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The Aim of this report is to see the current status of the Unit and what it wants to achieve in the short, medium and long term.
In order to see and appreciate where we are, it is important
to:
a) See where we are coming from,
b) See where we were when the rebuilding programme started, and
c) What has been done to get us to where we are now.
WHERE WE ARE COMING FROM
The Unit was one of the firsts to have been formed in 1941.
It grew over the years from strength to strength under the leadership
of Majors Isaac Henry and Charlie Phillips.
Leading up to the early seventies, we boasted the largest
Cadet Unit in the island with a compliment of over one hundred and fifty
cadets. The Unit was made up of, and provided the following:
· 4 Infantry Platoons
· 1 Drum Corps
· 1 Brass Band
· Leadership roles in the school body (Head, Deputy Headboys and
Prefects)
· Cadets participating and representing the school in other extra-curricular
and sports disciplines.
Externally the Cadet Force provided:
· Uniforms free of cost at different stages in the life of the
cadet
· Incentives through the annual overseas exchange camps to Canada
and the other Caribbean Islands
· Meaningful, interesting and exciting annual camps
· Meaningful competitions and courses.
WHERE WE WERE AT THE START OF THE REBUILDING PROGRAM
Two years prior to the start of the programme, Kingston
College failed to field a Unit for the annual inspection. The following
year, they paraded one platoon.
In February 1999 the Unit had forty- four cadets on its
annual inspection. The following observations were made:
· The two platoons on parade were under strength
· Only three cadets had Star 1 badge, they were the only NCO's
in the Unit
· Half the number was wearing ill-fitted uniforms or none at all.
· There was no Band, much less a Drum Corps
· There was no fifth or sixth former in the Unit.
· No longer provided khaki uniforms free of cost; however, olive green combat suits were made available
· Had a shortage of large size suits, and there were not enough jackets to match the pants that were in the system
· Jackets would have been depleted by the end of July 2000.
· Did not have any contingency arrangement in place to replenish the depleted stock
· No longer had any annual overseas exchange programmes
· No longer had meaningful competitions and courses
· No longer had the usual bedding and equipment, such as tents, cots, compasses, protractors, maps, etc, at their disposal to loan to Units for their camps.
WHAT HAVE WE DONE TO GET US TO WHERE WE ARE NOW
Credit must be given to Mr. Wally Johnson, Principal and
Mr. Stratton Palmer, President of the KCOBA (Jamaica). These two Old Boys,
and later, Mr. Winston Stewart, President of the KCOBA (NY), and Mrs.
Prudence Brown, President of the PTA, who showed the needed interest,
willingness and commitment to rebuild the Cadet unit.
During the two- year period we were able to achieve the
following:
· Met with and presented an interim programme to the executives
of three of the KCOBA chapters - Jamaica, New York and Toronto. The programme
was embraced and commitments made. As the programme expanded and new needs
faced us the South Florida chapter came to our assistance.
· A new set of Drum Corps instruments was purchased, courtesy of
the New York chapter.
· Increased the size of the Unit. Our current strength is one hundred,
and if not the largest, it would be second largest in Jamaica. The Unit
now comprises three Infantry platoons and a Drum Corps.
· We have a complement of five officers inclusive of one female
and two Adult Ranks. With the exception of the female, all are past cadets
and old boys. Two of the officers are teachers on staff.
· Outfit the Unit with khaki uniforms, boots and berets
· Met with and sensitize the programme to the new parents at the
start of each of the new school year
· Passed out three batches of Recruits
· Won the first round Inspection in the first year of the programme
for the very first time since the format changed eighteen years ago.
· We have the highest amount of Star qualifiers (Star 1, 2 and
3) in the battalion, a total of forty.
· We have created our own web site - the first Cadet Unit within
the Caribbean to have done this.
· For the first time in the history of the Unit, we have a cadet
that has attained the Star 4 qualification badge since its inception six
years ago.
· We have the only Master Cadet in the battalion, and one of six
in the island, after attending and successfully completed the Master Cadet
Course in Trinidad.
· In the two years since the start of the programme, we now have
a Company Sergeant Major (CSM) and two sergeants.
· Organized educational tours to the JDF Air Wing, Coast Guard and Museum.
· We have started Rappelling as the first part of our Adventure Training, thanks to Major Winston Dwyer who donated one set of equipment.
· We have introduced novel training in our program. A typical example was the Vigil and Bearer Party duties at the funeral for Kemar Dixon, a student that died earlier this year. It was quite impressive.
· We received approximately four hundred pairs of combat boots from Food For The Poor. Unfortunately, there were only sizes 4, 5, 6, 7, 12 1/2, 14, and 15.
· We have started a small Farm Project at the Melbourne campus which is spearheaded by one of the officers there. It has been an uphill task. The success of it is dependent on the security system that is currently in place.
With the exception of maybe two of the above, all the others were part of the objectives that were planned in advance and executed successfully at different stages of the programme. There are but a few objectives that have not yet been achieved, and so they pave the way forward in the second part of the stated aim, which is:
WHAT DO WE WANT TO ACHIEVE IN THE SHORT, MEDIUM AND LONG TERM?
At the start of the programme, our short to mid-term objectives
covered a two-year span. We are now at the start of the third year or
long term period, and some of our plans must be accomplished within the
next six months. They are:
· Office and storage facilities - This is one of the most
crucial and essential part of the Unit's continued and sustained existence.
This item has been most prominent on our agenda since the start of the
programme. A lot has been, and is still being done, and so a proposal
has been prepared and will be tabled separately.
