Two officers from the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (CDPF) have marked a major professional milestone after wrapping up a rigorous seven-week specialized training program on the neighboring island of Barbados, bringing home distinguished awards and a rare opportunity for further advancement.
Sergeant Sherwin Mitchel and Acting Corporal Tyron Sandy were among 43 trainees selected to take part in the All Arms Advanced Drill and Ceremonial Drill Instructors Course, a regional training initiative that brought together uniformed personnel from across 10 different Caribbean nations and territories. The participating groups spanned a wide range of public safety and national security institutions, including the Barbados Defence Force Regiment, Barbados Coast Guard, Barbados Police Service, Barbados Fire Service, Barbados Prison Service, Barbados Youth Advance Corps, as well as police and defense forces from Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, and Grenada alongside the CDPF contingent.
The curriculum of the course follows the long-established British Drill System, a framework widely adopted by uniformed services across Commonwealth nations. When the program concluded with a graduation assessment, both Mitchel and Sandy stood out among their peers to earn the Distinguished Drill Instructors Medal, one of the highest recognitions available to graduates of the system.
Beyond the individual awards for the two officers, Sergeant Mitchel earned an additional distinction: course organizers formally recommended him to return to Barbados to serve as a Senior Drill Instructor for future iterations of the All Arms Advanced and Ceremonial Drill Courses. If he takes up the posting, the role will put him on a path to qualify for two further prestigious honors: the Senior Drill Instructors Medal and membership in the elite White Cap Band.
In an official statement released following the graduation, leadership of the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force extended formal congratulations to both officers on their standout performance. The CDPF emphasized that the achievements of Mitchel and Sandy are a direct reflection of the force’s ongoing institutional commitment to continuous professional development and high-quality training for all personnel, boosting standards of service across the organization.