Latest update November 5th, 2024 1:37 AM
164 soldiers graduate from recruit course
By Javone Vickerie
Relatives and friends of 164 soldiers yesterday cheered and watched on as they marched across the National Cultural Centre tarmac to officially conclude their basic recruit course for the year.
Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Commodore Gary Best, charged the successful graduands to uphold their oath to serve and protect.
Graduates of Basic Recruit Course 2013 display their marching skill.
“I charge you to uphold the values of the Guyana Defence Force, which are duty, discipline, identity, integrity and loyalty. I charge you to live by the Force’s creed which is ‘I am a professional in the Guyana Defence Force and service is my motto’. I charge you to serve your people,” Best emphatically stated.
Best noted that this will be the last set of recruits he will be addressing as Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force.
‘As I reflect on my many experiences, at a time when I stood on this same square, I realized that I could achieve all that I could achieve when I stood in similar fashion some 33 years ago,” Best said.
The Chief of Staff said that he sincerely believes that the recruits, while members of the force, could achieve anything they desire if so inclined.
“Why are you here? Why did you answer the call when we advertised? Why did you push yourself beyond your own expectation? To ensure you graduate here today. Never quit, never give up, never give-in, and never go absent from their work.
“For most of you I believe the answer is I just wanted to become a soldier, and that is a good answer. For others it was just for employment. That too is a good answer. When I joined the force over 33 years ago I simply needed a job,” the Chief of Staff said.
Best told the ranks that they also need to know what a soldier is and what is required.
“As a soldier, you’re a person that has agreed to give your life to your country. Giving one’s life is the greatest contribution any citizen can give,” Best said.
He added that as soldiers, their constitutional duty is to defend their country and to maintain order. These two tasks, he stressed, would require some amount of sacrifice from army ranks.
Best highlighted that the GDF is committed to providing each and every soldier with the opportunity to acquire academic qualifications in addition to their military skills.
“We will educate you up until the level of University once you possess the requirements,” Best vowed.
The Chief of Staff said that he strongly believes that the soldiers will make a difference in the Force and the society as a whole. He urged them to stay focused and be the best they can, while wishing them success in their pursuit.
On April 3, a total of 242 recruits assembled at Base Camp Ayanganna. According to a release from the GDF, on April 10, the ranks commenced a period of 16 weeks of training at Tacama at the Colonel John Clarke Military School, Base Camp Stephenson – Timehri and Colonel Robert Mitchell Jungle and Amphibious training school – Makouria.
Over the period of training, the force lost a total of 78 recruits who did not meet the standard of the course mainly because of medical reasons.
During yesterday’s ceremonial proceedings, seven ranks were awarded for their different accomplishments during the course. The best student was RCT 22896 Shaquel Carrol along with the runner up RCT 22731 Basil Watson.
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