BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – SEVENTEEN Private (PTE) soldiers are currently attending a Junior Non-Commissioned Officers Cadre being run by the St. Kitts/Nevis Defence Force (SKNDF).
The five-week course, which began this morning (May 4) with an opening ceremony at the army’s Headquarters in Camp Springfield, is aimed at providing PTE soldiers with the necessary skills and qualifications to become Lance Corporals (LCPLs).
Officer-in-Command of the course is Lieutenant Lynn Wilkins, who is ably assisted by Chief Instructor Warrant Officer Class Two Garfield Jacobs of the Antigua/Barbuda Defence Force (ABDF), Corporal Ivan Henderson, LCPL L Huggins and PTE A Joseph.
Fourteen of the participants were drawn from the SKNDF and the other three from the ABDF.
According to the SKNDF Public Affairs Officer, Captain (Capt) Kayode Sutton, the course is designed to train, assess, evaluate and qualify PTE soldiers who display the potential to bear responsibilities of junior leadership within the Defence Force.
“Persons who demonstrate the potential to become junior leaders within the organisation are the ones selected to undergo this training. They will be able to acquire the necessary tools, skills, knowledge and experience that is required of them to function effectively and efficiently within the organisation, but it is preparing them for junior leadership within the military establishment,” Capt Sutton explained.
He said there are a number of subject areas that the soldiers are expected to cover before completing the course.
“Most of their training would involve military tactics and exercises such as Map Reading and Navigation, and Skill-at-Arms which deals with different kinds of weapons. They would definitely go to the range to better their marksmanship capabilities, and they will also be doing Fieldcraft and Jungle training, which have to do with open and close country warfare respectively.
“They will be demonstrating the training they have acquired in the classroom out in the fields. They will be going to the mountains and staying out there for a couple of days at a time, and they will also participate in simulated exercises where they would demonstrate all the skills and capabilities they would have gained during the course,” Sutton said.
Capt Sutton explained that at the end of the five-week training, successful candidates should be able to take up junior leadership roles within their respective units.
He said that they are expected to be able to function effectively and efficiently in their areas of responsibility, but it is not automatic for them to be promoted on successful completion of the course.
Sutton further explained that although they may not be promoted at the same time, they would however possess the necessary qualifications to function in that capacity when the opportunity arises.
The course is scheduled to end on May 26, but may be extended if deemed necessary.
