Lieutenant Colonel Errol Brathwaite, Commandant of the Barbados Cadet Corps.
Recruitment numbers still up
Despite competition from modern day technologies, the recruitment numbers of the Barbados Cadet Corps have not been affected.
Word of this came from Lieutenant Errol Brathwaite, the Commandant of the Barbados Cadet Corps and the Chairman of the Caribbean Commandants Association, as he spoke with the Press yesterday morning.
“In spite of the competition from modern technologies like the Play Station and other things and Facebook and Twitter, we are still able to recruit,” he said.
“This year alone, between September and March, we recruited 300 new members for the Barbados Cadet Corps, so our numbers are now approximately
1 000 cadets.”
However, Braithwaite assured that they will not rest on their laurels as their aim is to really try to increase that number to 1 500.
Major Michael Boyce, who is responsible for the day-to-day activities of the camp, added that they usually recruited more males than females, but the few females they did recruit were usually quite good.
Wednesday saw the opening of the Caribbean Commandants’ Association’s Conference at St. Ann’s Fort and the Lieutenant revealed that some of the issues they discussed were how to increase numbers, protocol and how to recruit adults to lead and supervise their Cadets.
“We would like to have a lot more, but we still have to look at resources, because it makes no sense to have so many and can’t provide them with uniforms and resources and the like,” he said.
“I think most countries will tell you that they have also been able to sustain their number and increase them.”
Braithwaite went on to note that when they put a young person through the Cadet Corps, the intention is not to recruit them for service in the Police Force, Defence Force or any other forces.
“It is to provide or produce a well-rounded individual, who has certain disciplines instilled in them. The choice is theirs on whether or not they want to pursue a career in the force in the future. If they choose to do such, it gives them an advantage in the future,” he said.