WILLEMSTAD – Sixteen aspiring coast guards have officially graduated as Junior Coast Guard Crew Members after completing their one-year training program. The graduation ceremony was held last Friday at Marine Base Parera, marking a significant milestone for the recruits who will soon be stationed at Coast Guard support posts in Sint Maarten, Aruba, and Curaçao.

The new coast guards underwent an intensive training process that tested their physical, mental, and theoretical skills. During the ceremony, Coast Guard Director Walter Hansen, ORV Director Alpha Falbru, and Head of Initial Training Reinita addressed the graduates, highlighting their readiness to protect the islands’ maritime borders.

“The Coast Guard plays a dual role at sea: part seamanship, part policing,” Hansen said, emphasizing the importance of discipline and resilience in the recruits’ new responsibilities.

After more than a year of rigorous training and long periods away from home, the sixteen graduates were celebrated for their perseverance and dedication. With their diplomas now in hand, they are prepared to take on their new roles safeguarding the waters of the Dutch Caribbean.