Broderick Mervyn, a community practitioner focused on Pacific youth, is advocating for the enhancement and expansion of school cadet training programs in Fiji. He believes these initiatives represent a significant long-term investment in youth development, community safety, and the overall security of the nation.
Mervyn’s call comes in light of rising concerns over substance abuse, youth crime, and social instability, emphasizing the necessity for structured programs that can offer young individuals discipline, routine, and constructive leadership pathways. He articulates that cadet training nurtures essential values such as self-discipline, responsibility, teamwork, and respect for authority, all of which are crucial for personal development and national stability.
“When young people are provided with structure and clear expectations, they are more inclined to make responsible choices and positively contribute to society,” Mervyn observed. He further detailed how cadet programs equip students with practical life skills that go hand-in-hand with academic education, fostering confidence, resilience, and a dedication to serving their communities and country.
Highlighting a proactive approach, Mervyn argues for the necessity of strengthening cadet training as a means of preventive development, potentially lowering the long-term social costs associated with crime, addiction, and unemployment. “Early investment in discipline and leadership is far more effective than late intervention,” he stated, underscoring a forward-thinking perspective.
Additionally, he encourages the expansion of leadership exchange opportunities and international exposure for Fijian youth, particularly through partnerships with established institutions like the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Mervyn asserts that such exchanges can expose young Fijians to global leadership standards and best practices while reinforcing core values of service, integrity, and accountability.
Those returning from these experiences, according to Mervyn, bring back invaluable knowledge, discipline, and a reinforced sense of national duty. Sustained investment in cadet training, he concludes, is vital for cultivating safer communities and robust leadership pathways, asserting that strong youth are fundamental to a resilient and secure Fiji.
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