Force Chief Petty Officer Garth Johnson is a 33-year veteran in the Royal Bahamas Defence Force currently serving in the Supply Department and is the father of 4 daughters, Gianna, Gariece, Antonia and Antonique.
“As a father, there is a standard that I try to maintain for my children, whether I’m home, at work or at church. Raising four girls as a man in the military has not been an easy task, but luckily I had help from my wife of 24-years of marriage. Th…ere were benefits of being in the military which translated over to fatherhood. I think it assisted me in being able to teach my children about being obedient and having respect for those in authority and in deciphering what is right from what is wrong. I love my family and value their importance, so I ensure that as a man, I am provider, protector and that I’m present for them. These are some of the qualities that I expect my daughters’ companions to possess. I’m always of the opinion that there will always be room for improvement in parenting because many times, you find yourself learning as you go. However, amidst the challenges of balancing work and normal life, during my time as a father, I must say that I’m satisfied that I could give my children a chance at a fair start in life, because their success becomes the success of the whole family.”
(Story by Marine Seaman Michael Turner, photo by Marine Seaman Kyle Smith)