On Wednesday 20 July 2010, amidst the excitement created at Paragon Base for the Cadet Band, Sea cadet Unit and Star 1,2 and 3 Cadets, the Star 4 Cadets departed camp at 1915 to move to HMBS PELICAN Base, the starting point of their Star 4 adventure.
Parents and guardians witness the departure of the Star 4 Cadets on board HMBS RUDYARD LEWIS.
Cadet HQ staff, parents and cadets gathered alongside HMBS Rudyard Lewis which was gearing up to transport these cadets on their mission to Grenada
Finally the moment came and HMBS RUDYARD LEWIS slipped at 2200 hours in the quiet of the night. Parents and Cadet HQ staff waved back to cadets standing proudly on board bedecked in their uniforms and life vests.
Major John Walcott
They were off on a 9-hours journey to Grenada. The group was led by Major John Walcott. He was assisted by OCdt Zara Massiah and Sgt Samuel Boyce, Permanent Staff Instructor at Cadet Headquarters. On board also was BDF medic, Pte Small S.
The morning after the departure of the first wave of cadets, the remainder of the Barbados Cadet Corps contingent assembled at Grantley Adams International Airport
On their arrival they were greeted by Lt Col Trevor Browne, Commandant of the Barbados Cadet Corps and the Deputy Chief of Staff, Lt Col Atheline Branch who both had a word of encouragement for the Cadets.
The remainder of the Star 4 Cadets who traveled by air pose with Lt Col Atheline Branch and Lt Col Trevor Browne
The previous evening, Lt Col Branch had performed a similar function for the cadets travelling by Coast Guard vessel After checking in, Cadets were assembled for prayers and Rev Devere Murrell, BDF chaplain, was on hand to say a prayer and share a few thoughts with the members of the group. The two officers traveling with this group were 2Lt Khalil Greene and OCdt Tikesia Clarke.
During the 48-hour period prior to the departure of this group, an advanced party comprising Capt Errol Brathwaite and a BDF cook, Pte Daniel, had moved to Grenada by air to make preparations on the ground for the arrival of the Barbados Cadet Corps contingent.
These 39 Star 4 cadets will travel to Grenada to complete their demanding Star 4 training program. This group will play a very special role in Grenada as role models and instructors for the new cadets of the recently reconstituted Grenada Cadet Corps. This organization had been inactive since the Coup of the early 1980’s.
The Star 4 cadets did play a very special role as role models and instructors. Our sincere thanks and appreciation, in particular to Maj Skeete, Maj Walcott and Capt Braithwaite. The Grenada Cadet Corps benefited tremendously from the visit.