I will never forget the 10^th January 1998. This was the day that I passed my Selection Board to commence the tedious journey of being a Commissioned Officer in the Jamaica Defence Force. Female Officers were not a novelty to the JDF, however the majority choose not to face the challenging standards of the High Seas, as only two females have taken this path from its inception. More importantly, the Coast Guard is the only unit wherein females experience front line duties; for there is no gender-related stigma attached to any of the jobs there.

Consequently, after a rigorous introduction to basic infantry training at the Newcastle Training Depot, I was sent to the Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) in the United Kingdom, to undergo fifteen (I 5) months of naval training. The first term was quite demanding, as there is a limited amount of time to become acclimatised to the weather, and overcome the culture shock of being in a country where there is an inherent language barrier, despite the fact that everyone was speaking English!

In addition, a lot of emphasis is placed on fostering teamwork and obtaining the necessary pre-requisites of a good leader. The most important exercise is the Assessed Command Exercise (ACE), which entails spending twenty-four (24) hours living on a Picket Boat, traversing the River Dart, and conducting a variety of sea-oriented leadership tasks; wherein you are required to demonstrate your competency in seamanship and navigation.

Then, three (03) days is spent outdoor on Dartmoor, wherein you are deprived of sleep, warmth and given only the basic amount of shelter and toiletries required to survive outdoors. This puts to the test not only your physical, but also your mental capacity to effectively function as a leader, and to be an enthusiastic team player as well. This is one of the most fundamental exercises in determining your capacity as a leader, and if one fails it, then you are promptly returned to your country.

From thereon, the second term involves undergoing Sea Training on an operational Royal Navy Frigate, to almost any port in the world. This is the most exciting part of the training, as one gets first hand knowledge of what life is like onboard a 131 metre warship, living alongside Non Commissioned Officers and getting an all expense paid trip to wherever in the world the ship is destined. This could vary from the Arabian Gulf to Singapore, the Adriatic the Caribbean or even exciting Scotland. The opportunity exists for you to meet people from all walks of life, from Princes and Sheikhs, to any member of the Royal Family.

The last two (02) terms comprised professional academic studies, and at the end of this course I was awarded the Top International Young Officer in Academic Studies. At my passing out parade, I had the privilege of being inspected by His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh. This was indeed a memorable occasion, not only because I was now a Commissioned Officer; but also because it is not every day that one gets the opportunity to speak with, and be photographed with HRH Prince Philip.

My tenure at BRNC re-enforced my belief that you can never know your full potential, until you are physically and mentally pushed to the limit of your endurance; yet still be proficient in capacity to fully take charge of any given situation. Being a Commissioned Naval Officer in the JDF has proved to me that nothing is unattainable, as long as you are willing to work assiduously and be fully committed to your goal; for at the end of the day, you will be duly rewarded.