JDF chief Wemyss-Gorman debuts memoir Life, Duty & Command on Amazon

Vice-Admiral Antonette Wemyss-Gorman, Chief of Defence Staff of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), has published her first memoir, Life, Duty & Command, on Amazon on Sunday.

Within a day of going on sale, the title entered Amazon’s Best Seller list in the Jamaica, Caribbean and West Indies History category.

Life, Duty & Command follows the career of the first woman to command Jamaica’s armed forces, from her upbringing in the countryside through many years of service in the JDF. Drawing on accounts of resilience, discipline, leadership and national service, the book sets out the experiences that formed her personal and professional path.

The work also considers perseverance, breaking barriers, mentorship, sacrifice and purpose, and the personal dimensions of military leadership and nation-building. Framed around Jamaican identity and lessons drawn from leadership on the world stage, it is pitched at young professionals, women in leadership, members of the diaspora, students and readers striving for excellence despite difficult odds.

On the book’s release, Wemyss-Gorman said she wrote the memoir to encourage others to see what determination and service can achieve.

“I chose to write Life, Duty & Command because I wanted young people, especially those from humble beginnings, to understand that leadership is not reserved for a select few. Your circumstances do not define the limits of your future. In addition, the chronicling of women’s contribution has been limited and I was encouraged to pen my own story as a reminder that with discipline, courage and commitment to purpose, it is possible to rise beyond expectations and create meaningful impact in any field one chooses,” she said.

The publication adds to a record of firsts for the Chief of Defence Staff, whose tenure continues to draw attention from Jamaicans at home and overseas.

Life, Duty & Command is on sale worldwide through Amazon. An official Jamaican launch is to be announced, with book-signing events planned locally, across the region and internationally.