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Momodou
Denmark
11835 Posts |
 Posted - 03 Apr 2007 : 15:27:56
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573 RECRUITS GRADUATE FROM TRAINING
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
573 soldiers consisting of intakes 28A, 28B, 28C, (the largest ever passing out graduands in the history of The Gambia Armed Forces), last Friday, held their passing out ceremony at the 22 July Square presided by the Commander in Chief of The Gambia Armed Forces, President Yaya Jammeh.
According to the Chief of Defence Staff, Colonel Lang Tombong Tamba, the 573 soldiers had undergone intensive training proceedings including many techniques. He indicated that the soldiers, who consisted of 543 men and 27 females, had undergone 16 months training and assignments. Colonel Tamba added that the recruits had training in weapons, landing paramilitary training and many other necessary forms of training. He said that there were other recruits who were discharged from the force because their performance was below standard. Colonel Tamba noted that The Gambia Armed Forces is now a standard force like any other armed force in the modern world. He said that many members of the armed forces had received training and undergone courses at various institutions in the world. He said that 95% of The Gambia soldiers are now literate and that their responsibility is to serve the people and the Nation. He said that the army is an institution of discipline and high morals. He said that the soldiers should be ready to protect the interest of The Gambian people and must not offend them in any away. He said that they should also treat other security forces as brothers and sisters in the country. Tamba also called on civilians to be helpful to the security as it is a collective responsibility. He asserted that every Gambian is a security personnel not the forces only.
For his part, President Jammeh, told the passing out recruits that in the armed forces there is no democracy. He said: "If you are democratic, armed forces is not your institution". He told the soldiers that the force is a highly disciplined institution and absolute loyalty is required. "In the armed forces, we say obey and complain. In the army your boss is right." Jammeh told the soldiers that they have now taken an obligation and the supreme decision to sacrifice everything for the well being of their country. He said that the difference between the armed forces and civil society is that they (the soldiers) are spending sleepless nights to ensure the safety of the members of society. Jammeh emphasised that for any country to have meaningful development, the absolute loyalty of the armed forces is needed. He told the soldiers that they have now put their lives on the line for this country to live in peace, pride and dignity. President Jammeh lamented that there is no neutral position in the force: one is either loyal or disloyal. He said that The Gambia Armed Forces requires absolute loyalty to defend the integrity of the country. Jammeh told the gathering that The Gambia Armed Forces will soon initiate a programme to allow young people to join the forces even before they finished their education. He said that the Armed Forces will sponsor their education to any level of their choice, noting: "The sky is the limit", but they must join the force after completing their education, no matter what you become." At the end of the ceremony, 10 soldiers were decorated with awards of order of merit and were also promoted to the rank of lance corporal. The decoration was done by the president.
One of the decorated soldiers was absent due to his training engagement overseas. The master of the ceremony was Lieutenant Alagie Sanneh.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 38/2007, 2-3 April 2007
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