About The

BARBADOS CADET CORPS

 ABOUT THE BARBADOS CADET CORPS

The Barbados Cadet Corps is the oldest Cadet Corps in the region. The first unit of the Barbados Cadet Corps was formed at the Lodge School in 1904 and this was followed by the formation of companies at Harrison College and Combermere School.

In August 1978, cadets from Ellerslie Secondary were taken on strength as No 4 Company and by 1982 the Corps was expanded to 18 companies.

By 2010, companies were established at Deighton Griffith School, Lester Vaughan, Queen’s College and Alexandra School. Today the Corps comprises 24 units, 21 of these are in public secondary schools and one unit caters to private schools.

The Barbados Cadet Corps also has an Air Wing, a Sea Cadet Unit, a Cadet Corps Band, a Medical and a Shooting Unit.

Cadets may join the Corps as early as 13 years old and can remain until they are 20 years old, provided that they are in an educational institution. In that regard, there are cadets who attend the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic, the Barbados Community College and the University of the West Indies.

The mission of the Barbados Cadet Corps is to “use challenging activities and military discipline to create model citizens among a wide cross-section of young Barbadian boys and girls in educational institutions”. In addition to developing qualities of good citizenship, the Corps strives to give cadets an opportunity to learn skills that are useful throughout their adult life.

 

Command Element

Commandant

Lieutenant Colonel
Errol Brathwaite

Lieutenant Colonel. Errol Livingstone Brathwaite was appointed Principal of the Ellerslie Secondary School on September 1, 2011, and Commandant of the Barbados Cadet Corps on Saturday, October 1, 2016. In August of this year (2017) he was appointed as Chairman of the Caribbean Commandants’ Association at the Commandants’ Conference held in Dominica…

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Lieutenant Colonel Errol Brathwaite

Lieutenant Colonel. Errol Livingstone Brathwaite was appointed Principal of the Ellerslie Secondary School on September 1, 2011, and Commandant of the Barbados Cadet Corps on Saturday, October 1, 2016. In August of this year (2017) he was appointed as Chairman of the Caribbean Commandants’ Association at the Commandants’ Conference held in Dominica.
He received his early education at Erdiston Primary before moving on to Parkinson Memorial School where he received his secondary education, and where he joined the Barbados Cadet Corps as a Cadet in 1982.
During his final year at school, he served as House Captain and Deputy Head-Boy where he commanded the respect of his peers and teachers alike.
After graduating from secondary school he joined the Junior Leaders Unit of the Barbados Defence Force in September 1987, where he remained for two years, before being accepted to serve as an Officer in the Barbados Defence Force Reserve assigned to the Cadet Corps in April 1989.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts (with honours), a Masters Degree in History, Diploma in Education (with distinction), and a Certificate in Educational Management and Administration.
Lieutenant Colonel Brathwaite, an individual committed to community service has served on many committees and with several organizations which include:

  • Chief Judge for the Community Independence Celebrations Secretariat “Parish Projects” as well as the “Spirit of the Nation Show.”
  • Chief Judge for the Masquerade events (Junior Kadooment, Kings and Queens and Grand Kadooment) with the National Cultural Foundation (NCF).
  • Assistant Examiner and Centre Leader for CXC Visual Arts
  •  Member of the Barbados Carolina Connection Committee with the Ministry of Tourism.
  • President of the Barbados Teachers’ Co-operative Credit Union Ltd.

 

Deputy Commandant

Lieutenant Commander
Carl Farley

Carl Farley has spent more than thirty-one (31) years in various capacities in the petroleum industry. A former Science Teacher (Chemistry, Mathematics & Physics), Carl joined the staff of the Mobil Oil Barbados Refinery as Laboratory Supervisor in July 1986. To date, he has progressed through various positions in three (3) major petroleum organizations, namely the former Mobil Oil Corporation now ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch Shell and presently the Sol Group.  In these organizations, major positions held included Planning and Production Manager (Mobil Oil), Health, Safety & Environment Advisor…

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Lieutenant Commander Carl Farley

Carl Farley has spent more than thirty-one (31) years in various capacities in the petroleum industry.

A former Science Teacher (Chemistry, Mathematics & Physics), Carl joined the staff of the Mobil Oil Barbados Refinery as Laboratory Supervisor in July 1986. To date, he has progressed through various positions in three (3) major petroleum organizations, namely the former Mobil Oil Corporation now ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch Shell and presently the Sol Group.  In these organizations, major positions held included Planning and Production Manager (Mobil Oil), Health, Safety & Environment Advisor (Shell Central America & the Caribbean), Operations Manager Southern Caribbean (Shell Oil Products Latin America) and presently Group Operations Manager (Sol Caribbean Limited).

Carl was educated at the St. Lucy Secondary School (now Daryll Jordan), the Barbados Community College, the UWI Cave Hill and the University of Nevada. A trained Petroleum Chemist, Carl holds a BSc (Hons) in Business Management and an MSc in Project Management & Evaluation.  He has been trained as an ISO 9000 Auditor and has participated as Auditor in numerous Independent Audits of the Shell Health Safety & Environment Management System (HSE) across the English, Spanish and French-speaking Caribbean territories.  He also holds an International Certificate in Oil and Gas Operational Safety with the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH), England.

Carl presently holds the position of Group Operations Manager for the Sol Group and is responsible for the implementation of Truck Fleet, Health and Safety, Marine, and Operational standards across twenty-three (23) countries.

