THE Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has strengthened its search and rescue (SAR) capabilities following a five-day Subject Matter Expert Exchange with members of the Florida National Guard’s 3rd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group.
The exchange brought together 33 GDF personnel from units across the Force and five members of the Florida National Guard, with training focused on SAR planning, command and control, mission execution and the operational judgement required during complex rescue missions.
The programme combined classroom instruction with practical field exercises covering mission planning, incident command, Tactical Combat Casualty Care, specialised equipment handling and SAR techniques.
Participants were required to apply the procedures under simulated operational conditions, testing their ability to manage casualties, coordinate rescue teams and make critical decisions under pressure.
According to the GDF, the exchange also strengthened military cooperation and interoperability between the two forces through the sharing of operational knowledge, established practices and techniques.
The training was designed to improve the GDF’s ability to conduct coordinated SAR missions involving multiple personnel, specialised equipment and operational elements.
The Force said such capabilities are particularly important given Guyana’s diverse operating environment, which requires personnel to respond to emergencies across jungle, riverine, maritime and remote areas.
The exchange forms part of ongoing efforts to enhance the GDF’s readiness to respond swiftly and effectively to emergencies and to protect lives and support communities when disasters or other incidents occur.