– the first officers to complete an Associate Degree in General Studies, entire Jungle

Warfare Course, Airborne Training as value-added in restructured programme
AT a historic Commissioning Parade held by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), on Wednesday, at D’Urban Park, Homestretch Avenue, 55 ensigns from the Standard Officer Course 50 (SOC 50) and the Reserve Officer Course 16, (ROC 16) were decorated with new badges of rank, as Second Lieutenant (2 Lt.), by Commander–in-Chief, President David Granger, himself a retired army officer.

The new officers comprised 28 from SOC 50, of which three are members of the Belize Defence Force (BDF) and one from the Guyana Prison Service (GPS); and 27 from ROC 16, with six being females.

It was also a memorable occasion for 28 graduates from SOC 50, in that they created history by being the first to be graduates of the University of Guyana, with an Associate Degree in General Studies.

The parade made up of the 55 ensigns, 20 officers and 374 ranks, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel (Lt. Col) Sean Harmon, was watched by an impressive crowd that included Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo; other ministers of Government; Chief of Staff of the GDF, Brigadier Patrick West; officers of the Belize and Jamaican army, former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, other officers of the GDF and relatives and friends of the ensigns, among others.

The parade got underway with the arrival of the Commander-in-Chief who was greeted with loud cheers, especially from those watching from the stands. He was then accorded the Presidential Salute by the troops, after which Lt. Col, Harmon invited him to conduct the traditional inspection of the troops. President Granger took the salute from the troops, looking resplendent in ceremonial wear, with the crowd showing their cheering appreciation, as each contingent made its way onto the tarmac.

Receiving the Sword of Honour for his feat as the Best Student of SOC 50 was 2 Lt. Jehu West of the GDF, who also copped awards for Military Knowledge and Best Shot; 2Lt. Mark Choc of the BDF won the Best Fitness and the Best International Student Awards, while 2Lt..Freddy Grijalva was awarded Best Academic Achievement. 2Lt. Shevi Sparman of the GDF won Best Drill.

For ROC 16, the Sword of Honour was awarded to 2Lt. Robert Skeete, along with awards for Best Fitness and Military Knowledge; Runner-up Best Student was 2Lt. Trevaughn Waldron; the Best Drill Award was won by 2Lt. Davin Washington; with the award for Best Shot going to 2Lt. Brian Jeffrey.

President Granger, in a congratulatory greeting to the new officers of SOC50 and the ROC 16, respectively, challenged them to uphold the motto of the Colonel Ulric Pilgrim Officer Cadet School – I serve Guyana, adding that their behavior must manifest the School’s maxim of Loyalty, Honesty, Worth, Courage, Discipline and Steadfastness.

The Commander-in-Chief reminded too, that the commissions are “not merely certificates to mark the successful completion of a training course. They constitute the lawful license for you to exercise authority as officers of the Guyana Defence Force.” Officership in the GDF, entails “The obligation to obey the Constitution of the Republic of Guyana; to comply with the provisions of the Defence Act of the Laws of Guyana; and to practise the Values and Standards of the GDF,” he noted.

Brigadier West congratulated the new officers of SOC 50 and then reminded of their new achievement as graduates of the University of Guyana. He charged them to be. exemplary leaders with a greater task-oriented perspective; to establish face-to-face, first line leadership; be concerned with the development of their subordinates; to be the embodiment of dedication; good managers of the resources that will be under their care and also, to uphold the Constitution of their respective nations with professionalism and honour the uniforms they wear.

To the new reserve officers, he said “Welcome to the Officer Corps!” Adding, that he was aware that they were all professionals, each possessing needed skills that will augment the regular arm of the army. They too, were charged “to be good leaders who are not afraid to make decisions, and are men and women who will stand tall and inspire others.”
Also, to be men and women of courage and compassion, who are confident and inspire confidence in others, and remember that Identity, Discipline, Duty, Integrity and Loyalty must continue to remain the core values.

The SOC which was patterned after the British, was restructured with the aim of ensuring a more rounded and educated officer who is prepared to fulfill the role in promoting “Total National Defence,” Initially, the duration was six months, but subsequent changes saw it being run over 12 months. In 2017 the curriculum and duration was further restructured and it is now designed for 24 months.

The restructuring of the programme is in the context of Commander-in-Chief, President David Granger’s “Total National Defence” policy, which stipulates that all the instruments of national power be combined to protect Guyana’s territory. The policy also aims to ensure that the Regular and Reserve Forces are provided with the resources they need to perform their missions over the next five years.

In articulating the policy, President Granger said that the long-term objective is to ensure that Guyanese will be able to depend on the Defence Force, which will ensure the safety of the citizens and the security of the country. He emphasised that “…the age of very visible warfare, in the form of harassment on our borders or the intrusion of gunboats into our waters is not yet over.”

The restructured SOC extends the range of knowledge and skills training for potential officers to the extent that, in addition to receiving their Instruments of Commission, for the first time in the history of officer training in Guyana, the officers are also the first group to complete an entire Jungle Warfare Course as well as Airborne Training as Cadets. They were also privileged, in the context of the restructured programme, to have completed extensive Battlefield Engineering Training as well as Equitation training after an almost 30-year hiatus.

The officers have also earned an Associate Degree in General Studies from the University of Guyana.

SOC 50 will go down in the annals of history as the course that commenced the new direction in the training of the ‘value-added’ Officer.

In relation to the ROC, it was after a hiatus of nine years, that the GDF re-commenced training Reserve Officers to serve within the Guyana People’s Militia throughout the 10 Administrative Regions of Guyana, as part of Government’s Total National Defence Policy.
In 2015, as part of the Total National Defence Policy, an Executive Order directed that the Militia be resuscitated. Since then, personnel strength has increased from fewer than 125 members in January 2015 to nearly 1,500 in January 2019.

The “Total National Defence” Policy stipulates that all the elements and instruments of national power be combined to protect Guyana’s territory. Upon implementation, it will also give regular and reserve forces the resources they need to perform their mission over the next five years. Significantly, the President instructed, that never again is the reserve force, to fall below the required 50 percent of the regular force strength.

President David Granger said that each capital town and Administrative Region in Guyana will have a unit of the Guyana People’s Militia (GPM), which will allow young people to benefit from skills training, to become equipped to provide support in the event of natural disasters, to become comfortable with the natural environment and to be in a state of readiness, always.

The group of 27 young professionals, who graduated include doctors, a pilot, agriculturalists, teachers and other members of the medical profession.

The revitalisation of the ROC is geared toward enlarging its complement of professionals who live and work in all administrative regions, thus ensuring that Guyana has trained personnel who can and will respond and assist the GDF, not only in a complimentary manner to the GDF, but also in disaster management.