By Amin Kef Sesay
Some Sierra Leoneans living abroad are positively excelling in different spheres of life to the admiration of many. One of such Sierra Leoneans is Rugiatu Lamaisha Sheriff who happens to be the daughter of Alpha Sheriff popularly known as APC Sheriff, who, among others, was recently evacuated from the country by the American Embassy because of the advent of COVID-19 in Sierra Leone.
Just recently Rugiatu excellently graduated from High School as well as the United States Navy JROTC Program as Deputy Executive Battalion Officer.
This young Sierra Leonean has so far exemplarily set the record of being the first black woman to occupy the position of Deputy Battalion Executive Officer in 45 years. She has now been accepted by the Texas A&M University as Navy Officer and studying to become a Bio-technician. Upon completion she will be among the first in line to face any disease outbreak.
Rugiatu’s mom was in the US Air Force and her father, Alpha Sheriff, aka APC Sheriff was in the US Army. For their daughter to be a Navy Officer then means that indeed the Sheriff family had and is still positively contributing to the United States security sector.
Since 1876, Texas A&M has been a major source of commissioned officers for America’s armed services. In fact, during World War II, Texas A &M commissioned more officers than West Point.
When an eligible person wants to serve in the Navy or Marine Corps as an officer, Texas A7M can offer help in order to join thousands of former Aggie officers and be part of the institution’s longstanding tradition of service to America.
The Naval ROTC Unit at Texas A&M University provides qualified young men and women the opportunity to learn the mission of the Naval Services and pursue a commission as an officer in the United States Navy or United States Marine Corps.
The Naval ROTC Unit operates as the Department of Naval Science at Texas A &M and is one of the largest Naval ROTC Units in the United States.
Graduates can be found serving around the world. Officers commissioned as Ensigns in the United States Navy have the option, based on physical and aptitude qualification, to serve in the Aviation (Pilot or Naval Flight Officer), Surface Warfare (Conventional or Nuclear), Nuclear Submarine, or Special Warfare (SEAL or Explosive Ordnance Disposal) communities.
Officers commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the United States Marine Corps can serve in one of more than 36 military operational specialties in three categories including Aviation (Pilot or Naval Flight Officer), Combat Arms (Infantry, Artillery, Armor, Assault Amphibians, Combat Engineers, etc.), or Combat Service Support (Logistics, Supply, Data Processing, Finance, etc.).
Naval ROTC students may participate fully in all aspects of university life. This includes serving in positions with Student Government or the Memorial Student Center, belonging to campus clubs and service organizations, or participating in religious, social, professional or personal interest organizations. The NROTC Unit also sponsors and advises special units within the Corps of Cadets; SEAL Platoon and RECON Company.
In a brief chat with this medium, APC Sheriff said, as parents, they are very proud of their daughter, Rugiatu Lamaisha Sheriff, furthering that they will give her all the necessary support in order for her to achieve her ambition and dream.
