At a recent graduation ceremony hosted at the Barbados Coast Guard headquarters, a senior military leader has challenged a fresh cohort of specialized drill instructors to leverage their newly completed advanced training to embed stronger discipline and leadership across all uniformed services in the Caribbean region.
The eight-week All Arms Advanced Drill and Ceremonial Course One wrapped up with a formal parade, drawing approximately 30 participants from both Barbados and neighboring regional territories. Addressing the assembled graduates and officials, Mark Peterson, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Barbados Defence Force, opened his remarks by congratulating the trainees on successfully completing the rigorous program, emphasizing that the course was never just about perfecting synchronized movements on the parade square.
Peterson reinforced that military drill has long served as a foundational pillar of professional development for uniformed services, going far beyond shaping external bearing and physical presentation to forge core character traits and build cohesive team dynamics. “The aim of drill is to produce a soldier who’s proud, alert, and obedient and to form the basis of teamwork,” Peterson told the gathered attendees. Reflecting on the visible transformation of participants over the course of the intensive program, he noted: “Look at yourselves now…that individual is no longer an ideal to chase; that individual is a person staring back at you from your own reflection, standing proud, shoulders back, eyes two inches above your own body height, spirit intact.”
Beyond its foundational role in character building, Peterson stressed that drill delivers tangible practical benefits for military leadership. It enables commanders to maneuver units in an orderly, disciplined fashion, while also cultivating quick responsiveness and authoritative command presence among all service members. “The purpose of drill is to enable a leader to move a unit in an orderly manner, to instil precision, responsiveness, and to develop all members in the practice of command,” he said. “You have not only practised it, you have not only commanded it – you’ve become it.”
During the ceremony, Peterson also presented an award to Most Outstanding Student SGT Baggio Harewood, recognizing the top performer’s exceptional effort and progress throughout the program. The event included a formal inspection of the graduating cohort by Peterson, followed by a demonstration drill executed by the newly qualified instructors.
However, the Deputy Chief of Staff issued a critical reminder for the newly minted instructors about the serious responsibility that comes with their new role: drill must never be misused as a form of punishment. “To our newly graduated drill instructors, always remember that drill must never be used as a punishment. It is about raising standards and forging unique cohesion,” Peterson said. He added that effective, professional drill relies on three core pillars: consistent discipline, deliberate practice, and constructive correction of errors.
After completing the course, graduates will return to their respective posts across a range of regional uniformed institutions, including the Barbados Defence Force, national police units, prison services, fire departments, and the Youth Advance Corps. Peterson urged the graduates to serve as role models of excellence in every aspect of their professional lives, from their dress and personal conduct to their daily work ethic. “You are now the subject matter expert,” Peterson told the cohort. “You are responsible for maintaining and in some cases, raising the organisational standards. That responsibility begins now.”