Acting army Chief-of-Staff Colonel Bruce Lovell has urged the newest recruits to graduate from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Basic Recruit Course to act responsibly and respect the law, while saying they have entered the service at a time when it is facing greater scrutiny like all public institutions.
“Greater scrutiny is made possible by the increase in technology – texting, smart phones, Facebook, YouTube, Skype, Twitter,” Lovell said at the passing out parade at the National Cultural Centre on Thursday for the 297 ranks that have successfully completed the Basic Recruit Course 2012-02.
According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), he called on them to do the right thing when confronted by temptation and urged them to take advantage of the opportunities the force has to offer so that when they leave it will be with better character, qualifications and skills.
“As the stable band, we hold the society together because we are responsible for the nation’s defence and security… when the public has no confidence in them, that nation is in danger of falling apart,” Lovell was quoted as saying.
He also urged them to always do their best and behave in a manner befitting the GDF. He said they should be witnesses for the army, while adding that for them to fulfil this mandate, they must have loyalty, integrity, a sense of identity, and duty and discipline.
The course, which was the second such for the year, commenced on August 20 and formally ended yesterday after a 16-week training period at the Colonel John Clarke Military School at Tacama, Base Camp Stephenson, Timehri and the Colonel Robert Mitchell Jungle and Amphibious Training School, at Makouria.
GINA noted that from an initial complement of 355, there were 58 dropouts, which was mainly due to indiscipline. It said recruits were trained in foot and arms drills, field craft, skill at arms, physical training, national policy, map reading and navigation, open country warfare, close country warfare, internal security, regimentation, military law, military service and first-aid.
22531 RCT Sewpaul Singh was named Best Student, with 22475 Jaosh Thomas the runner-up. Singh was also awarded for Best Military Knowledge. 22445 RCT Chitdanand Jagdeo, 22568 RCT Stephon Thomas, and Jaosh Thomas were also awarded for Best Shot, Best Drill and Best Fitness, respectively. In addition, 1 section of the number 3 platoon was named Best Section and the number 4 platoon Best Platoon.
