“What you do today will shape your world tomorrow.”

Naval Office Candidate Hope lives by this quote.

 By Dixie Ann Black

Hallandale born, Fort Lauderdale raised, Reshad Akeem Hope has been selected as one of the Navy’s “Hometown Heroes”, a program that highlights the Navy’s newest incoming officers. It is a sort of boot camp for Navy officers. It is NOT for the faint of heart.

Officer Candidate School (OCS) is a thirteen-week program that takes the candidates through four to eight weeks of Marine Core drill instructions; trainings, push-ups, etc. Basically, it is considered discipline through pain. The next five weeks are leadership and development training. Each OCS class starts with 100 students. The Navy graduates 1600 new officers each year.

OCS was once based in Pensacola, Florida but has been moved to New Port, Rhode Island. In 2020 the Navy started the “Hometown Heroes” to raise public awareness of OCS and the officers’ programs. Public Affairs Officer for Naval Service Training Command, Darwin Lam and Lieutenant Commander Phil Chitty explained that less than one percent of the U.S. population joins the Navy. They note an increasing divide between civilians and the Navy/military due to a lack of public understanding of what the country’s armed forces do.

The Lieutenant explains that the military does much more than fights wars. It protects U.S. interests all over the world, giving rise to many career opportunities. On an aircraft carrier for instance, there are about one thousand sailors on board with a range of duties, from Chaplin, doctors and lawyers to other support for the airwing. The Navy engages in humanitarian efforts and assists in disaster relief around the world. This Hometown Heroes program is designed to keep the military on the minds of the public and help them understand the work, culture and language of the military.

That brings us to OC Hope. Hope is the second of twelve children. He has a twin brother, but he is quick to point out with a laugh, “I came out first!”

Growing up in Fort Lauderdale, Reshad adds, “I grew up kinda rough.”

But he learned through his experiences in the Navy that, “Whether you grew up rich or poor, we all go through the same thing.” He reflects that growing up, he was headed for trouble. He attributes his change in direction to one man, “Coach Roberts changed my life.”

Reshad attended Arthur Ashe Middle school. “It’s a vocational school now. But back then we had a team, the Carolina Panthers. I was a ‘pretty boy’ and wanted to quit the team. Coach Roberts taught me discipline. He helped me get in shape.”

From that start, Reshad went on to attend Dillard High School (class of 2011), worked in the community at local fast foods joints, going on to Excelsior College where he graduated with a degree in Business Management (class of 2021). He enlisted in the Navy, rising to the rank of drill instructor, Recruit Division Commander (RDC).

Hope chuckles as he explains, “That’s the person that screams at the new recruits, gets them in shape and teaches them military lifestyle.”

During those four and a half years Hope had the opportunity to see the world. He has been deployed near Yemen, spent months at a time at sea, visited Spain, Italy, the Middle East, Israel and more. He brought in one New Year in Rome.

Now OC Hope has his eye on the prize. As an officer, he wants to protect the seas and the country. He also wants help represent African Americans and other people of color in the Navy. He wants to have an effect that creates “changes in instruction and the way we do business” so that more cultural aspects will be taken into consideration.

OC Hope sees himself having a long career in the Navy. With nine years completed, he plans on serving for another 26 years.

He has been married for five years to his wife Ahdina. She and their two young sons live in New Jersey while he is in OC School in Rhode Island. But Hope finds time to see his family, including his parents and siblings in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

He misses the food and diversity of South Florida and may well retire in Florida. Meanwhile he sows into his younger siblings every chance he gets. He has this message for the younger folk who may be at risk of getting into trouble as he was, “Leave the environment. See how the rest of the world acts. This will lead to your growth.

“People, are what are important in life; the love of people and being able to change people’s lives. It takes patience, not just a superhero move, but picking them up when they mess up.

“Don’t place too much value on material things. A brief moment of robbery can cost you 10 to 15 years in prison. That’s why I live by the quote, “What you do today will shape your world tomorrow.”