Appointment comes as part of international cadet programme

The United States Coast Guard Academy has admitted as cadets two members of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) for the first time ever.

They are Shawna Marie Sinclair and Nicholas Folkes. The soon-to-be Cadet Sinclair and soon- to-be Cadet Folkes will be the first JDF members to be appointed to the US Coast Guard Academy and their appointment comes as part of the international cadet programme.

Worldwide, only six slots were available for international cadets with Jamaica securing two of those coveted six spots. As international cadets, Folkes and Sinclair are subject to the same rules, regulations, and pay as US cadets.

They will earn a Bachelor of Science degree upon graduation and will return to Jamaica to serve in the JDF as commissioned officers. Speaking at the appointment ceremony held last week, US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires, John McIntyre said: “All of Jamaica should be proud that one-third of the international cadets attending the US Coast Guard Academy as part of Class 2025 are Jamaican.”

During the ceremony, McIntyre presented the official appointment certificates to Sinclair and Folkes’ mother Elaine Chambers, who accepted the certificate on his behalf, as he was unable to attend in person.

Other distinguished guests at the ceremony included Senator Matthew Samuda, minister without portfolio in the Ministry of National Security; Commodore Antonette Wemyss-Gorman, Fleet Executive Officer of the Jamaica Defence Force; Brigadier Roderick Williams, Brigade Commander, Maritime, Air and Cyber Command; Brigadier Radgh Mason, president of the Caribbean Military Academy; US Embassy Senior Defense Official Lieutenant Colonel Robert Ramsey, and US Embassy Coast Guard Attaché Lieutenant Commander Jason Hathaway.

Speaking on the US-Jamaican bilateral relationship, Lieutenant Commander Hathaway noted, that “the US Coast Guard and the Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard have long enjoyed a close partnership, standing side-by-side in the Caribbean to face transnational criminal organisations conducting crimes upon the high seas and coastal zones. Today, we forge the next chapter in that partnership with these two pioneers of Jamaican sea service”.

The United States Coast Guard Academy is located in New London, Connecticut and is the smallest US service academy, with only 900 total cadets at any given time. The first international cadet programme began as an exchange with the Philippines in 1970. Since then, over 200 cadets from 50 countries have enrolled in the programme.