Members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force’s Entry 31 & Woman Entry 5 recently celebrated twenty-five years of service and decided the best way to do this was to follow their motto, “Learn, Earn, and Return” and give back to charities within the community.
In line with the Commander Defence Force, Commodore Raymond King’s strategic objective of strengthening relationships with stakeholders and the community at large as a socially corporate citizen, the entry recently joined their efforts and made donations to several charitable organizations.
Symbolic of their twenty-five years in the Defence Force, each member of the entry donated $25 towards a charity. These included: Teen Challenge Bahamas and Great Commission Ministries, and assisting one of their comrades, Mr. Rickford Cleare (former Marine Seaman), who lost his job due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The squad also attended two local churches in the community; The New Holy Spirit Ministries International Incorporated Church and the Whosoever Will Discipleship Center Church, where they left tangible donations.
Both directors from Teen Challenge and Great Commission Ministries, Dr. Eric Fox and Ms. Gardiner, respectively along with Mr. Cleare all expressed their appreciation for the donations.
Another highlight of the celebration was a Courtesy Call on the Governor General, His Excellency the Most Honorable Cornelius A. Smith. The visit brought the entry full circle, because twenty-five years ago, His Excellency served as the Minister of National Security and Immigration and presented the squad with their official certificates of successful completion of training.
Of the initial thirty-seven (37) members who enlisted in 1996, twenty-one (21) are still in active service and continue to contribute to the force.
