The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bharrat Jagdeo, in his address at the Commissioning Parade of SOC #43 and Reserve Officers’ Course #15 yesterday, congratulated the elevated members of the disciplined services on their achievements and urged them to become a part of the vision envisioned for Guyana.
He said, “While I speak of what we have achieved as a country thus far, I urge that we take our collective attentions firmly focused on the future and on the task that is still before us; as a country we are consolidating the important gains we have already made. We now have before us a vision of Guyana to come, one that is modern and prosperous, one that presents opportunities for fulfillment.”
President Jagdeo said, “It is a vision of Guyana fully prepared for the future, harnessing the most modern technology, facilitating the delivery of affordable and reliable bandwidth in households across the country, promoting the creation of thousands of technology-based jobs and equipping our people with skills needed to take advantage of opportunities of tomorrow. It is a vision of Guyana optimising on its strategic geographic location, serving as a bridge between the Caribbean and South America, encouraging greater physical linkages with our neighbours and ensuring that these linkages result in expanding benefits to our people”.
He stated that it is a vision of a Guyana with an economy that is diversified to reduce vulnerability with strong fundamentals to reinforce our resilience to withstand external shocks, but also a Guyana where the weak and vulnerable are protected and assisted so that they too can play a meaningful part in the future.
He said, “As young members of the disciplined forces, and moreso as young citizens of our country, you are to see yourself as more than just a passing interest in this vision and transformation already well underway in our country. It goes without saying the Guyana of tomorrow belongs to the young people of today; more than any other group in our country, it is our youths who have diverse vested interest in ensuring that the visions that I have outlined are realized. “
President Jagdeo stated that for this reason he encourages the members of the disciplined services on the parade to be a part of this vision, not merely as passive beneficiaries, but as young Guyanese with a useful contribution to make and an important role in ensuring this vision is realised.
President Jagdeo referred to the Guyana economy that remains stable even through the worse of the still unresolved global financial and economic crisis, and at a time when many of its sister Caricom countries continue to reel from the effects of this crisis.
The 2011 $164B budget which was recently passed by the National Assembly demonstrates the steadfastness of the government’s commitment to the development of Guyana, he said.
Meanwhile, at the Guyana Defence Force Commissioning Parade Standard Officers’ Course (SOC) # 43 and Reserve Officers’ Course # 15 yesterday, 51 ensigns were elevated at Drill Square, Camp Ayanganna.
There are 29 ensigns from the GDF, 14 ensigns from the Guyana Police Force , four ensigns from the Guyana Fire Service, three ensigns from the Guyana Prison Service and one ensign from the Belize Defence Force.
GDF Chief of Staff, Commodore Gary Best, in his message, told the parade that the event mirrors that of the Commander of Chief’s vision for the Joint Services as it reflects his thoughts with regard to joint comprehensive training of its officers.
He said, “This, I believe is a good thing for us, as it leads to commonality of our training, which is intended to offer flexibility to face the challenges of the present security environment. You are being elevated at a time when new and evolving threats are surfacing on the landscape and your training has been tailored to adequately respond to those challenges.”
Best added that the parade signals the satisfied objective of the SOC #43 and the Reserve Officers’ Course # 15 and therefore they were commissioned yesterday.
The SOC #43 and the Reserve Officers’ Course #15 was developed to provide training not only for new army officers, but also for new officers of the other services. The SOC therefore provides a solid foundation for the subsequent professional development of all cadets entering the GDF. It is consequently only an introduction to the officer training and development systems of all Military and Para Military services in Guyana, and must be supplemented by the appropriate specialist and technical training of the relevant services.
The syllabus of the course includes an intensive programme of military skills and tactics, rigorous physical fitness, team activities designed to promote stamina and group spirit, leadership and command methods, management techniques, military law, and national policy.