Caymanian Coast Guard officers Christopher McTaggart and Arianna Wheeler-Seijas have graduated as midshipmen.
The duo’s training culminated at the passing out parade for the Accelerated Officers Programme at Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth.
They began their training back in July.
McTaggart and Wheeler-Seijas were among 18 graduates, 16 of whom were new officers commissioned into the Royal Naval Reserve, at the parade which was overseen by Vice Admiral Andrew Burns, the Fleet Commander, according to a Royal Navy release on Wednesday.
The Accelerated Officers Programme is an intense nine-week course designed for the Royal Naval Reserve, which exposes candidates to the highest standards of basic naval officer training.
“The culmination of nine weeks full-time training, the Parade at Britannia Royal Naval College was a proud day for the Midshipmen and their families, many of whom travelled to Dartmouth to watch them celebrate their success, including Commander Robert Scotland, the Commander of the Cayman Islands Coast Guard,” the Royal Navy stated.
The parade, which the Royal Navy said was respectfully toned down in light of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, “saw Reservists from across the country join the parade as a formal Guard of Honour for the Fleet Commander”.
Scotland, who travelled to Dartmouth to attend the graduation ceremony, lauded the achievement of the young Caymanians, highlighting the “opportunity to learn the basics of seamanship, teamwork and leadership, all key skills for the CICG’s future leaders, which provide a solid foundation on which we can begin to develop our Officer cadre.”
He pointed out that this year’s Accelerated Officers Programme is just the beginning “of what I’m sure will be a long and mutually beneficial partnership between the CICG and the Royal Navy”.
Scotland, in the Royal Navy release, said, “The friendships established this year at Britannia Royal Naval College between the Royal Naval Reserve Officers and our new Midshipmen will ultimately help to ensure that we, as a United Kingdom Overseas Territory, can continue to play an active role in helping to preserve the maritime safety and security of our Islands, while being ready to support our sister Overseas Territories during times of need.”
Ahead of their departure to Dartmouth, McTaggart and Wheeler-Seijas welcomed the opportunity to train at the prestigious Naval institution.
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