The Cayman Islands Cadet Corps (CICCorps)

Each new year offers the opportunity for reflection and renewal, the stroke of midnight offers an enigmatic, almost magical wiping of the slate and a universal reprieve to go at it again, and if not to do it bigger if not better! With this newness, we often seek for motivational sayings, themes and drivers as we set or refine goals for the ensuing year. So 2019 will be no different, and I'll share with you one driver that caught my attention:

“You may have the greatest vision, plans or goals as you may term it. You can call it Vison 2020, Vision 2045 or whatever. But remember, [no] work is done unless a distance is covered!”
-Israelmore Ayivor

It really captures my objective as Acting Commandant for the next few months guiding the mission of the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps - towards being a buoyant, agile youth leadership organization that is spiritually aware, grounded in service, committed to excellence, sought after by youth, and bonded in camaraderie making proud our families and country in duty and honor.

As a guide to help us put perspective on achieving this objective, I presented 5Ps mentioned in my Christmas message:

Populate - we will increase the numbers of cadets through targeted recruitment, enhance instructional and man management techniques aimed at promoting and maintaining the desire to learn as well as a retention tool. Cadet leadership training will also be enhanced as a catalyst for growth, while Adult leaders will be supported for personal and organizational advancement. This is in keeping with the Ministerial directive expressed at the End of Year reception.

Presence - The Cadet Corps has always been at the forefront of major civic activities, we will continue to do so, and strengthen our presence by ensuring wherever we serve, we are seen to be present. Therefore, we will be present at church services, community events including some town hall meetings, youth development activities, road races, community service, and community action programmes, youth recognition and awards ceremonies will feature Cadet personnel; and we will be present on the national stage at parades and other civic events.

Promote - we will optimize media forms and service events to promote the Corps and to keep the organization in the fore front of people's minds as the organization of choice for - the moulding of their youngsters, civic aides for ceremonies and as the reservoir of knowledge for all things parade and protocol.

Practice - we will enhance our military skills and discipline by raising the standard through ace - Admonition, Competition and Enforcement and any other means possible. The objective is to not only be on par with our colleagues through the region and internationally. But to stimulate the youth leadership
product to rise to another level becoming propagators of the standard and progenitors of a higher order of excellence.

Pins - we will introduce a new identifier for service personnel to identify them throughout the Cayman society at school, industry, service organizations and overseas. The Commandant's Pin will be given as an ambassadorial instrument to those who have served meritoriously and with good order (personal discipline and turn out) for at least two years (cadets must have attained at least two star) as a means of giving identity to the characteristic discipline, integrity, loyalty, time appreciation, positive work ethic, civic pride and unique intolerance for blunders in protocol that others might otherwise overlook, but that is known to lie with Cadet Corps service and former-service personnel. We believe that such a pin will help employers and our sponsors (government and private sector) to readily recognize the impact of the Corps and promulgating the work of the Corps as a means of quantifying the pervasiveness of volunteers and cadets through the society.

Meeting this objective typified by these markers will require commitment, command and chasteness; but I believe we are equal to the task. We strengthen the capacity of headquarters to support each detachment at company and unit level and the energize the organizational thrust toward our broad goals established in law and in the CIG Strategic Policy Statement.

Now we know our objective, but as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe put it - knowing is not enough we must apply; wishing is not enough, we must do!

Together we can, and by God's grace we will.

Here's to a POWERFULLY POSITIVE 2019!

Major Ricardo O. Henry CCM, DipEd, DipMin, AA, BA(Hons), MA
Acting Commandant
Cayman Islands Cadet Corps