Brief History & Outlook:

The Defence Act No.7 of 1962 makes provision for the establishment of a Volunteer Defence Force to consist of such number and types of units as the President from time to time considers necessary and commensurable with the needs of the territory.

In 1963 it was envisaged that the volunteer element of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force should be an integral part of the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment and that it should consist of three (3) rifle companies each of three (3) platoons, with a Force Headquarters comprising of a small permanent staff (as provided for in section 221 of the Defence Act) assisted by regular personnel of the Regiment.

However, in 1963/1964 only one Volunteer sub-unit comprising five (5) officers and one hundred and twenty men was established. This sub-unit operated creditably during its existence and most of its members were transferred to the regular force after the events of 1970. By 1979, of the authorized strength, the active members numbered nine (9) as replacements were not recruited.
The volunteer unit is an auxiliary unit ofthe Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force that it is capable of providing reinforcement and a force multiplier in the event that the Defence Force is called upon to carry out its roles of aid to the civil power.

In 1979, on the recommendation of the Minister of National Security cabinet agreed to increase thestrength of the Volunteer Unit by two (2) additional rifle companies consistingof five (5) officers and one hundred and twenty (120) men, and to the Volunteer Unitserving in the sea going arm and the Airwing (Coast Guard) of theDefence Force, thereby increasing the unit to three (3) rifle companies and a Coast Guard element.

On 15t August 2005 the name of the Trinidad and Tobago Volunteer Defence Force was changed to the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Reserves. On 6th August 2005 the Reserves were issued with Red Berets for unit identification and keeping with the acronym of the unit's motto Resilient Effective and Dependable. However, the Reserves maintained the original establishment of three rifle companies and a Coast Guard element which also serves the Air Guard.

The recruit training drive is geared towards filling out the ranks according to the sanctioned strength agreed by cabinet in 1979. However, once this is reached the unit intends to expand and formalize the Air Guard within the Reserve Force.