Marines of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) Commando Squadron, led by Petty Officer Vandyke Adderley, returned home on Sunday, 08 March 2026, following their successful participation in Exercise Tropical Dagger XIII in Jamaica. This deployment marked the thirteenth RBDF contingent to undergo the training and represented the largest RBDF group to participate in the multinational exercise to date.
Exercise Tropical Dagger XIII was conducted in Jamaica from 30 January 2026 to 07 March 2026 and brought together Special Operations Forces from Jamaica, The Bahamas, the United States, Canada, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, and Guyana. The exercise represented the largest Special Operations training event of its kind in the Caribbean and highlighted the growing capability and professionalism of regional Special Operations Forces. The exercise included both a Command Post Exercise (CPX) and a Field Training Exercise (FTX), and a significant emphasis on modern special operation capabilities, including Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)/drone operations, small unit tactics, Close Target Reconnaissance (CTR), advanced combat shooting techniques, comprehensive mission planning and execution designed to strengthen interoperability, improve command and control processes, and develop common standard operating procedures among participating units.
Throughout the exercise, the RBDF team was exposed to a broad range of operational and leadership training. This included command-post planning, coordination of multinational missions, specialist skills development, and field-based problem solving under realistic operational conditions. Official exercise reporting also highlighted combat marksmanship training, long-range sniper preliminary qualifications, and scenario-based mission training following several weeks of interoperability and specialist-skills instruction.
These training evolutions enhanced the team’s ability to operate alongside regional and international partners in complex environments. By working through common planning processes, communication procedures, and tactical responses, the exercise strengthened the RBDF Commando Squadron’s readiness to contribute to maritime security, counter-transnational threats, crisis response, and humanitarian support operations across the Caribbean. Exercise Tropical Dagger, which has been conducted since 2012, continues to serve as a key platform for regional security cooperation and special operations development.
Petty Officer Adderley described the deployment as a success, noting that the experience provided invaluable lessons in teamwork, operational coordination, and multinational engagement. His assessment reflected the professionalism and discipline displayed by the RBDF contingent throughout the exercise period. The successful completion of the exercise demonstrated that a Caribbean Special Operations Task Force (C-SOFT) can effectively integrate personnel, tactics, and resources to conduct coordinated multinational operations.
Exercise Tropical Dagger XIII embodies two of the Commodore Moxey’s priorities: Operational Readiness and Partnerships & Intelligence, placing RBDF personnel shoulder-to-shoulder with Special Operations Forces from the United States, Canada, and six Caribbean nations. The exposure to multinational command-post planning, specialist skills development, and combat marksmanship directly supports his commitment to building a Force that is intelligence-driven, interoperable, and forward-looking. As the RBDF continues to invest in its people as its greatest asset, exercises like Tropical Dagger serve as a training ground where the next generation of marines are sharpened, tested, and prepared to meet the complex security challenges facing the Caribbean region.
The Royal Bahamas Defence Force under Commodore Moxey’s leadership, is optimizing excellence by bridging generations and embracing modernization. As such, we remain committed to regional partnership, operational excellence, and supporting humanitarian efforts that impact communities across the Caribbean.
