The Guyana Defence Force on Monday saw the graduation of its second female paratrooper at the headquarters of the 31 Special Forces Squadron at Base Camp Stephenson. Chief of Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips, extended congratulations to Lance Corporal (LCPL) Indrani Lyte on her achievement. LCPL Lyte was among 17 soldiers who successfully completed the Grade Three Special Forces and the Basic Paratrooper’s courses.
A release from the GDF said that in his remarks, Brigadier Phillips explained that the graduates were now not just soldiers trained in a specialist field but that they had now also become brothers and sisters in the force’s family of paratroopers.
‘This is a special unit. Your training is specialised and is geared toward special missions. I urge you to read on the history of Paratrooping the world over. You will find that Paratrooping is not only used to deliver men into combat or other operational zones. It is not only relevant in war time but also in times of peace. Paratrooping is used to facilitate relief work when supplies, food, medicines and equipment need to be provided in disaster zones and situations”, he was reported as stating.
The release said that the brigadier, himself a Brazilian-trained paratrooper, was joined by Base Commander, Base Camp Stephenson Wilbert Lee and Commander of the First Infantry Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Fitzroy Warde, both also paratroopers, in welcoming the new paratroopers into the family.
