The Jamaica Combined Cadet Force topped four other cadet units to win the rifle shooting competition with 402 points over St Lucia with 284, Cayman Islands 277, Trinidad and Tobago 155 and St Vincent at 95 points during the recently concluded Caribbean Cadet camp held at Titchfield and Port Antonio High schools in Portland.

Jamaican cadet Private Shamarie Dixon won the PJ Patterson award as the best shooter while the first-class shooting badge went to St Lucian Corporal Aquileh Smith.

Private Dixon who was competing for the first time told the Jamaica Observer North East that although it was his first shooting competition he followed the instructions given by his coach.

“It was easy and relaxing and I kept my focus resulting in my coming out number one,” he said, while showing off his trophies.

Runner-up female Corporal Smith said she thoroughly enjoyed the experience although it was difficult. “I was second also in Barbados but I enjoyed it,” she said.

The Commandant’s Parade and medals presentation parade which had a 96-member guard led by Major Elvis Wilson and Lieutenant Robert Chin was inspected by Minister of Education Rev Ronald Thwaites.

Thwaites, in his address, commended the cadets on an excellent performance.

“Whatever profession in life you enter you will be at an advantage because you have been a cadet and the character-building and the particular skills you would have engaged in during this camp, and during your other cadet activities, would put you in good stead for recognition and for promotion in whatever you do,” he said.

Thwaites also commended the cadets for having painted the basic school and for the infrastructural work they undertook at Titchfield High School. “These are more than symbolic; they are indicative of a profound value which your movement exposes and that is using your skills, honed in the military tradition, to serve those who are most in need.

“I challenge you to take the skills, the attitudes, the values, the behaviour patterns that you have honed on this camp back to your schools, back to your platoons wherever you come from and to use these as a tool of mentorship for all those who you encounter,” he said, adding that it is much needed.

Thwaites also used the opportunity to challenge the combined cadet forces here in Jamaica and elsewhere to continue to increase the number of uniformed groups in the schools and communities.

“There is a huge deficit in social capital among our young people and in our communities and participation in uniformed groups, particularly the cadets,” he said.

Twelve officers were recognised for their long and meritorious service. Some 730 cadets participated in the camp.

CAPTION

(cadet parade and parade)

Cadets on parade

(band)

A cadet band performs

( Shamarie Dixon)

Top Jamaican rifle shooter Private Shamarie Dixon poses with his trophy.

( runner up)

Corporal Aquileh Smith runner-up rifle shooter from St Lucia.

( third place)

Third-place winners from the Cayman Islands

( minister)

Colonel Errol Johnson and Minister of Education Rev Ronald Thwaites

(Second place)

Second-place winners from St Lucia

(winners)

The winners pose with the PJ Patterson Rifle Trophy along with Minister of Education Rev Ronald Thwaites.

(Photos: Everard Owen)