THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) continues to demonstrate its dedication to capacity building and empowerment for its ranks with the recent graduation of five of its ranks from the Guyana Defence Force’s Drill Instructor Course 2018-01.

The roughly seven-week course, which commenced on April 18 and concluded on June 8, consisted of 15 participants, five of whom were ranks of the Guyana Police Force.

Those ranks were: Corporal 21917 Akeem Hoosein; Lance Corporal 21585 Elijah Carruthers; Lance Corporal 22321 Jamal Branco; Lance Corporal 21825 Rudyard Thomas; and Constable 22052 Dixie Harry.

Public Relations Office Jairam Ramlakhan said that the course focussed on a variety of different aspects of disciplines ranging from physical education, rifle exercises and pace stick drills, teaching practices, sword drills, ceremonial parades, funeral parades and colour-party drills.

He explained that the training the ranks received has certainly moulded them, in the hope that they will go on to share it with their colleagues in their respective divisions.

Ramlakhan said that the ranks were continuously assessed during the course, bringing much awareness to the need for, and importance of, personal discipline.

Lance Corporal Branco, who is stationed at The Felix Austin Police College at Adventure, Berbice was nominated Best Drill Student as he demonstrated a high and consistent level of personal and overall discipline throughout the course.

The primary objective of the course, Ramlakhan said, was for “Non- Commissioned Officers to conduct, teach and supervise drills at all levels, and advise Senior Commanders on Ceremonial Parades and aspects of drills.”

It is through such collaborative activities, he said, that ranks gain invaluable knowledge and experience, which will better equip them to more effectively serve their country.