Caymanian Coast Guard officers Christopher McTaggart and Arianna Wheeler-Seijas have commenced training at Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth.
The Cayman Islands Coast Guard, in a post on its official Facebook page Tuesday evening, said both officers expressed a “massive sense of pride in being able to represent their country and the CICG at this level”.
It said, in the post, that both officers were humbled to have been selected.
Premier Wayne Panton, in a brief statement on his official Facebook page, wished both officers the best as they commence training at the prestigious naval academy.
The local duo are at Dartmouth as part of the Royal Navy’s Accelerated Reserve Officers Training Programme.
“The programme is an intense 9 week course designed for the Royal Naval Reserve and which exposes candidates to the highest standards of basic naval officer training,” the CICG statement said.
>McTaggart, commenting on his training, said it has been the greatest opportunity of his life.
“I can’t express how humbled and inspired I am to be apart of the Royal Navy’s AOP 22 programme. I am making connections with the future officers of the greatest Navy in the world. I feel so honored to be walking the halls that delivered courageous leaders with the spirit to fight and win since 1863. The campus is teaming with history, tradition and naval culture,” he said.
The Coast Guard officer added that he was excited to bring what he has learned at Dartmouth home to Cayman “to help ensure the CICG continues to provide a world class coast guard service for the inhabitants of our fair islands”.
“I am also hopeful that I can set an example for future Coast Guard officers and members of the Commonwealth who look to follow in Ms. Wheeler and my footsteps. I can’t thank the CICG command team enough for giving me this opportunity, and Petty Officer Adrian Clarke and Petty Officer Dwight Hunter for thier guidance and vote of confidence,” he added.
Wheeler-Seijas shared similar sentiments saying the opportunity “means the world to me.”
“I’m grateful to be able to study abroad and represent my island and the standards which have been instilled in us so far through PO Clarke and PO Hunter and all of our other amazing instructors. To be a part of this course with so many other bright and brilliant students is an honor,” she added.
The Coast Guard urged the community to “continue to root for our young Caymanian sailors as they make their mark in Dartmouth”.
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