Cadet pilots to pursue training in South Africa |20 April 2016

A group of 10 cadet pilots who have followed a six-week basic military training programme with the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces will now continue their training in South Africa, at the 43 Aviation School in Port Alfred.

The seven young men and three young women received their certificates during a graduation ceremony which was held yesterday afternoon at the Seychelles Defence Academy (SDA) on South East Island.

Present at the ceremony were the commander of the SDA Lieutenant Colonel Edwards Anacoura, director of the Cadets Pilot Training Programme Christopher Lespoir, parents and a group of 24 young soldiers who have followed their basic military training alongside the aspiring pilots.

The ceremony was the first ever held at the SDA, calling Air Seychelles Captain Selwyn Lespoir and the students’ mentor to describe it as an eventful occasion for the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF) and for the local aviation industry. Reminding his students that he was himself a recruit and has been a pilot for 19 years now, he added that the training which has included organisation design, leadership, armed and unarmed combat as well as navigation will help them see through their aviation career.

“From today, in everything you will be doing in your life, there will be something from your military training,” he told them.

Cadet pilot Calvin Laporte replied that the training has represented one of the biggest challenges they will have to face in life. Adding that the culture shock has got the better of them and they are now mentally and psychologically stronger, he said they now believe that with perseverance and determination, everything can be achieved. Reminding his colleagues that they still have a long way to go and asking them to never give up, he concluded that without the military training which has brought a life-changing experience their civilian life would not be as promising as it is now.

Lieutenant Colonel Anacoura has commended the cadets for the positive characteristics they have shown and for the success achieved. He remarked that some of them have not only reached their goals, but have surpassed them. He added that it was gratifying to see they have matured and are now ready to tackle their lifelong education and challenges to come. The qualities gained will guide them through their journey, concluded Lieutenant Anacoura.

Following the two-year training in South Africa, the young pilots are expected to join the aviation industry as commercial pilots.