Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 22, 2018 (SKNIS): A number of best practices that were introduced during Tradewinds 2015 in St. Kitts and Nevis paved the way for future training as the federation became a model for other partner nations to host the exercise that is designed to promote regional security and cooperation initiatives.
Captain Kayode Sutton, Lead Planner for Tradewinds 2018, explained that St. Kitts and Nevis hosted the event in 2015, exposing security forces to a number of great experiences, and this afforded the federation the opportunity to host again so soon.
“Tradewinds coming back to St. Kitts and Nevis in such a short cycle indicated that the experiences in 2015 were highly successful that is why we are getting the opportunity to host again,” said Captain Sutton, adding that there were new procedures that were introduced in Tradewinds 2015 that had never been used before. “For example, it was in 2015 here in St. Kitts and Nevis that we introduced the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle – drones – to the exercises and training cycles in Tradewinds and since 2015 every Tradewinds exercise that took place in 2016 and 2017 drones were involved. They actually employ the drones from the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force (SKNDF)… it was highly successful and it is part of Tradewinds now.”
He explained that in addition to the introduction of drones other best practices were incorporated in Tradewinds going forward.
“Some of the administration and the logistical support systems that we had in place in 2015 have become mandatory for all the countries that have been hosting Tradewinds since then because we put together a plan… and we were able to put that plan to the test during the final planning conference which took place in St. Kitts so as to see the gaps… and be able to make corrections,” he said.
Captain Sutton noted that everything worked out well in 2015 and added that the same processes are now being employed by Tradewinds for successive countries that have been hosting the event since then.
“So there were some good practices that came out of 2015. There are some new practices that we ae trying to develop. We want to be the pacesetters for 2018, so we are trying to incorporate that into our planning process,” the lead planner said. “We anticipate that Tradewinds 18 is going to be a success for St. Kitts and Nevis as we are going to be able to improve our systems, tactics and procedures and we are going to be exposed to new sets of training.”
Phase I of the training for 2018 will be held in St. Kitts and Nevis from June 4-12, while Phase II is slated for the Bahamas from June 13-26. Some 26 countries are expected to participate, with the possibility of Australia observing for the very first time.
