UP CLOSE … with Second Lieutenant Connie Anthony of the Seychelles Coast Guard |29 November 2016

‘Never let other people make decisions for

you or influence your decisions in anyway’

By Marie-Anne Lepathy

As a young girl she always dreamt of becoming a veterinarian but gradually, while growing up, her mind changed. Today she has reached the rank of second lieutenant and is a navigation officer on the Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG) patrol vessel Etoile. She is the third in command on the vessel with between 20 to 25 sailors under her command each time it goes out on a mission.

When I met her recently, Ms Anthony was eager and very enthusiastic to talk about her career path which, thanks to her very hard work, perseverance, commitment, dedication and love of her chosen profession, has led her albeit at still a very young age to her present position.

‘I wanted to do something that few women were doing’

Fascinated by the sea, Ms Anthony started considering a career in the maritime sector as she was growing up. Though prone to seasickness, she fought until she overcame the discomfort and unease caused by the movements of the vessels.

“I wanted to do something that few women were doing, something different and my mind was made and I remained firm on my decision. I wanted to work at the SCG even though at that time I was not too sure yet as what,” she recalled.

She started informing herself about different positions at the SCG base and the different requirements needed to start a career in this particular wing of the defence force.

“I always wanted a career which would make a difference in the lives of other young women and be a source of inspiration and motivation for them,” Ms Anthony said.

She started a few months after completing her training at the Maritime Training Centre (MTC) in 2011 where she studied fisheries science, basic navigation and basic mechanic, among different other subjects.

“I never regretted my choice,” Ms Anthony said, admitting her thirst for knowledge.

With the SCG she started off with a six-month recruitment training at the Seychelles Defence Academy (SDA), but only a mere two months after she started her job as an apprentice seaman onboard PS Andromache. She was selected to follow a navigation training course in Brest, France in 2012.

This earned her a diploma in navigation and a couple of months later, the following year, the young female officer packed her suitcase again and was off this time to England for more but tougher training in the winter weather.

“My only problem was adapting with the cold weather and being the smallest among 90 other cadets from different parts of the world,” she recalled.

“The first phase was more infantry training as many of the students had no military training background,” she said.

“It was a really tough training and very challenging,” she added.

“There were times when I really felt like quitting, but having my father, Francis Anthony and members of my family keeping in touch with me, really encouraged me. But one really has to be strong and determined to endure the rigid training. But with my determination I never showed how I felt, because I went for this training and committed myself to it I therefore strived hard to keep the Seychelles flag flying high,” she pointed out.

She remarked that since she was the smallest she became the tower of strength and encouragement for many of her colleagues who were also feeling down and tired.

The other phase of the training was related to the young woman’s chosen field – navigation.

“I was assigned different tasks and missions at sea and as I had to play the role of a commander, I had to assign duties to and lead the men under my command,” Ms Anthony said.

As part of the third phase of her training, Ms Anthony spent three months as a cadet officer on an aircraft carrier with the opportunity for stops in different ports of the world.

A part of this last phase of her training which the young woman will never forget was the time spent helping typhoon victims in the Philippines in November 2013.

“It was a great experience and an operation that never crossed my mind that I would one day witness let alone be part of. I was proud to represent Seychelles and the SPDF during this operation,” Ms Anthony noted.

“Equipment onboard the Royal  Navy vessel HMS Illustrious were all state of the art and the mission was one to bring life-saving supplies to people really in need after losing everything,” she recalled.

She considered her group to be lucky to have been part of the mission which turned out to be a great experience.

Pulling herself together and remaining focused, Ms Anthony succeeded in reaching her goals and she was very happy and proud especially when some members of her family were present for her commissioning.

After her officer cadet course, Ms Anthony also attended the International Sub Lieutenant course in the UK and a Search and Rescue course in the United States.

Today Ms Anthony is very happy and proud of herself. Her greatest satisfaction in her job is when she is out at sea on a mission especially when providing support to a vessel in distress. She also took part in the National Day parade as the platoon commander for PS Etoile last year and this year she was the parade commander for the SPDF female platoon.

‘Listen to your heart, know exactly what you want’

Ms Anthony’s advice to other young women out there who are fascinated by the military but are still struggling to make up their minds as to which wing their interests lie, is “listen to your heart, know exactly what you want, know your field of interest, be committed, disciplined and be ready to make personal sacrifices”.

“Never let other people make decisions for you or influence your decisions in anyway,” Ms Anthony added.

“It is good to listen to advice but at the end of the day you are the one who makes the decision,” she pointed out.

She noted that wherever we are and whatever we do as military officers, we should always remain disciplined, responsible and never forget that we represent the SPDF.

“When you spend time with family and friends you enjoy yourself but at the same time you see and do things differently,” she remarked.

Ms Anthony said when she is in public she has the respect and praise of many people and this is a feeling that warms her heart and urges her to continue to do well in life.

For this, she said, she always feels grateful to everyone – family and friends included but not forgetting the different opportunities that small Seychelles as a small developing island state has succeeded in putting at the disposal of its young people to develop, educate themselves and be what they want to be in life.

“I will always be thankful, grateful and should never forget what my country has done for me,” Ms Anthony said, adding that this is something that one and all should never forget to express gratitude for.

Social life

Ms Anthony is grateful for all the support she has received from her family and her boyfriend. A resident of La Misère, Ms Anthony grew up more with her grandparents. She is the eldest in a family of three children, she has a younger brother and sister and she said she is the only one among her siblings with such an interest but admits she takes after her father who also loves the sea.

During the time that she is not at work Ms Anthony enjoys reading novels, watch mostly the local news, does things around the house and keeps everything in and out of the house in order like any young women, socialises with friends as well as spends time with her boyfriend and family.

“I am a person who is well organised and I make the most of my time when I am not working,” she said. She enjoys her Creole dishes but admits she is not a good cook but has a good chef at home.

Future plans

“Never have I regretted my career choices. I am really happy and proud with what I have achieved so far in my life and career and I am really keen and ambitious, my seniors do encourage me to work hard and have a plan for the future in my career. There is still a lot to learn and I am ready and I will continue to work hard to reach the highest rank possible in my career,” Ms Anthony said confidently.

“If you want to achieve something you need to take it upon yourself to be successful, set your goals and work towards achieving them. The road to get there is not smooth but rough and hard but this helps to make you strong morally, physically and it boosts your confidence,” she added.

As a student she enjoyed the languages and sciences and she is planning to take up further studies of these subjects at A-Level.