Commander Wayne Armour joined the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force as an Officer Cadet in the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard in 1989. His basic military training took place from January to June 1990 at Staubles Bay, Chaguaramas. This was an interesting experience for him, since in July 1990, there was an attempted coup by civilian terrorists in this country. This insurrection was successfully quelled by the military and the experience was the baptism of fire that firmly decided in his mind that a military career was for him. 

 

His first professional course was the Navigation Watchkeeping Course at the Canadian Coast Guard College at Sydney, Nova Scotia in 1991. On this course he was awarded the distinction of being the top student. This was followed by further Officer training at the Britannia Royal Naval College from 1991 to 1992. His participation in this course was historic since among the numerous awards he earned for professional and academic performance was his appointment as the first non-UK officer to be the head of the student officer corps of this institution. His title was "Senior Sub Lieutenant, Britannia Royal Naval College" and this appointment was documented in the College’s official list for the Summer term of the 1992 academic year.

 

On return to his unit, he served as Navigating Officer on TTS Barracuda and TTS Cascadura. His staff appointments soon commenced when he became the Commanding Officer’s Secretary and Command Staff Officer while holding the rank of Midshipman. Thereafter, shore appointments followed which included being the Administrative Officer and then Operations Officer of the Civilian Conservation Corps during a two (2) year stint. In 1995, he commenced reading for his Bachelor of Laws as an external student of the University of London. At this early stage of his career he received appointments as the aide-de-camp to the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and Comptroller of Household at the Prime Minister’s residence. 

 

His legal studies culminated in successful completion of the L.L.B. in 2000, after which he pursued the Legal Education Certificate. In October 2003, he became an Attorney at Law, admitted to practice and held audience at all courts of law in Trinidad and Tobago. Professionally he was a member of the core group that started the Special Anti-Crime Unit of Trinidad and Tobago in 2003 and was part of their legal department. 

 

In conjunction with his duties in the Defence Force, his practice of law has included matters in the Magistrate’s and Family Court as a means to assist the welfare of servicemen. In 2011, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago commenced a Commission of Inquiry into the 1990 coup. Senior officers of the Defence Force of that that time appeared with Armour as their legal counsel before the Commission in September - December 2011. This was a critical legal responsibility since the testimony of such officers related sensitive decisions made in a dark hour of our country’s past. 

 

For the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Independence of Trinidad and Tobago, he was humbled to have the opportunity to be the Parade Adjutant on horseback, for the National Military Parade on August 31st, 2012. 

 

He attended senior staff course at the United States Naval War College in 2013 and this was followed by promotion in 2014 to the rank of Commander. Since October 2016, he has been the Acting Commanding Officer of the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard. Among his decorations is the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Efficiency Decoration (ED). Commander Wayne Armour has also volunteered with service and community organisations and enjoys horseback riding as one of his hobbies.