Coral Harbour, 24 APR 2017 (RBDF) – Midshipman Jamal Taylor of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force is the newest addition to the Officer’s Corps after successfully completing Naval Officer Training in England. The rigorous eight-month training course, which is designed to prepare naval/military cadets for the important leadership and management positions they will assume throughout their careers in the Defence Force, was conducted September 5th, 2016 – April 12th, 2017 at Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) in Dartmouth, England.
At BRNC, the young officer was trained in areas such as Leadership, Navigation, Strategic Studies, Meteorology, Ship Technology, Maritime Operations, Diversity and Inclusion, Fire Fighting, Chemical, Biological, Radiation, Nuclear, and Damage Control. The course was carried out in three phases. The militarization phase, which is the first segment of the training, involved two major exercises: Basic Leadership Development (BLD) and Assessed Basic Leadership Exercises (ABLE). These programmes are aimed at promoting leadership training and simulated crises situations to access their critical thinking abilities under pressure.
The second phase was the Initial Sea Acquaintance (ISA) Phase, which is a three-week sea training programme for Midshipmen. Midshipman Taylor was assigned to two different platform vessels; HMS Iron Duke, which is a Type 23 Frigate designed for anti-submarine warfare and HMS Blazer, an Archer-class patrol vessel. During his tour onboard he was stationed in Portsmouth, England where patrols around the coast took place.
The third and final phase was the Marinization phase, which consisted of lectures in Strategic Studies (Naval History) and Maritime Operations (Tactical Operational Planning). This training segment culminated with the Maritime Leadership Exercise (MARL), where participants are assessed while performing the duties of the Commanding Officer, Executive Officer, Navigation Officer and Officer of the Watch on a Picket Boat that is used as a training vessel.
Midshipman Taylor is a 2008 graduate of Faith Temple Christian Academy High School. Taylor joined the Defence Force in April 2010 and served in the Commando Squadron Department and Military Police Department. Prior to his attendance at the Britannia Royal Naval College, he was assigned to the Airwing department of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force as a certified Military Diver, Combat Diver and a Combat Swimmer.
RBDF Photo shows: Midshipman Jamaal Taylor holding his certificate of completion of the Naval Officer Training at the Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) in Dartmouth, England.
Standing from left: Acting Lieutenant Commander Michael Hanna, Human Resource Officer, Midshipman Jamaal Taylor and Captain Tellis Bethel, Commander Defence Force (Acting).
(RBDF Photo by Marine Seaman Collison Ingraham)
