SVG Cadet Force launches Marine unit

As the moral standards of society continue to be eroded by negative influences bombarding the nation’s youths, organizations like the Cadet Force will form a much need buffer zone to guard their impressionable hearts.

Speaking at the launching ceremony for the marine unit of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Cadet Force last Saturday April 21st at the Coast Guard Base, Acting Commissioner of Police Bertram Pompey said that he shudders to think of the influence modern music, which promotes guns, violence and drugs, has on the youths’ minds.{{more}}

He told the enthusiastic group that the cadet force is filled with virtues that will make them better persons.

“The cadet force brings out great leaders,” he said adding “You will have a profoundly positive influence on fellow students.”

When he spoke to the unit, Coast Guard Commander Tyrone James termed the formation of the unit as a “historic event.”

He said that the marine unit of the cadet force is the realization of a vision and explained that the unit will have a job to do along side the coast guard in certain instances.

“It will be part of the coast guard’s support unit to assist in several non-law enforcement duties,” Commander James said.

Among these duties would be radio watches, safety signs monitoring, and search and rescue (within 12 miles).

He further reminded the cadets that their stint in the cadet force could serve as a stepping stone for those with ambition to join the police force or coast guard in the future.

He also informed the eager cadets that the coast guard had identified a small vessel that will be assigned to them for their continued training.

The cadet force introduced this new unit when the opportunity to broaden the 70-year-old organization’s horizon came in 2006, Major Dwight Lewis explained. The first batch of the 29 cadets in the unit began training last September.

According to Major Lewis the cadets have learnt very relevant and marketable skills like life saving, radio operating, swimming and the law of the sea. This aspect of their training was conducted by coast guard personnel.

The new unit is being led by Captain Vulon Peterson who underwent five weeks of training at the Regional Security Systems (RSS) headquarters in Antigua.