbanded in 1943 as instruments were being delivered by theBritish Army.The band was reformed only to be disbanded afterWorld War II,with its instruments being acquired by theSeychelles Scout Association.
A new brass band known as LAFANSA came into being, with a police band also being augmented. With the establishment of the Conservatoire of Music and Dance in 1981, the Police Band was reorganised into the National Brass Band under the patronage of the Ministry of Education.
Antoinc Azcmia became its first conductor, leading a unit which was from 1981 to 1996, a voluntary band (a unit in which musicians are employed on a part-time basis). Full-time musicians were recruited in 1996, and three years later, it was transferred to the Ministry of Defence and based at the Seychelles Defence Academy. Azcmia retired in 2001, being replaced by Thomas Busanya.[12]
Educational institutions
[edit]Seychelles Defence Academy (SDA)
[edit]The Seychelles Defence Academy (SDA) was established on 2 June 1990 by PresidentFrance-Albert René.SDA is the premier training institute of the SPDF. The first training camp of the SDA is at Point Larue. The first training was conducted with the help of advisors from theTanzania People's Defence Forceas well as formerBritish Armypersonnel. It was later decided to shift the camp toPerseverance Island.[13]
Military Training Centre (MTC)
[edit]The Military Training Centre (MTC) is located at Barbarons on the West Coast ofMahe.It is tasked to train all new recruits who join SPDF. Recruits undertake 90 days of extensive training at the MTC that covers a variety of military/civil subjects. After graduation, the newprivatesare posted to their unit of choice.[14]
Defence Forces Day
[edit]Defence Forces Day has been celebrated annually since 25 November 1982 to celebrate the victory of the SPDF over a group of foreign mercenaries whoattacked the country in 1981.[15]A commemorative parade is held at a Coast Guard Base.[16]
References
[edit]- ^"President Ramkalawan appoints New Command, Promotes and Commissions new Officers on New Year's Day".Office of the President of the Republic of Seychelles.1 January 2021.Retrieved6 November2021.
- ^"Arms Trade Register".SIPRI.Retrieved24 June2012.
- ^"Seychelles takes delivery of new Chinese patrol boat - IHS Jane's 360".Archived fromthe originalon 23 March 2015.Retrieved12 March2015.
- ^"Nation Home".Nation.sc.Retrieved26 August2018.
- ^"Seychelles receives another donated patrol boat - IHS Jane's 360".Archived fromthe originalon 2 April 2015.Retrieved11 March2015.
- ^"Sri Lanka donates two" Wave Rider "craft produced by Navy to Seychelles".colombopage.Retrieved1 February2019.
- ^Martin, Guy."India donates Do 228 surveillance aircraft to Seychelles".Defenceweb.co.za.
- ^ab"World Air Forces 2023".Flightglobal Insight. 2023.Retrieved14 February2023.
- ^"About Seychelles Air Force".Seychelles People Defence Force. 2019.Retrieved9 July2019.
- ^"Seychelles air force".spdf.sc.Retrieved20 May2021.
- ^"Presidential Security Unit – Seychelles People Defence Force".Spdf.sc.Retrieved25 November2021.
- ^"National Brass Band".
- ^"About Seychelles Defence Academy".
- ^"About Military Training Centre".
- ^"Defence Forces Day -Archive -Seychelles Nation".nation.sc.
- ^"President Faure attends Defence Forces Day Parade".Seychelles: State House. 25 November 2019.Retrieved17 October2020.
External links
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