A former head boy of St Therese's Upper Basic School in Kanifing South, Alkali Jahateh has become one of the youngest African-born lieutenants in the United States Army.

According to his cousin in The Gambia, Alkali was recently promoted after successfully graduating from the US Army CBRN School in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri - the primary American training school specialised in military chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defence.

The young lieutenant is one of the many bright young Gambians serving in the US Army. 

Among the first to congratulate Alkali is famous US-based Gambian realtor, Musa Jallow. He wrote on Facebook: "CONGRATULATIONS LIEUTENANT JAHATEH! We are so very proud of you! Thank you for your service!"

Before travelling to the USA, the young lieutenant was a medical student at the University of The Gambia. He also studied Cardiology at the Brighton and Sussex Medical School in the United Kingdom.