IN an environment where it literally takes ‘only the best’ to ‘stand amongst the best’, at the tender age of 18, Guyanese Midshipman, Czerda Frank, stunned the US Naval Academy and indeed the Guyana Defence Force, 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 Naval Academy to take the team title.

With such a performance, Frank has 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. And more recently, now 19, he has again excelled: this time, emerging top scorer for the Navy Pistol team at the NRA Intercollegiate Pistol Sectionals held in Benning last weekend.
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, who shoots in three disciplines, namely: Standard Pistol; Free Pistol and Air Pistol, emerged with the following scores: Standard: 554; Air 569 and Free Pistol 523. The scores he amassed for Standard and Free, represent his Personal Best for those two disciplines.
Intercollegiate Sectionals is an NRA-administrated, national-level competition for Collegiate Pistol shooters. It also serves as a qualifier for the Intercollegiate Pistol Championships in Ft. Benning, GA.Location:
Accordingly, Midshipman Frank has twice swept the Naval Academy to victory in two Pistol shooting championships in just under one year (March 2013 and February 2014).
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 Guyana Defence Force Officer Cadet, Czerda Frank, who was determined to do just that.
Determined resolve
Frank admitted in an interview with this publication, that on the afternoon before the 2013 championship, he was not feeling ‘at his best’. But considering the importance of the championship, he took a conscious decision to put his feelings behind him, took the proverbial ‘bull by the horns’ and rose to the challenge. Recounting those hours leading up to the championship, Frank told the Sunday Chronicle, “I said to myself, I’ll go for it. After all, I can only do better,” he recounted.
And being firmly grounded in Christianity, he whispered a prayer and on the day of the championship, proceeded with confidence. Undoubtedly, infused by the power of the Holy Ghost and under a mighty anointing, he ‘went for it’, and came out on top.
It must have been a hair-raising moment. With two hours to fire 60 shots from a distance of 50 metres, Frank firmly gripped the .22-calibre rim fire pistol and fired his way to a semi-final total of 521. As the championship progressed, in the final round, he was reported to have “grabbed the lead for good, taking the final shot with a cool, calm demeanour” and incredibly amassing an overall score of 615.2.
This response precisely typifies the character of young Frank, who is known never to back down, but absolutely loves a challenge. Demure, not much taller than five feet, but definitely focused, he aims for the stars, and putting his best foot forward, never stops until he reaches his goal.

National Award

Perhaps, it was this indomitable will and character inherent in him that led Frank, within his first six months of attending the US Naval Academy, to perform such a feat. And towards this end, proud and appreciative fellow Guyanese through this publication, are calling on the Government of Guyana to confer on the young Midshipman, a national award at this year’s investiture ceremony.

But as excited as he is about soldiering at this time, as a boy he wanted to become either a pilot or architect. His fascination with flying aircraft, he feels, must have come from his early experience as a child, flying with his father’s friend who was a pilot and the fact that his father, Courtney Frank, is a Senior Air Traffic Control Officer (Training Division), Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
High-flier trail
“He (my father’s friend) took me on quite a few trips with him, and so I was introduced to airplanes ever since I was about nine years old.” Therefore, it would appear Frank was a ‘high-flier’, both literally and figuratively ever since he was a boy. His two younger siblings, Chelsea and Curtly both attend Queen’s College also, while his mother Mrs. Dionne Frank is Head of the Department of Sociology at the University of Guyana.
At age 17, he opted to become an Officer Cadet and was admitted to the Standard Officer Cadet Training Course #45 at the Ulric Pilgrim Training School on the basis of academic qualifications and performance at the interview. Now proud to be a Midshipman and on the way to achieving greater heights, it would seem there is no turning back in sight for him.
Frank’s stellar capability was detected ever since he wrote the Common Entrance Examination and was awarded a place at Queen’s College, one of Guyana’s premier secondary schools. In 2011, he wrote the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams and was rated amongst Guyana’s top performing 100 candidates. He secured passes with top ratings in 14 subjects.
This was for him, the breakthrough to unlocking in rapid succession, the doors to amazing new possibilities, bolstered by his determined resolve to overcome challenges wherever these present themselves.
His successes within the next 12 months of graduating from Queen’s College were phenomenal, ranging from him being enlisted as an Officer Cadet in the Guyana Defence Force Standard Officers’ Training Course #45, to being awarded a scholarship to read for a BSc degree in Engineering at the US Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland. The scholarship was awarded with sponsorship from the Guyana Defence Force, in collaboration with the US Government.

And, maintaining his winning streak, this time around he has emerged victorious again.

The good news of Frank’s selection for a scholarship to attend the US Naval Academy, Annapolis Maryland, came shortly before his 18th birth anniversary and he departed for the US in June, 2012. It was for him, one of the greatest birthday gifts he could ever have received.
President’s call for engineering skills

This move, by young Frank, of opting to pursue studies in Engineering, is but a step in the right direction, since there is proportionately a paucity of engineering skills in Guyana, and with science and technology on the upswing, such skills are greatly needed if our country is to progress technologically.

Reading for a BSc degree in Engineering, Frank is majoring in General Engineering and is expected to graduate in 2016. Now into his second year of academic studies, he is working feverishly towards graduating with good grades, while looking steadfastly towards returning to Guyana to serve in an engineering capacity within the Guyana Defence Force.

Meanwhile, at the Fourth Annual Engineers Conference held at the International Conference Centre two weeks ago, President Donald Ramotar underscored the importance of encouraging more people to become engineers, stating that those already in the field, are quintessential to the process of economic development. He added that sustained economic development is dependent on engineers.
The Head of State said that, given Guyana’s development trajectory, this [now] is “an exciting time” for engineers, particularly since they have the opportunity to be a part of it [Guyana’s development].
Reflecting on his emotions as he entered the unfamiliar environment at the US Navy, Frank modestly asserted, “I was excited … I really was, and I’m grateful to the Guyana Defence Force and the US Government for making it possible for me to be granted the scholarship.”

Greater endurance
Having begun with a six-week Plebe Summer Induction, it wasn’t long before he’d settled into the new life. And whilst studying for 14 subjects at CSEC exams in Guyana would have been demanding, he soon found out that such was just about the tip of the iceberg, and that it required greater endurance when studying for a degree at the Naval Academy.
“Once we got down to academic studies, I found it to be an altogether different study culture. It was challenging, but I love a challenge and so I was able to adjust and cope.”
Life at the Academy, as he sees it, is structured, well rounded and allows time, not only for academic studies and military training, but essentially for religious activities and recreation as well. Of the good times he’s spent there, his most memorable moment he agrees, had been the day he won the 2013 NRA Free Pistol Individual Championship. It was a glorious moment, as his colleagues literally lifted him above their heads in celebration, he recalled.