Built to last JCF Cadet Academy graduates 35 young men

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Cadet Academy marked a proud milestone on Thursday, at the National Police College of Jamaica (NPCJ), as 35 young men from Cohorts Four and Five graduated after completing an intensive programme of academic study, discipline and leadership training.

Delivering the valedictory address, Cadet Anthony Clarke reflected on a demanding but transformative journey. “Today marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another,” he said, describing the academy as “challenging, demanding, and at times exhausting, but also rewarding and unforgettable.”

He recalled arriving in August 2024 “as young men searching for direction and purpose,” and said the experience forged resilience. “We were not just trained; we were transformed,” Clarke declared. “Discipline is not punishment, but a pathway to success.”

He added, “Integrity means doing the right thing even when no one is watching,” and urged graduates to “carry teamwork, respect and perseverance into every space we enter.”

“Discipline is not punishment, but a pathway to success,” Clarke told his peers, adding that integrity, teamwork and perseverance had become guiding principles for their development.

He expressed gratitude to instructors and staff, describing them as a “family” who shaped their growth, before urging graduates to carry forward the values instilled at the academy as they prepare to serve, lead or continue their studies.

Clarke closed by thanking instructors for shaping their growth, saying, “You did not only teach us—you built us.”

Established in September 2021, the JCF Cadet Academy is a secondary academic institution for males aged 16 and 17. It delivers both CSEC and CAPE programmes alongside structured leadership training and personal development.

Principal of the JCF Cadet Academy, Deputy Superintendent of Police Tanecia Johnson, explained that the institution “was created to equip young men with the requisite academic qualifications, discipline, leadership skills, and practical experience needed to transition into the JCF, pursue higher education, or enter the workforce.”