Commander-in-Chief, President Donald Ramotar charged 15 GDF ensigns to define themselves by their conduct, at a ceremony held on Wednesday at Base Camp Ayanganna where they were formerly commissioned second lieutenants.
“You made a fine choice in opting to pursue a career in the military. Service and protection of your country is a special distinction [reserved] for those who have aspired to be the finest that they can be. You have chosen a career in military service and today you have reached an important milestone,” Ramotar said in his address to the graduates.
The ranks successfully completed the Standard Officers Course (SOC) #46 which they started last March with a batch of 24 students. The course was developed to provide training, not only new army officers, but also for new officers of other services. Three of 15 officers who graduated and received their badges were from the Belize Defence Force, a report from the Government Information Agency (GINA) said. Second Lieutenant, Simon Gordon received the ‘Best Student’ award; Second Lieutenant, Marion Hernandez from the Belize army, who is the runner-up also received awards for military knowledge and best shot; and Second Lieutenant Steffhon Branche received the award for best drills.
The president pointed out that the GDF’s cooperation with other countries brings the Caricom region closer to the kind of integration that is hoped for and gave assurances that his government will continue to explore areas of collaboration in this regard. The training for the course was rigorous, both physically and mentally, and Ramotar noted, the fact that these officers have passed these gruelling tests is testimony to their diligence, hard work and perseverance; qualities he said that are true to every professional soldier.
“Just as how others have served as an inspiration for you to join the military, you now, are in a position to be role models for future cadets. I want you to appreciate the tremendous privilege and responsibility that this represents,” he asserted.
Ramotar then exhorted them to define themselves not by their rank, but by their conduct and to live up to their responsibilities by acting in a manner that upholds the standards of the GDF. He assured them that the sacrifices that they have made and continue to make are deeply valued by the nation, and pledged that government will do everything within its means to provide them with opportunities for self-improvement within the military.
The president also acknowledged and lauded the skills of the GDF’s Special Forces Officers who led the search operation, and retrieval of the bodies of two persons who perished in the Trans Guyana aircraft crash earlier in the year in one of the country’s densely forested areas.
“The team undertook that mission which required them to use some of the training that they have received in the GDF and they did an outstanding job,” he said.
Nevertheless, the GDF continues to face many challenges which they have to overcome but Ramotar expressed confidence in the skills and abilities of the current leadership of the army to address them. The president also voiced concerns about the number of ranks who have been listed as Absent Without Leave. He reminded the gathering that “Military service is unlike other vocation, where you can simply opt out as you please. Those who stay away from duty without authorisation and permission are imperilling the future of the army, affecting the security of our country and short-changing the taxpayers whose hard earn dollars have provided for their training.”
Army Chief of Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips echoed these sentiments in his address, noting that the training has instilled a higher level of discipline, boosted the confidence and character of the graduates and sharpened their leadership skills, all of which are necessary for service in the Force. He also reminded the group that military work requires judicious and skilful application of technology, aggression and discipline to accomplish given missions and tasks. “This is the professional framework that must now guide your intellectual development as young officers of the Force,” he said.
According to GINA, the course provides a solid foundation for the subsequent professional development of all cadets entering the GDF. It is only an introduction to the officer training and development systems of all military and paramilitary services in Guyana, and must be supplemented by appropriate specialist and technical training.
