Six graduate at Cadet Force

by Omesha Spence 20.FEB.09

Six Cadets were the proud graduates of the first ever BTEC Public Service Training Programme in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.{{more}}

The six Cadets, along with their family and friends, came together to celebrate at an awards ceremony held on Monday, February 16, at Murray Heights Hotel.

The BTEC (Business and Technology Education Council) 1st Diploma in Public Service is an England-based programme paid for by the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, enabling Cadets to be enrolled in the programme. St. Vincent is currently the only independent Caribbean country that does the programme.

Making brief remarks at the awards ceremony, VQ Officer Captain Idelia Ferdinand congratulated the Cadets on their excellence in the programme. The Cadets completed the two-year programme in just over a year, starting in 2007 and finishing in 2008.

The programme, which focuses heavily on practical assignments, features the basic Cadet syllabus, which includes training in outdoor adventure skills, health and nutrition, interviewing skills and a preparation of a CV (Curriculum Vitae). A BTEC diploma in Public Service carries the equivalent of 4 GSEC subjects at A level.

Also commending the Cadets, Commandant Dwight Lewis stated that the practical nature of the programme is fundamental to the structure of the programme itself, “Unlike a mere academic programme, it is a vocational diploma,” he said.

While noting the Cadets’ excellence, Commandant Lewis also mentioned the growth the Cadet Force has seen over the years. Stating that the programme was once seen as “something for Friday afternoon”, Lewis said that the Cadet Force has expanded to over 600 Cadets, who are involved in a range of activities, including band practice and service support, and there are future plans to build official headquarters. “I know from a governmental level that work is being done in that regard,” he said.

Lewis further stated that the vocational nature of the BTEC programme allows the Cadets to make full use of their skills and he encouraged them to press on. “ I hope you would not stay at this level,” he said, “But move on to higher education.”

The six Cadets who were rewarded were Company Sergeant Major Jameel Moore, Sergeant Jared Gordon, Sergeant Nyasha Williams, Sergeant Selreen Gibson, Sergeant Sawandi Ralph and Sergeant Alaric Wiseman. Out of these six diploma holders, three received “A-star’ status which marks a top ranking achievement. CSM Jameel Moore, Sgt. Jared Gordon and Sgt. Nyasha Williams received ‘A-star’ distinctions.