Garfield L. Angus, JIS Writer

Major Simoan Foster displays the medals she received at the Jamaica Combined Cadet Force's medal presentation parade in 2006. - Contributed Photos

The Cadet movement is open to youths 18 and over and prides itself as a youth programme with a difference.

That difference is the rank structure employed, which lends itself to increased discipline.

Working within this environment, the youths are given a feeling of stability and purpose.

A perfect example of the virtues of the cadet movement can be found in Major Simoan Foster.

Foster, a 10-year veteran in the 3,000-membership Jamaica Combined Cadet Force, has rebelled against conformity, faced disappointments and triumphed because one day she decided that success must be hers.

Transformation

A go-getter and sharp speaker, she believes that her purpose is to positively transform the lives of young people.

She was born in Barbican, St Andrew, but her weekends and holidays were spent in St Elizabeth with her grandmother.

There, she gained practical experience of rural life, which has helped to shape her understanding of how to get by when life situations become difficult.

"My mother would put us on a bus in Kingston and in the care of a conductor as we journeyed to Hodgesland," Foster recalls.

"It was quite interesting there. My siblings and I carried water on our heads, rode donkeys and planted peanuts with family members who did it for a living. In that community, there was one television owned by my cousin. A generator was used to provide the electricity and his home was like a cinema for the entire village. But while there, we could not wait to go back to Kingston.

Being appreciative

Major Foster 'stands at ease' with her husband Maurice at their home in Innswood, St Catherine.

Coming from a place where we had piped water and electricity, and to stay in a community where a gallon of water would be used for a bath, was an experience which helped me to be appreciative and to know that things won't always be in abundance and you have to make adjustments to face it."

The outspoken major is a rebel against what she says is overbearing requests for conformity. She recalled early signs of this while attending New Day Primary School in St Andrew. "Life was not pretty at home, so when my mother didn't have enough money to give us, she would cook and put our lunches in containers. I decided that no one was going to see me eating out of it and I went to school without lunch because we wanted the bag juices, the fried chicken and the other things that some of our peers were eating," she said.

"I understood why things had to happen that way. We love our mother dearly for the love and care that she gave us, but looking back, I know that it was a trait of defiance that was developing. I dismissed things or situations at first glance that I believe were not in my best interest or if I believe it short- changed me," she added with a smile that came from the many memories running through her head.

Big disappointment

Major Simoan Foster (right) stands at attention with Lieutenant Colonel Trevor McCurdy (left), JP, adjutant training officer at the Jamaica Combined Cadet Force and Colonel Edison Isaac, commandant for Trinidad and Tobago's Cadet Force.

Failing the Common Entrance Examinations in 1987 was a big disappointment, which sheattributed to wasting time. But her determination not to fail again bore fruit the second time around.

In the first year after being awarded a space at the Kingston Technical High School, it appeared that she was going to be nicknamed 'failure'. Out of a class of 40 students she finished 22nd. "From that day I decided, never again would I ever come in that number," she said, voicing a resolve that has always kept her working hard.

That resolve stayed with me through to the Northern Caribbean University where I completed a Bachelor of Arts in business administration," said Foster.

The energetic and articulate cadet has been a major since 2005 (she entered the cadet force in 1998). She is the director of finance and administration at the cadet's head office situated at Up-Park Camp. Major Kirk Fraser, the cadet's procurement officer, and member of the movement for over 20 years, lauds his colleague as a shining example for other young persons to emulate. "She has grown in the organisation. She approaches her work very meticulously and with professionalism and I am privileged to have witnessed her growth."

Parenting life

A big part of the major's daily tasks is to teach Bible lessons at a Bible club, catering to the children of service personnel stationed at the Jamaica Defence Force headquarters.

Simoan, married to husband Maurice for over 5 years, wants to have children this year.

"And after the baby, I want to pursue my master's degree," she said.

On the subject of children, Foster couldn't help but comment on the issues of crime and deviance facing the country. She blames the issues on poor parenting and stresses that teen mothers have little knowledge in the areas of nurturing and developing children.

"My grandmother taught me a lot, but today we have grandparents who are quite young with little experience to pass on to their children. So, until we correct bad parenting, the deviance won't go away," said Foster.

The major has weathered the stormy moments of her life and now focuses on being a strong role model for many young Jamaicans.

This is a special Gleaner feature in collaboration with the Jamica Information Service.