“We are pleased to announce the first Commanding Officer of the TCI Regiment will be Lieutenant Colonel Ennis Grant.

We were fortunate to have had such a well-qualified candidate apply. Lt Col Grant, a Turks and Caicos Islander, presently commands the Maritime Branch of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police and Commands the Cadet Force. He holds a Masters Degree.

He was appointed following an interview panel chaired by the Governor that included: the Permanent Secretary National Security, the President of the Community College, the Police Commissioner and the Lieutenant Colonel commanding the UK military presently in TCI. Lt Col Grant will spend the first year of his appointment on secondment from the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police.

Lt Col Grant has now started in his new role and is working with, and being mentored by, the UK military. In the coming months, as the Regiment forms, Lt Col Grant will go on to develop strong relationships with his counter-parts in the Bahamas, Cayman and Bermuda. He comes to command the Regiment with links already forged with the US Coast Guard and UK military.

The Regiment, once formed, will have two primary roles: to be in direct support of the Maritime Police, in a role very similar to that being conducted by the Royal Marines during this period and also, to provide a contingent force capable of preparing the Islands – and supporting the islands – at time of natural or other Disaster.

Beyond those operational roles the Regiment, it’s ethos and its character, will develop into a proud symbol of the Turks and Caicos Islands and Lt Col Grant – as its first Commanding Officer – will set the tone of this early and important period in the Regiments formation.

Advertisements for the five further permanent staff, who will join the Commanding Officer in standing up the Regiment, will now be advertised. Some of these posts will involve training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst starting in September. The forty reserve (part-time) posts, that will be the Non Commissioned Officers and ‘Marines’ of the Regiment, will be recruited later in the year.

Shortlisted candidates will be assessed over several days drawing on the methodology used by the UK’s Army Officer Selection Board. That includes: physical assessment, written communication; led and leaderless command tasks; interviews and the ability to plan and conduct a detailed appreciation of a complex task. Candidates should expect to be under some physical and mental pressure throughout.

We hope the best in TCI will apply. We are looking for leadership potential that can be developed, so no one should be discouraged from putting their name forward for lack of experience. Training will be excellent. The selection process will be overseen by the new Commanding Officer of the TCI Regiment and UK military staff who have, themselves, been instructors at Sandhurst.”