THE inclement weather shifted the Commissioning Parade for the Standard Officers’ Course #45 indoors at Camp Ayanganna yesterday where Commander-in-Chief, President Donald Ramotar decorated 10 Ensigns with their badges of rank and highlighted the importance of military service.

Among them is a lone female, 20-year-old Stacy Cadogan who, along with the other nine, were elevated to Second Lieutenant upon completion of the Standard Officers’ Course # 45 at Camp Stephenson Timehri where the Colonel Ulric Pilgrim Cadet School is located.
Four of the Ensigns are currently on overseas training with three at separate academies in the United States of America and one at the Air Force Academy in China.
The Standard Officers’ Course # 45 commenced in March last year with 38 officer cadets undergoing military training that encompassed open country warfare at the Colonel John Clark Military School in Tacama and jungle training at the Colonel Robert Mitchell Jungle and Amphibious Training School.
The final leg of the training was conducted in Region Nine, where the Ensigns underwent mountain climbing in the Takutu Mountain range and a tread to the Kaieteur Falls.
Ensign Godwin Cameron emerged the best graduating student, receiving the Sword of Honour.
Their Commander-in-Chief commended them for a job well done and the bold step that they have taken to dedicate their energies to military service of the country which he described as one of the highest services “one can give to his or her country.”
“It speaks of character, speaks of patriotism and it demonstrates a willingness to sacrifice for the greater good. I am happy too that you have chosen the army since it is one of the most important institutions in our country,” he stated.
Today, the Commander-in-Chief will present the Ensigns with their Instrument of Commission confirming their status of Officers of the GDF, in service to the state.
In his feature address to the officers yesterday in the main Auditorium at Camp Ayanganna where relatives also gathered, President Ramotar expressed the hope that their training has instilled in them the values of leadership.
“We look forward to and expect that the officers of the Guyana Defence Force will become good role models in our society. This is particularly important because today young people are faced with many challenges. Some unscrupulous individuals keep lurking to entrap youths into a life of drugs and crime and other anti social activities,” the President said.
He reminded the officers of their principled task to safeguard the territorial integrity of the country and its borders, but that they should also understand the demands of national security today.
In Guyana’s bid to safeguard and perpetuate investment and economic growth in the country, the Commander-in-Chief said security is a pre-requisite, and in this regard, urged the army to support other law officers and civilians in fighting priority security concerns like narco-trafficking.
As he had urged when the GDF hosted its Officers’ Conference recently, President Ramotar said the army must always maintain the public’s trust and to be au fait with current issues like science and technology which criminal masterminds are using to their advantage and other elements in the knowledge based economy.