THE Guyana Defence Force on Friday graduated 276 soldiers who have completed 10 weeks of training on its first Basic Recruit Course for the year.

The passing-out parade for this latest batch of entrants was held on the Drill Square at the Colonel John Clarke Military School at Tacama, Upper Berbice, the GDF said in a press release.

In his feature address to the new soldiers, Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Mark Phillips, congratulated the soldiers for their endurance, leading to their successful completion of the course.  He expressed the hope that the process of training has instilled in the new soldiers, the qualities of serving correctly and being effective ambassadors of the GDF, and by extension the country.

In this regard, he singled out the core value of discipline, and stressed that to be good soldiers, they must also understand their rights and obligations under military law, and at all times practise and uphold the values and standards of the GDF.

Importantly too, Brigadier Phillips reminded them that it was incumbent that they keep continuing education in focus as they perform their duties as soldiers. “During your career, work hard, be disciplined and make use of all the opportunities available to you for your professional and educational development,” he urged.

Three hundred and five recruits started training at the end of May but a total of 30 withdrew for various reasons. Two-thirds of the new soldiers were trained at the Colonel John Clarke Military School (CJCMS) at Tacama, while the others were trained at the GDF Base Camp Seweyo on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway. Those trained at Seweyo have been posted to the technical and specialty units of the GDF, the release stated.

Delroy Blacket, a resident of Paradise Village on the East Coast of Demerara and Brendon Holder of Mabaruma, North West District, graduated Best Students of the Seweyo and Tacama stints, respectively.

Vernon Harding, the rank who was injured in the accidental shooting incident, was also promoted to the rank of Private. He continues to improve at the medical facilities at Base Camp Ayanganna.

The Basic Recruit Course provides induction training for entrants at the Ordinary Rank level. It is intended to produce fit, obedient, loyal and disciplined soldiers who possess high standards of skills and marksmanship abilities, the release added.