Barbados Defence Force Cadets Selected for US Coast Guard Leadership Academy

The US Embassy Bridgetown has announced that two cadets and one officer from the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) Cadet Corps have been selected to participate in the US Coast Guard’s Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (CGJROTC) Junior Leadership Academy.

This prestigious event will take place from June 9-15 at Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City in North Carolina.

The Junior Leadership Academy will host approximately 90 cadets and 20 instructors from CGJROTC units across the United States, with the Barbados cadets making history as the first-ever participants from outside the United States.

Representing Barbados at the Academy will be Sage Farrell from Barbados Community College and Zaria Hintzen from Harrison College. They will be accompanied by Sub-Lieutenant Sharika Forde.

Throughout the week, cadets will engage in a variety of challenging activities designed to enhance their leadership skills and teamwork capabilities. These activities will include marksmanship, nautical navigation, first aid, low ropes courses, and time aboard Coast Guard boats and aircraft.

The rigorous schedule will feature early-morning physical training, drill and sports competitions, and a “cadet-led, instructor-coached” philosophy, ensuring that all participants return to their home units with enhanced leadership abilities.

This groundbreaking exchange programme fulfils requests made last year by Prime Minister Mia Mottley and BDF Chief of Staff, Commodore Errington Shurland, to increase youth engagement through the BDF Cadet Corps.

US Embassy Bridgetown and the US Coast Guard are honoured to support this initiative, which promises to strengthen ties between our nations and develop the next generation of leaders. (PR)