Carl Farley joined the Barbados Cadet Corps as a Potential Cadet Officer in April 1984 and was immediately assigned to the No.9 Company, Parkinson Memorial Secondary School as 2IC.  During this period he also enlisted in the Barbados Regiment and served in this dual capacity until his official resignation from the Barbados Regiment in 1988.

In September 1986, he took up the position of OC No.7 Company (St. James Secondary School), succeeding Lieutenant Commander (Lt. Cdr) Seikens of the Barbados Coast Guard Reserve.   He continued to serve in this capacity until his reassignment to the newly formed Barbados Sea Cadet Programme in September 1993. This stint with the Sea Cadet Unit, first at HMBS Fort Willoughby and later HMBS Pelican facilitated a deep and mutually beneficial relationship with the Barbados Coast Guard, which exists until today.

Carl Farley progressed through the ranks of the Barbados Cadet Corps eventually reaching the rank of Lt Cdr. He was eventually assigned to the Special Units Battalion as Commander. This battalion at the time comprised the Barbados Cadet Corps’ Band, the Sea Cadet Unit, the Shooting Unit and the Medical Unit. Over the years, he made several overseas visits to regional territories as a contingent commander.  He was very instrumental in contributing assistance with the startup of Sea Cadet Units in St. Vincent, Antigua and Dominica.

Today he serves as a member of the Barbados Defence Force Reserve in the capacity of Deputy Commandant of the Barbados Cadet Corps.

He is a past President of the UWI Alumni Association (Barbados Chapter) and is an enthusiastic 10 km and a half marathon runner who regularly turns out with the UFUKUZO Road Racing Club.

 

Corps Warrant Officer

Master Chief Petty Officer 1

David Knight

Master Chief Petty Officer Class One (MCPO1) David Anderson Knight is a proud student of the Foundation School. He began his military career in the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) as a reserve infantry soldier in 1987. He transferred to the regular element in 1989 and served as a mess steward for a short period before moving into the Motor Transport Troop in 1990 where he was promoted to the rank LCpl and nominate to be the chauffeur/bodyguard of the Deputy Chief of Staff. He was also deployed to Trinidad and Tobago in 1990 in support of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force as a bodyguard of the contingent commander and to perform peacekeeping duties after an attempted coupe. MCPO DA Knight’s military posting includes: Catering Staff 1989 – 1990 Mess Steward; Motor Transport 1990 – 1994…

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Master Chief Petty Officer 1 David Knight

Master Chief Petty Officer Class One (MCPO1) David Anderson Knight is a proud student of the Foundation School. He began his military career in the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) as a reserve infantry soldier in 1987. He transferred to the regular element in 1989 and served as a mess steward for a short period before moving into the Motor Transport Troop in 1990 where he was promoted to the rank LCpl and nominate to be the chauffeur/bodyguard of the Deputy Chief of Staff. He was also deployed to Trinidad and Tobago in 1990 in support of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force as a bodyguard of the contingent commander and to perform peacekeeping duties after an attempted coupe.

MCPO DA Knight’s military posting includes: Catering Staff 1989 – 1990, Mess Steward; Motor Transport 1990 – 1994, Deputy Chief Staff Driver; Commando Squadron 1994 – 1998, Section Commander; Military Police Troop 1998 – 2000,Provost; Barbados Regiment Reserve 2000 – 2010, Trg SNCO; Sports Programme SNCO, CQMS Special Operations Company; Training Wing (Chief instructor); Barbados Regiment 2010 – 2012 Training Wing (Chief Instructor/ Training Officer/CQMS); Barbados Regiment 2012 – 2012 Training SNCO; Force Headquarters 2012 – 2014 G3 Training Warrant Officer; Barbados Coast Guard 2014 – 2017 Divisional Chief Administration Division and Barbados Regiment 2017 Regimental Sergeant Major; Barbados Cadet Corps July – October 2017 Administrative Officer. He is presently the Corps Warrant Officer.

During his 30 years of service, he attended various training courses, these courses include: BDF Commando, Junior & Senior Command, Warrant Officer, Military Police, All Arms Drill and the Range Authorization.

He can proudly acclaim to achieving some significant and memorable achievements during his service and they are:
The management and conduct of a Reserve Range Authorization Course;
Being a member of the training team conducted a reserve young officer course;
The reconstruction of the beach range as well as drafting the amendments for all BDF Ranges standing Orders.
The management and conduct of a Drill Course for the Barbados Boy scout;
The managing and conduct of a BCG reserve Junior Command Course;
The management and conduct of Junior Leadership and senior Leadership courses for the regional security systems in Antigua.
Training Officer and chief instructor on numerous courses ranging from Drill, Range, Junior and Senior command Courses just to mention few.
Being proficient in the conceptualization and developing, of course, training plans and developing complete training programs.
As a drill instructor, he has a responsibility for preparing all troops for nationals parade to include civilians.

MCPO DA Knight assisted with conceptualization, planning and execute numerous force level events on behalf of the Force headquarters. He is a member of the Barbados Defence Force Drill wing and is currently the Chief Instructor for all drill courses conducted by the FHQ.

He is the recipient of a General Service Medal, Jubilee Medal, Efficiency Medal, 1 Barbados Defence Board Commendations and 1 Chief of Staff Commendations.

MCPO Knight is a proud father of one and enjoys watching TV, Watching Football, and going to the movies.

In the near future, MCPO Knight seeks to complete a Master’s Degree Programme in Leadership and Innovation and pursue a career as a consultant in Leadership and Innovation, Human Resource Management.