Second lieutenant Brandon Chambers of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Air Wing was the winner of the Overseas Students’ Prize at the recent passing out ceremony for the Initial Officer Training Course at the Royal Air Force (RAF) College Cranwell in the United Kingdom.

The Overseas Students’ Prize is awarded to the international officer cadet with the best overall performance in leadership, officer qualities and professional studies. Chambers, who placed seventh in the course, was also among the top 10 students, who gained distinctions.

“It feels good because in the course, there were quite a few really smart people, so to come seventh out of more than 100 is really good. To come abroad and do well on a course is really great,” he told JIS News.

The 22-year-old, who returned to Jamaica last weekend, was born and raised in Kingston and is a past student of the St George’s College and a graduate of the University of the West Indies with a degree in International Relations. While at university, he attended the Caribbean Aviation Training Centre where he acquired his private pilot licence with approximately 69 flight hours on three different aircraft.

Chambers said that as a young child, he wanted to be a soldier and later developed a love for aviation. “When I was younger I wanted to be a soldier, but I fell in love with aviation when I was about 12 and I told my parents that I wanted to be a pilot and it just seemed the best thing was to be a military pilot. It would be fulfilling both dreams,” he said.

He credits his success to his parents, who encouraged him to pursue his dream of a military career, the positive rivalry with his older sister Kimberly and the influence of his cousin Kimar, who inspired him to work hard.

He has also won praise from RAF College Cranwell for his commitment and drive, which was described as being beyond reproach.

“His dress and deportment has been exemplary and he has truly set the standard to which his peers should aspire. He has worked hard to develop his leadership, which steadily improved as the course progressed. He has also eagerly participated in all classroom lessons, making valuable and constructive comments.

“He is a personable individual and in the social arena he is polite, courteous and always appropriate. He is a shining credit to the JDF,” the college said.