SVG COAST GUARD BUILDS LEADERSHIP AT HOME AND ABROAD
One trained alongside senior maritime officers from 21 countries. The other endured nearly three months of examinations, inspections, physical training and leadership assessments.
Together, Sub Lieutenant Alvis Daniel and Leading Seaman Saville Hackshaw have returned from two demanding training programmes with skills that strengthen the leadership and operational readiness of the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Coast Guard Service.
At sea, emergencies leave little room for hesitation. A distress call, a vessel operating unlawfully, a port security concern or a major incident can require quick judgement, sound coordination and a clear understanding of international maritime procedures.
These were among the operational challenges examined by Sub Lieutenant Alvis Daniel during the 13-week International Maritime Officer Course, IMOC-75, at the United States Coast Guard Training Center in Yorktown, Virginia.
Sub Lieutenant Daniel was one of 24 commissioned officers representing 21 partner nations.
The course exposed participants to the core missions of the United States Coast Guard, with focused training in search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, port state control, international maritime law and incident command.
Participants also completed practical bridge simulator training at the United States Coast Guard Academy and visited key operational, political and historical locations across the United States.
A major part of the programme was the exchange of knowledge among officers from different maritime environments. Sub Lieutenant Daniel trained alongside senior commissioned officers with decades of experience, discussing shared challenges and comparing the methods used by their respective countries.
He described that exchange as one of the most valuable aspects of the course.
The knowledge gained will support stronger planning, decision-making and coordination within the SVG Coast Guard Service, particularly in situations where lives, national waters and maritime security are at stake. The programme concluded on April 23, 2026.
While Sub Lieutenant Daniel was expanding his professional knowledge at the senior level, Leading Seaman Saville Hackshaw was being tested for the responsibilities that come with leadership.
From April 20 to July 9, 2026, Hackshaw completed Officer Candidate School, an intensive programme designed to prepare servicemen and women for commissioned leadership.
The course offered little comfort.
Candidates faced demanding academic examinations, obstacle courses, endurance runs, swimming assessments, inspections, drills, public-speaking exercises and continuous leadership evaluations.
Hackshaw studied military law, navigation, operational planning, administration, communications, ethics and officer responsibilities. Long days were regularly followed by late-night study sessions as candidates prepared for examinations and assignments.
He was also exposed to underway training on inland waterways, requiring him to adapt his maritime experience to a completely different operating environment.
The course tested his discipline, resilience and ability to make decisions under pressure, while strengthening the confidence and communication skills required of a future officer.
The achievements of Sub Lieutenant Daniel and Leading Seaman Hackshaw represent two important points in the Coast Guard’s leadership pipeline.
One has returned with broader international maritime knowledge. The other has taken a major step towards future command.
The Commissioner of Police, officers and other ranks of the Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force congratulate both servicemen on successfully completing their respective programmes and look forward to the contribution their training will make to the continued development of the SVG Coast Guard Service.
