From left to right Sub Lieutenant Shawn Evans, Lieutenant Jeremy Allen, Lieutenant Elvis Bullard, and Lieutenant Gordon Roberts
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Coral Harbour
Base, Bahamas – Lieutenants Gordon Roberts, Elvis Bullard, Jeremy Allen, and Sub Lieutenant Shawn Evans are the
newest addition to the Officers Corp of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force after
successfully completing the Officer Indoctrination School and Officer Candidate
School, New London, Connecticut.
The
rigorous seventeen-week Coast Guard course was sponsored by the United States
International Military Education Training Program (IMET), and conducted at the
United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, from 11 August
through 25 November 2014. The course is designed to educate and train officer
candidates to ensure that they possess the moral, intellectual and physical
qualities required for commissioning, as well as the leadership potential to
serve effectively as naval officers.
The course is academically and physically
challenging, and constantly demands its participants to adapt and overcome the
many challenges with which they are presented. Additionally, along with
leadership and development courses, some eighty (80) subjects were covered
including Piloting (Navigation) and Rules of the Road. The 17-hour day consisted of daily workouts,
inspections along with morning and afternoon classes and drill practice.
The
curriculum included leadership and management classes, which are both practical
and theory based. These classes included interpersonal communications,
leadership style, interviewing and counseling development.
Lieutenant Elvis Bullard is a 33-year member of the
Defence Force with certifications in Human Resource Management and Spanish. He
has served in various capacities of the Defence Force, such as the Operations
section, Military Operations Platoon, RBDF Exchange and the Accounts
Department. Lieutenant Gordon Roberts is a 29-year member of the service who
has over thirty (30) years of experience as an electrical technician, with a
degree in Electrical Power Engineering Technology and has served in various
sub-sections within the Engineering Department. Lieutenant Jeremy Allen is a 27
year member of the service with a degree in Electrical Engineering, he has
served in various areas within the Engineering Department. Sub Lieutenant Shawn
Evans is a 15-year member of the service and has a Bachelor of Science Degree
in Electrical Engineering Technology and has served onboard Defence Force
crafts and has assisted in the completion of several special projects on the
Coral Harbour base.
On
Monday 19 January, 2015, the four newly appointed officers received their
commissions from Her Excellency Dame Marguerite Pindling at a special officers’
commission and award of decorations ceremony held at Government House.
All officers are committed
to continuing to answer that higher call to service to both the Royal Bahamas
Defence Force and The Commonwealth of The Bahamas.