By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

DEFENCE Force officer Darius Adams, 22, has become only the second Bahamian to gain acceptance to the prestigious United States Coast Guard Academy.

National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage and US Charge d’Affaires John Dinkleman presented him with his four-year scholarship at the Cabinet office yesterday.  

Hailing the occasion an “historical event,” Dr Nottage said Mr Adams demonstrated to the academy that he had the “physical prowess, mental toughness and extraordinarily high aptitude to be selected over almost 30 applicants for this scholarship.”

The first Bahamian in 17 years to be selected, Mr Adams thanked his parents and others who helped him along the way. “I know that there could have been a lot of reasons for not picking me but I’m glad that they’ve chosen the reasons to pick me,” he said.

“I know that the training is going to be tough but I realise that it’s my job to learn, it’s my job to gain knowledge, it’s my job to get stronger everyday and to bring back to my country what I’ve learnt.

“I realise that I’m not just representing the Royal Bahamas Defence Force but I’m representing The Bahamas also and at the end of  the day I want to learn as much as I can learn to go guard our motto by guarding our heritage and also with the Coast Guard I’m ready to uphold those standards.”

Prior to joining the RBDF, Mr Adams graduated from Pensacola Christian College with a grade point average of 3.78 while pursuing a degree in accounting and a minor in information services.

Mr Adams’ mother, Venetta, said she was surprised that her son was selected since only one Bahamian has previously received the distinction. “I can say to God be the glory. It’s an honour and a privilege to be able to witness the ceremony this morning and my prayers are with him and I know he can do all things through Christ who strengthens him,” she said.

His father, Dave, added: “This is a very honourable occasion and as long as he keeps God and the country above self, he will serve The Bahamas in a great and powerful way.”

Dr Nottage told attendees at yesterday’s presentation that Mr Adams’ personal standards are so high that he expressed to him personal disappointment at failing to achieve a higher GPA.

While at the Coast Guard Academy, Mr Adams will study electrical engineering with a minor in computer science.

He was chosen to study at the academy ahead of people who have non-military training as well as those who do not, Dr Nottage noted, adding that it is admirable that Mr Adams will return to the Bahamas to serve his country.

“I am satisfied that he wants to be a Defence Force officer,” he said. “There are a lot of people that are just looking for a job. But we are not looking for people who are looking for a job. We are looking for people who want a career and who want to serve their country and he has indicated that he does want to serve his country. We need young men with character who are prepared to be disciplined and who are prepared to persevere in the face of obstructions.

“By the time this course is over we would have invested more than $300,000 in you. That’s a big investment in one person. The only thing we ask you to do is to be available to serve to the best of your ability. “

Mr Dinkleman added that since 1971, over 120 international cadets have attended the Coast Guard Academy, “receiving technical education and professional training which enables them to provide leadership in the service of their home nations.”

He added: “The United States Coast Guard Academy educates leaders of multi-mission maritime forces ranked among the United States elite service academies. The Coast Guard Academy has a highly selective admission process which annually identifies the best three hundred candidates from a nation wide pool of approximately 5,000 applicants”

“This occasion highlights another aspect of the robust partnership enjoyed by the USA and the Bahamas. The strong bond between our two nations is rooted in our proximity and our common goals of border and maritime patrol and safety. The US coastguard serves as the model for coastguard services around the world.”