GDF successfully completes Exercise Greenheart

The patrol caught in the ambush

The Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) ‘Exercise Greenheart,’ which is aimed at testing the preparedness of troops to operate in close country (jungle) operations closed yesterday in the Bartica-Potaro area of Region 7.

Paratrooper landing in the community ground
Paratrooper landing in the community ground

While the annual exercise had two different demonstrations in completely different scenarios and situations, the ‘Final Attack’ early yesterday morning was completed as President David Granger and Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan looked on.

Colonel George Lewis explained that the exercise, which started last week Tuesday saw the troops crossing the starting line and advancing for three days for over a total of 24.5 kilometres (approximately 15 miles). Once they reached the targeted area, they went into a defence position, he said.

“They would’ve gone into a defence position in the jungle which we call a harbour position and in the harbour position they would’ve gone through routine procedures,” Lewis said, pointing out that once they had assumed position, routine procedures such as patrolling, collecting information on the enemy, and preparation of the defence were the next steps.

From there, the soldiers conducted close corners recognizance to assess the enemy position which would assist them in formulating a plan of attack. “Artillery fire, guns and smoke are meant to suppress the troops so that the force can attack and at the end of the attack they would have checked for how much ammo was lost, the death and injury count and even take the enemy prisoners of war,” Lewis explained. He said the annual exercise was