Guyana Defence Force

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is the military service of Guyana.

History
The GDF was formed on November 1, 1965. Members of the new Defence Force were drawn from the British Guiana Volunteer Force (BGVF), Special Service Unit (SSU), British Guiana Police Force BGPF and civilians. Training assistance was provided by British instructors.

The GDF is an integral part of the Guyanese nation. Resources and equipment of the GDF are used to help other Guyanese, examples include medical mercy flights and the construction of roads and airstrips by the Engineering Corps.

Enlistment into the Force is Voluntary for officers and soldiers. Basic training is done within GDF training schools, which has also trained officers and soldiers from Commonwealth Caribbean territories. However, Officers are trained at two of the world-renowned British officer training schools: Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (Infantry Training) and Britannia Royal Naval College (Coast Guard Training).

The training and skills gained by the members of the GDF have been used when they move either into civilian life or into the sister military organizations, the Guyana People's Militia (now the Second Infantry Battalion Group Reserve) and the Guyana National Service.

Role of the GDF

 * Defend the territorial integrity of Guyana.
 * Assist the civil power in the maintenance of law and order when required to do so.
 * Contribute to the economic development of Guyana.

Motto
The motto of the Guyana Defence Force is "SERVICE".

Organization

 * 1st Infantry Battalion group
 * 2nd Infantry Battalion group (Reserve)
 * 1 Special Forces Company
 * 1 Support Weapons Company
 * 21st Artillery Company
 * Engineer Battalion
 * 41st Construction Company
 * 42nd FD Company
 * 43rd EME Company
 * Signals
 * Headquarters
 * Defense Communication Center
 * Signal Center and Switchboard
 * Technical Workshop
 * School of Signals
 * Technical Stores
 * Military Band
 * Medical Corps
 * Air Corps

Infantry Weapons

 * Walther PPK 🇩🇪
 * M16A2 🇺🇸
 * Type 56🇨🇳 China
 * Type 63🇨🇳 China
 * AKM
 * AK 47
 * HK G3🇩🇪
 * FN MAG🇧🇪 Belgium
 * RPG-7

Armored vehicles

 * 10 Ford F-350🇺🇸
 * 04 Shorland
 * 06 EE-9 Cascavel🇧🇷
 * 12 EE-11 Urutu🇧🇷

Artillery and Mortars

 * 12 D-30 122mm towed howitzer
 * 06 M-46 130mm towed howitzer
 * 12 L16 81mm Mortar
 * 18 M-43 82mm mortar
 * 18 M1938 mortar 120mm
 * 06 Type 65 82mm recoilless rifle🇨🇳 China
 * 06 Type 63 multiple rocket launcher🇨🇳 China
 * 06 ZPU 14.5x4 AAG
 * 18 Launchers of 100 missilles SA-7 Grail MANPAD

Aircraft Inventory
The Defence force air wing was formed in 1968 and was then renamed the Guyana Defence force air command in 1973. Seven Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander were delivered over a five-year period in the 1970s and then were supplemented by Short Skyvans series 3Ms in 1979. In 1986 3 Mil Mi-8 were delivered. The GDF currently operates two fixed-wing aircraft and four helicopters.

Navy
The Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard is the naval component of the Guyana Defence Force.
 * GDFS Essequibo Mine sweeper-River class (UK)
 * 1 River patrol boats - 890 tons full load - commissioned 1985
 * 4 T-44 patrol boats - 18 tons full load
 * 1 Kimbala class LCU Holland