Regimental Headquarters: Regimental Headquarters located at Camp Springfield, in Basseterre, the federation's capital, serves as a central coordinating body for the various sub-units of the force and regulates the relationship between these units and external agencies. It is made up of the office of the Commander, officers' quarters, a canteen, headquarters of the Reserve Companies and a medical facility.

Regimental Headquarters Comprises of: Force Headquarters, Infantry Unit, Band Corps, Combat Service & Support Unit.

Rifle Company: A Rifle Company (once referred to as Combat Group) is commanded by a captain and is composed of the company headquarters) and two rifle platoons. A lieutenant commands each platoon, comprising three rifle sections or squads of minimum strength, led by corporals. During the years 1970 to 1977, there was a detachment of 10 to 12 soldiers at Bath Village on the island of Nevis. Presently, there is no regular detachment of soldiers on that sister island.

Reserve Corps: The Reserve Corps of the SKNDF, which reports to the commander, comprises one Rifle Company, a band unit, a coast guard unit and a cadet corps. In charge of this is Major Joseph H. Jones.

St. Kitts and Nevis Coast Guard: The St. Kitts and Nevis Coast Guard is the maritime arm of the SKNDF. Up until 1997, part of the national police force, it is headquartered at the Old Factory Pier, Bird Rock, and has its own commander. The Coast Guard Commanding Officer who is responsible for its administration is supported by an executive officer that assists the former.

Structurally, the Coast Guard is divided into three sub-units: a headquarters department, an engineering department and a flotilla department. The last consists of five vessels, including the Stalwart. Also, there is a reserve element. During the Bradshaw years, there were plans to start a maritime wing.

Captains Errol Maynard and Donald Brooks co-authored a report to this effect, but their recommendations were never implemented. Brooks was a lawyer and member of the reserve section. The person in charge is Captain Anthony J. Comrie

Service and Support (S/S) Platoon: A warrant officer commands the Service and Support (S/S) Platoon. It is made up of cooks, office personnel, drivers, carpenters, mechanics and others. This very important unit includes an Agricultural Corps of 3 persons. Under the S/S is the armour troop. It previously consisted of three UK-made ferret scout cars, commanded by a staff sergeant. In September 1999, the force's fleet was augmented when four pick-up trucks and one jeep was provided through Foreign Military Financing from the U.S. Department of Defence.

St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force Band: The St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force Band was started in the early 1930s and is headed by a Director of Music. It has varied in size over the years, from a low of 15 to a high of 48. A sub-set of the Band is the Drum Corps, headed by a Drum Major. In charge of this is Captain Nigel Williams.

St. Kitts Nevis Defence Force Cadet Corps: The SKNDF has responsibility for the St. Kitts Nevis Defence Force Cadet Corps which is composed of students from all of the secondary schools, including the Basseterre High School. The Cadet scheme, begun in 1917, is headed by a Lt./Officer Commanding, usually an officer of the SKNDF. It draws its members from the various high schools in the Federation. There are companies, each of varying strength, at seven schools in the 1970s, namely, Verchilds High School, Convent High School, Cayon High School, the Basseterre Junior High School, the Charlestown Secondary and Gingerland High School, the last two of the 7 on the neighbouring island of Nevis.

Many members of both the regular and reserve corps of the SKNDF are former members of the cadet corps. Among the most notable are Errol Maynard, Scott Hendricks, Ian Hodge, Cornell Kelly and Patrick Wallace. Interestingly, Brigadier Carl Alfonsa, the eighth head of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (and fourth Chief of Defence Staff), is a former member of the Cadet Corps at the St. Kitts Grammar School which he attended while his father was the Chief of Police of the local police force. In charge of the Cadet Corps is Lt. Kayode P. Sutton.