Message from the President of the Jamaica Ex-Soldier Association Atlanta Chapter

Retired Warrant Officer Class One Garfield Rowe

 

Dear Ex-Servicemen, Women and Fellow Jamaicans,

 

It is with great pleasure and a distinct honor that I, as founder and President of the newly formed Jamaica Ex-Soldiers Association Atlanta Chapter, welcome you to the Chapter’s historic Inaugural Launch. Our executive committee greatly appreciates you taking the time to spend your evening with us at our “Formal Dinner, Dance and Award Ceremony” having travelled from various parts of the world to be here.

 

The Jamaica Ex-Soldier Association Atlanta Chapter is the newest chapter to be formed under the JESA Banner and it is our shared experiences as Ex-Servicemen, Women, Families and Friends that connect all of us in a special way.  The mission and commitment of the Jamaica Ex-Soldiers Association Atlanta Chapter remains the same: to keep our Ex-Service Members, Families and Friends connected to the JDF and each other, as well as to support our Ex-serving members who have fallen on hard times. This courtesy will also be extended to current serving members who may require additional help from outside the JDF.  Therefore, our goals and objectives are to help them pursue theirs, it’s that simple. 

 

Membership in the Jamaica Ex-Soldiers Association is encouraged, and can take effect the moment you retire from the JDF, as your relationship with the Jamaica Defence Force should not end at retirement.  There is much that you as an Ex-Soldier can, and are encouraged to do for the less fortunate Ex-Servicemen, Women, Families, Friend and the Georgia Community at large. The strength of our Atlanta Chapter is in our diversity. The Jamaica Ex-Soldiers Association Atlanta Chapter offers valuable networking opportunities that can and will harness solid professional and personal relationships.

 

One of my first initiatives as the Chapter President will be to upgrade our social networking capabilities, in order to reach all Ex-members via WhatsApp, Facebook and other social media. This facilitates pro-activity of JESA members’ engagement in future endeavors.  With that being said I am extending an invitation for all of you to return to your various Chapters for their annual reunions and Muster 2024 while supporting the various JESA Chapters and the JDF.  Join the JESA Network to help prepare our current and future soldiers for life after the JDF.

 

This year Jamaica and the JDF celebrated 60 years of Independence and inceptions respectively. Throughout those years, the JDF has produced some remarkable individuals, some of whom are being honored tonight. My 32 years of service serving the JDF remains one of the most treasured experiences of my life. I am therefore using this opportunity to encourage all of you to get involved in your hometown through one of our JESA chapters.  Help us recruit Ex-Serving members from all era to the various chapters as we endeavor to build upon the projects and initiatives set by former JESA Presidents. In addition, develop new action plans to ensure that the Jamaica Ex-Soldiers Association continues to serve its members and the less fortunate Ex-Servicemen and Women of the Jamaica Defence Force.

 

This evening’s award ceremony recognizes some of our extraordinary Ex-Soldiers in various category. We take this opportunity to honor them during this launch, because they have exemplified the mantra of: “To whom much is given much is expected.”  We commend them for their outstanding contributions to the communities that they have supported without expecting anything in return.

 

We the Executive Members are very passionate about the Jamaica Ex-Soldiers Association Atlanta Chapter and the JDF, because they provide us with an excellent opportunity to continue to add value while connecting with an amazing community and making it much stronger.  On behalf of my executive committee and the members of the newly formed Jamaica Ex-Soldiers Association Atlanta Chapter, I thank you for sharing this occasion with us and we look forward to working hand in hand as “Ex-Soldiers Serving to Enrich the Lives of Others to help the less fortunate”

 

Please accept my best wishes for a successful and enjoyable evening.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

David Wint, President

Jamaica Ex-Soldier