The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) last Friday began its yearly Officer Cadets’ training at the Colonel Ulric Pilgrim Officer Cadet School (CUPOCS) at Base Camp Stephenson, Timehri.
The Standard Officers’ Course Number 42 (SOC#42) was declared officially opened by Chief of Staff of the GDF, Commodore Gary Best.
According to a GDF press release, the officer cadets will undergo approximately one year of rigorous training designed to challenge their physical and mental acuity. The training which is expected to conclude in February 2010 will be complimented with various military courses along with studies in environmental studies, administration and the law of armed conflict.
The SOC#42, according to the release, is made up of 25 cadets from the GDF, 20 from the Guyana Police Force, five from the Guyana Prison Service, four from the Guyana Fire Service and one from the Belize Defence Force.
These 55 cadets will be trained by 11 instructors at the Colonel John Clark Military School, Tacama, the Jungle and the Amphibious Training School (JATS) at Makouria, CUPOCS and at Camp Ayanganna.
Speaking to the cadets on mastering military skills, Best told them to, “maximise your training and be mindful of the need to exude professionalism. Uphold your own and the force’s integrity, through displays of proper conduct and superlative leadership.” Cadets were also encouraged to understand their environment, politics, governance and internal relations among other things by the Chief of Staff.
Meanwhile, at the opening of the Basic Recruit Course (BRC) last Thursday, the commodore also expressed similar sentiments to the recruits encouraging them to learn all that they can. “Constant learning will take you up and through the ranks of the force and will enable you to prepare yourselves to be productive citizens of our country,” he said. The BRC, the release noted, has already commenced at the Colonel John Clarke Military School at Tacama.
In relation to the SOC#42 course, the release said that while it has begun with 55 cadets, the continuous assessment regime usually results in some attrition. The officer cadet training is conducted annually while the BRC is conducted twice a year; the second BRC is likely to begin later on in the year.
