– readies to serve in the Guyana Defence Force

By Alva Solomon

On May 27, as patriotism levels simmered among Guyanese, the Golden Arrowhead fluttered in the wind at the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland and young midshipman Czerda Frank had his own reasons to feel patriotic.

Frank, who was on scholarship from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) as an Officer Cadet, graduated that day with a BSc in General Engineering from the prestigious military institution, a

moment which he said he would cherish, given its timing.

“My mother was getting all emotional when she saw the flag (Golden Arrowhead) flying and for me I felt a sense of pride,” the 21-year-old he said.

Back home in Guyana, there was much chatter among his friends and relatives about the Golden Jubilee celebrations and for young Frank, at one point he preferred being in Guyana to celebrate this country’s 50th Independence anniversary.

“I actually wished I was there than at my own graduation,” he told the Guyana Chronicle during a recent interview.

At age 17, the former Queen’s College student opted to become an Officer Cadet in the GDF and he was admitted to the Standard Officer Cadet Training Course #45 at the Ulric Pilgrim Training School at Base Camp Stephenson, Timehri on the basis of academic qualifications and performance at the interview.

Frank left these shores in 2013 to further his studies at the military academy, having stood out among scholarship applicants.

Recounting his time at the naval academy, he said that initially, the transitioning process was challenging. He said the strict class times and the general settings coupled with sport and the military aspect of the programme were feats he overcame.

While the young man’s aim at the academy was to pursue academics, it was his knack for pistol shooting which led to him excelling in the sport, while imprinting his name in the records at the academy.

As this publication had reported, Frank stunned the US Naval Academy and indeed the GDF when he emerged winner of the 2013 NRA Free Pistol Individual Championship, in the Intercollegiate Pistol Championships at Fort Benning, Georgia, making way for the academy to take the team title.

Frank indeed put Guyana on the map once more and indelibly etched his name in the annals of history, as being one of the few young men of colour to have taken the prestigious accolade.

Those Championships were held in March 2013. The following year, again he excelled in the sport, this time, emerging top scorer for the Navy Pistol team at the NRA Intercollegiate Pistol Sectionals held in Fort Benning in February that year.

Participating in the Sectionals were four Colleges: The Citadel; The US Naval Academy; College of Southern Maryland (CSM) and the University Of Virginia (UVA).

Midshipman Frank shot in three disciplines, namely: Standard Pistol; Free Pistol and Air Pistol, emerged with the following scores:

Standard: 554; Air 569 and Free Pistol 523.

Undoubtedly, the NRA’s challenge to “be the best” in order to “stand amongst the best” must have resonated powerfully in the mind and physique of the young GDF Officer Cadet, who was determined to do just that.

He told this publication that after settling in at the academy, he received emails on various sports in which he can participate. He said that he chose pistol shooting but unfortunately, he missed the trial deadlines. Luck was on his side, however, and after he spoke to the team coach to somehow assist him in being a part of the team, a spot was eventually opened for him.

He said he moved up the competitive table during the season and it was this movement which led to him excelling at the championship events. He served as President of the International Pistol Club and in his senior year, he was captain of the pistol team at the academy. Of the 1076 students on roster, he felt proud being one of 15 foreigners who performed well during his stay there.

In the military aspect of his stay at Maryland, Frank was exposed to overseas stints in naval environments where he gained first-hand experience on the practical aspect of naval life.

He travelled to Spain, Bulgaria and Greece where he was able to gain much experience on naval ships in those countries. Of course there is no place like home and being in Guyana at Christmas was a “must-happen” event while he read for his degree, and as he deemed the occasion, “Christmas is the best thing in Guyana”.

Back home after completing his studies, Frank is awaiting his moment to be commissioned into the GDF, a transition which he is looking forward to, though nervous but excited. To this end he said that he will be entering the realities of military life here and his “hope is to be able to do much good “as he can, while effecting positive contributions at the same time.

Frank’s moments of glory could not be celebrated by him alone. He has always received support from his mother, Mrs Dionne Frank, the Head of Department of Sociology at the University of Guyana and his father, senior air traffic controller at the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Courtney Frank. His parents and his two siblings, Chelsea and Curtly, were always connected to him, literally.

The Franks created a WhatsApp group chat, citing communication as being vital since the young man’s siblings are also pursuing academic studies in other parts of the world; being in touch is important in the closely-knitted family.

On graduation day on May 27, they were all in attendance and in one emotional social media post, the young man’s mother noted the significance of the Golden Arrowhead fluttering among others at the academy, a symbol of an achievement attained by both her son and the country.