WILLEMSTAD - On Friday, 20 candidates of the new 2024 Coast Guard Basic Training marched into the Parera Naval Base after completing four intensive introductory weeks. The candidates, from Aruba, Curaçao, and St. Maarten, successfully completed the challenging introduction period and the final exercise.
During the introductory weeks, also called the "Together Strong" weeks, the recruits spent four weeks under the guidance of Coast Guard instructors, attending classroom lessons and participating in various orientation camps. The camps involved marching for kilometers, extensive swimming, cooking their own meals, building rafts, and completing amphibious exercises. The final exercise began on Thursday evening and concluded on Friday morning at 8:00 at Parera Naval Base. For this final test, the recruits marched and paddled at sea, with the naval base as their final destination. Upon arrival, they received a warm welcome and loud applause from their future Coast Guard colleagues and other personnel at the base.
These introductory weeks mark the beginning of the year-long Coast Guard Basic Training (BOK). This phase also signals the close collaboration between the Coast Guard and the Law Enforcement & Security Training Institute (ORV). The 2024 BOK candidates will follow the recognized SBO-2 program for Junior Coast Guard Crew Member, delivered jointly by the ORV and the Coast Guard. Next week, the 20 candidates will begin the basic skills module, which includes first aid and firearms training, lasting eight weeks. The Coast Guard wishes the candidates much success.