The Barbados Regiment traces its roots back 1640 when the first units of the Barbados Militia were raised "for the defence and protection of Barbados." In 1859 the Militia became The Barbados Yeomanry Corps.

The Barbados Volunteer Force was formed in 1902 and was founded as a volunteer unit raised to provide local defence for the island following the withdrawal of the British Garrison. Soldiers of the BVF during the First World War who were desirous to join international Regiments were allowed to do so. During the Second World War the BVF went into abeyance and formed the Home Guard; while the British Army returned as part of both the South Caribbean Force and the Caribbean Regiment, from 1941 – 1947.

In 1948, the BVF was re-established and renamed the Barbados Regiment. Barbados was part of the Federation of the West Indies and contributed to the 3rd Battalion, West India Regiment.

The Regiment received its first stand of Colours in 1953. These colours were later changed in 1979, after the country gained Independence in 1966.

On the 15th of August 1979 the Barbados Defence Force was formed and the officers of the Barbados Regiment were given the option of joining full time or remaining on the reserve.

Today the Barbados Regiment is the land force component of the Barbados Defence Force and its mission is "To conduct an array of land-based operations in support of the achievement of the BDF's aims, objectives and priorities."

The Regiment is comprised of a number of sub-units and is responsible for the execution of land operations. The Regiment provides military aid to the Civil Power, Civil Ministries and Civilian Community, and is an integral part of the nation's disaster response and management system.

The Coast Guard Service was a civilian unit established in August 1974 and at that time it was located at Enterprise, Christ Church. The roles of the Coast Guard Service during that period were; Search and Rescue, investigating the illegal entry of persons and goods, while enforcing the law against the dynamiting of fish around the coastal waters of Barbados.

The Coast Guard Civilian Unit Service was dissolved in September 1978 and the Defence Act of 1979 (Part X) made provision for the creation of the Barbados Coast Guard as the maritime element of the Barbados Defence Force. Before 1979, the BCG was referred to as the Maritime Wing of the Barbados Regiment. It is under this Act that new and expanded roles were created for the Barbados Coast Guard (BCG).

BCG is responsible for the enforcement of provisions of every law relating to the regulation of any harbour or port of Barbados, quarantine, immigration, fisheries, territorial waters and economic zones, safety at sea, the detection and prevention of the contravention of laws relating to revenue and customs; the prevention or persons from boarding, holding or clinging on to any vessel without the permission of the master of the vessel, and, if necessary, the removal of any such person from the vessel. For the purposes of carrying out their duties, the members of the BCG have the same powers, authorities and privileges as are conferred by law on members of the Police Force. In accordance with the Defence Act, BCG has particular powers of arrest under 16 enactments of Law.

The motto of the Barbados Coast Guard is 'Per Deo Per Mare', which translates to "By God, By SEA".

In 1981 HMBS WILLOUGHBY FORT was commissioned as the Barbados Coast Guard base and in 2007 it was de-commissioned when the new base, HMBS PELICAN was commissioned at Brandons, Spring Garden.

The Barbados Cadet Corps is the oldest Cadet Corps in the region. The first unit of the Barbados Cadet Corps was formed at the Lodge School in 1904 and this was followed by the formation of companies at Harrison College and Combermere School.

In August 1978, cadets from Ellerslie Secondary were taken on strength as No 4 Company and by 1982 the Corps was expanded to 18 companies.

By 2010, companies were established at Deighton Griffith School, Lester Vaughan, Queen's College and Alexandra School. Today the Corps comprises 24 units, 21 of these are in public secondary schools and one unit caters to private schools.

The Barbados Cadet Corps also has an Air Wing, a Sea Cadet Unit, a Cadet Corps Band, a Medical and a Shooting Unit.

Cadets may join the Corps as early as 13 years old and can remain until they are 20 years old, provided that they are in an educational institution. In that regard, there are cadets who attend the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic, the Barbados Community College and the University of the West Indies.

The mission of the Barbados Cadet Corps is to "use challenging activities and military discipline to create model citizens among a wide cross-section of young Barbadian boys and girls in educational institutions". In addition to developing qualities of good citizenship, the Corps strives to give cadets an opportunity to learn skills that are useful throughout their adult life.