· Bedding - As stated earlier, the Cadet Force does not have camp
cots, only mattresses. What currently prevails is embarrassing. Units
having camps, if electing to take along these mattresses, lay them on
the floors of the classrooms, as that is where camps are normally held.
The practical discipline of a barrack room inspection, of learning to
make up your bed, keeping your space and camp kit in an orderly, clean
and presentable manner, is lost at such camps. It is difficult to accept
and this Unit Commander will not go this route at all. The alternative
available to a Unit is to have camps that have boarding facilities. This
is the route KC has been taking. It is a costly venture. - The alternative
is to have our own cots. Ideally we would like to have at least one hundred
and fifty.
· Training Equipment - Map Reading is one of the subjects taught
in Cadet Force. Again, Units are lost on this subject. Twenty map sheets
cover Jamaica. Ideally we would like to have at least:
a) Fifteen maps that covers at least four different areas
b) Thirty set of Silva compasses
c) Thirty protractors
d) Four sets of Rappelling equipment (1 per platoon) The set consists
of 120 ft of rope, one figure of eight, one snap link and six 8 ft cords
to make Swiss seats.
· Band Instruments - We have, or we are reaching that point where
we need to open new avenues in terms of their development. Music is one
such avenue. The JDF Director of Music has recommended the following instruments
to start out with:
Srl Instrument Qty
1. Flute 2
2. Clarinet 4 (b flat)
3. Alto Sax 1
4. Tenor Sax 1
5. French Horn 2
6. Trumpet 4
7. Trombone 3 (2 x tenor and 1 x bass)
8. Euphonium 1
9. Bass Tuba 2
10. Drum Set
11. Music stand 20
Graded Music 2,3,4 &5.
The proposal for the Band is to dedicate at least two hours per week for
at least the first school term. During this period, the focus will be
on music theory. The second term onwards we should have a serious group
of students who would have shown the aptitude and interest in music.
· Drum Corps Training - The wind section of the Drum Corps needs
additional work. We have made a request of Prospect College to assist
and facilitate our members in their training after school on Fridays and
staying overnight. The purpose is two fold as it gives the members the
opportunity of training in a controlled music environment and secondly
to be away from home in a different environment.
· Specialized Training - We have restarted the Duke of Edinburgh
Award Scheme programme and our specialized training, which includes Rappelling,
First Aid, Watermanship etc, fits in perfectly.
· Leadership Training - It is both necessary and important to organize
and execute such a course for our cadets. The shortage of junior leaders
has caused us to put on hold the establishment of the fourth platoon until
the following year.
· Master Cadet Course - This is one meaningful incentive available
to a cadet once he/she has attained his/her Star 4 qualification. The
course runs for ten days and is held in Trinidad during the Easter holidays
each year. Over the last couple of years Jamaica receives about two places
on this course. From the report received, the course could have accommodated
a lot more attendees. This year had only one qualifier, next year it will
be a goal that they will strive for.
· Uniforms - The proposal for this item has been done separately
and forms Annex B to this report.
· Camps - We normally have at least four camps per year.
a) End of Christmas Term camp
b) Inspection camp (there is a second one if the Unit wins the first round
Inspection)
c) Easter camp
d) Battalion/Forces camp in the summer holidays.
There is a set fee of five hundred dollars that is asked of each cadet
for most of the camps, except for the Inspection one in which the school
normally funds in full as it is usually held at the school.
One of the challenges that face us around camp time, is
that not every cadet has been able to pay the camp fee. This adds to our
distress when we go to these boarding facilities which are ideal for the
required training. However, the costs have always been high. The acquisition
of cots will make all the difference.
· Academics - This is probably the area of greatest concern, both
by the school administration and the Unit itself. In the two years of
the programme, we have recruited and lost a number of very good cadets,
mostly by parents withdrawing them because their focus is placed on cadet
than schoolwork.
A new initiative is on the table (Annex C) wherein school standards will be a part of the criteria to remain in the Unit. Why is this necessary? We have seen our cadets doing exceptionally well in the Unit and at the other end of the scale, being exceptional poor students in their class work.
We are mindful of the fact that joining the cadet is not
compulsory. However, as long as we can maintain the level of training
and interesting programmes, students will not want to miss out on it and
hopefully fall in line with their school work.
· Fund-Raising Projects - The Unit is mindful of the financial
costs that is attached to this programme and will endeavor to make its
own contribution by way of fund-raising projects. Two that readily come
to mind are the Sticker Drive and Test /One Day cricket match.
· Contributions - The continued success of the programme will depend
largely on the contributions of the KC family, namely the school, PTA
and the KCOBAs through the College Development Trust Fund (KCDTF).
· Annual Inspection - This is the only meaningful competition in
the Cadet Force. This is the measure used to determine the top Cadet Unit
in Jamaica. Having won the first round in the first year of our programme,
we have seen and appreciate what it will take to repeat that achievement.
BUDGET
This is tabled separately and forms Annexes D & E to this report.
CONCLUSION
All things considered, the unit has made significant strides towards our
overall target, that being to produce the most successful cadet unit and
a symbol of pride for the KC family. The first phase now completed, we
are now challenged with providing the administrative and financial support
to see this project move from a dream to a reality for all.
Prepared by
B A MILLER
Captain
Officer Commanding
2 July, 2001
ANNEXES
A - List of Contributors D - Budget
B - Uniform Proposal E - Schedule of payments
C - Academic Initiative F - Diary of Activities