In keeping with its strategic mandate of being prepared to serve and respond to security threats that may arise, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force will host its bi-annual Table Top Exercise at the Coral Harbour Base in collaboration with the United States Northern Command beginning April 18, 2016. The Table Top Exercise will simulate a specific threat occurring in The Bahamas and evaluate effectiveness of response to that threat by pertinent agencies.

The Coral Cays Exercise engages middle and senior level managers of relevant law enforcement and Government agencies and is aimed at identifying the processes and triggers that would result in the Royal Bahamas Defence Force providing military assistance to civil authorities during a crisis situation.

Additionally, the exercise is expected to identify the tasks, authorities, key interagency interactions, as well the command and control architecture, during such an event.

In this regard, invitations will be extended to representatives from relevant heads of law enforcement agencies for their members to participate in the exercise. “The Commander Defence Force (Acting), Captain Tellis Bethel believes that the presence of other law enforcement units will enhance the overall conversation and better prepare our agencies for such an event; as in the past, their contribution has proven to be invaluable,” says Lieutenant Commander Ricardo Barry, Liaison Officer for the Coral Cays Exercise.

This event comes two short weeks before the Royal Bahamas Defence Force is set to launch a massive strategic information operations campaign called Marlin Spike/Marlin Shield in collaboration with other regional and international agencies. The campaign is also an answer to the forward planning and strategic missions of the military organization as it prepares itself to respond to security threats, which may adversely impact the sovereignty of The Bahamas. The Exercise will be completed on April 20th.