BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force (SKNDF) Cadet Corps Summer Camp ended this morning (Aug. 5) at Camp Springfield with a simple but significant ceremony, which attracted a relatively large gathering that included the participants family members and friends.
The camp started on July 20 and was attended by some 30 young males and females who were trained in various areas including discipline, leadership, survival skills, accountability, responsibility, tolerance for others, and respect for self and others.
They were also taught military-oriented subjects such as Map Reading and Navigation, Foot Drills, Fieldcraft and Skill-at-Arms.
According to Captain Kayode Sutton, Officer Commanding the Cadet Corps, it is very important for young people to be a part of that disciplined body.
He said the Summer Camp is held annually but they had missed out on a few occasions because there were not enough participants.
“It is one’s hope for young people to be taught the good values in life and to be steered in the right direction, from using their time negatively like joining gangs and so on, and to use their God given talent and opportunities available to them to become productive in society,” he said.
Sutton appealed to the business community and anyone who could contribute to the Cadet Corps to do so by making donations to help steer the young people in the right direction, thus helping them to become good citizens in society.
“If we don’t, they will cling to negative activities; so we’re appealing to everyone to contribute. Who can’t contribute money may be able to contribute in other ways,” he added.
The ceremony also included the Cadets and Recruits performing special drills and reciting the leadership principles.
Each participant received a certificate for being a part of the camp.
Commander of the SKNDF, Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Wallace encouraged the Cadets to practice and maintain what they were taught and urged their parents to continue allowing them to train regularly.
Chief Instructor of the Summer Camp was Staff Sergeant Brian Mills, who was ably assisted by Sergeants Nigel King and Ivan Henderson as well as Private Glenroy Phillip.
A guest lecturer also spoke to the Cadets on HIV/AIDS.
The Cadets celebrated the event later in the day with a barbeque at Camp Springfield.
