On Saturday morning, July 19th, 2025, a large group of Defense Force Ranger Cadets from high schools and communities throughout The Eleutheras, along with their parents, community members and well-wishers, as well as a number of Royal Bahamas Defense Force Officers – responsible for the operation of the Ranger Cadet program in Eleuthera, gathered at the homecoming site cabana in James’ Cistern to celebrate the completion of a three-week summer Ranger Officer Training Camp (ROTC) and Skills Camp program, which elevated a new group of Rangers from Ranger Cadets to Ranger Officer Cadets.
According to Defence Force Sub Lieutenant Opal Farquharson, who was the guest speaker during the closing ceremony, the young rangers completed a diverse and impactful set of training modules. The group learned the essentials of bread and pastry making, gaining practical culinary skills that could serve as both hobby and profession. They earned CPR certification, preparing them to save lives in critical movements and reinforcing their responsibilities to their communities and their country. They also undertook several standards of training, including certification on watchkeeping SCCW, a vital international standard for seafarers, furthering aligning their skills with the maritime foundation of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, and opening doors for future careers at sea.
In her remarks to the new Ranger Officer Cadets, Farquharson, encouraged, saying, “Each of these accomplishments is not just a certification on paper. It’s a reflection of your effort, your focus and your willingness to grow. Graduates, today is a celebration of your hard work, but it’s also a call to continue pushing yourself. Let this camp serve as a reminder that discipline is a choice you make every day, that knowledge is something you build constantly, and that service to your community and country is one of your highest callings.”
She continued, “Today marks not just the end of a camp, but the beginning of a lifelong journey of leadership, discipline and service. Over the past three weeks, you’ve not only endured early mornings and demanding days – you’ve risen to the challenge and enbraced the very qualities that the Royal Bahamas Defence Force stands for: excellence, resilience and integrity.”
She further encouraged the young group to wear their Ranger uniforms with pride, but more importantly to live the values that come with it.
An instructor during the summer ROTC, Woman Marine Brendesha Darville, commenting on the progress made by a number of the Rangers during their three-week training experience, said that some of the students who had entered the program were transformed. “A complete 180 degree turn,” she described, saying that the change could be seen in their manner, their dress and their bearing – as well as in their parade drill discipline, and how they now carried themselves on the whole. “They came in one way and came out completely another way,” she said proudly.
The successful Rangers were presented with certificates for their accomplishment, after which they put on an impressive set of drill displays, and physical team displays, as well as an instrumental music performance, to the delight of supportive spectators.
Students, receiving their Ranger Officer Cadet certifications on Saturday morning, included: Malachi Deshommes, Starlee Sweeting, Keithera Johnson, Tenia Green, Deryn Johnson, Antonique Rolle, Allison Parks, Suresh Humes III, Heavenly Thompson, Amari Thompson, Tyowon Woodside, David Cooper, Ritia Miller, Camilo Cooper, Justin Dames, Kareeno Cash, Keshawn Kemp, Kevin Albury, Taryn Greene, Waynique Kelly, Nakari Roberts, Seanalee Minns, William Delancy, Calner Meus, Kenrick Forbes, Suresh Humes II, Steve Cash Jr., Jeremiah Rankine, Jahneil Charlton, Anika Moss, Lauryn Greene, Timberly Morley, David Ferguson, T’Sean Gardiner, Davanti Cooper, Peter Cary II, Emma Moss, Johrdan Wallace, Jakeem Green, J’hnajh Adderley, Lexton Saunders, Timothy Kemp, Edison Robinson, Labria Miller, Dayna Lewis, Karmair St. Fleur, Agdral Stubbs, Travon Douglas, Rones Thelus, Sabrena Solomon, and Lia Loriston.
