Thirty-four young potential leaders have achieved the rank of Ensign following a year of rigorous training on the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Standard Officer’s Course Fifty-Five (SOC 55). Standing resplendent in their Olive Green uniforms, the new Ensigns were badged by Chief of Staff (COS) Brigadier Omar Khan and the Commanding Officer of the Training Corps, Lieutenant Colonel Eon Murray, during an official ceremony held in their honor at the Colonel Ulric Pilgrim Officer Cadet School (CUPOCS) Drill Square, Base Camp Stephenson, Timehri. This milestone signaled the halfway mark for the young leaders pursuing their journey to Officership. Additionally, over the following year, the Ensigns will pursue an Associate Degree in General Studies at the University of Guyana. This was made possible through the restructuring of the Standard Officer Course in 2017, which aimed to enhance the range of knowledge and skills of potential officers, with 70% of military training and 30% academics in the first year and a reverse in the second.
Brigadier Khan, during his remarks, extended congratulations to the Ensigns on their progress thus far. He also thanked their families for allowing them the opportunity to serve the nation and providing support over the years. The COS also utilized the opportunity to charge the Ensigns to be leaders worthy of emulation. “I challenge you, therefore, to be leaders who are worthy of emulation, leaders whose lifestyle can stand scrutiny, leaders who do the right thing even when they feel no one is watching, leaders whose actions are in sync with their speech, leaders that the Guyana Defence Force, our sister services, and our friendly nation can be proud of,” he charged. Additionally, Brigadier Khan highlighted that the Ensigns’ elevation in rank came at a critical time since Guyana is now an oil-producing nation poised for significant economic development.
This, he said, comes with security threats. “Guyana’s position as an oil-producing nation presents new threats to the safety and security of our people. Your presence here provides hope and belief that our youths will give their best to defend this nation,” he posited. Lastly, the COS reminded the Ensigns of the importance of discipline, integrity, duty, identity, and loyalty. “Discipline is vital in any military organization, and it is one of the core values of the GDF. Ours is the noble task of defending the sovereignty of the nation. Without discipline, we as a Force would lack the resolve to endure the harsh conditions faced to execute missions. Integrity builds character. As potential officers, you must do the right thing even when no one is watching. The profession you have chosen mainly depends on trust and integrity.
Identity makes the general public recognize who we are, and how we dress and carry ourselves identifies us as military men and women. Duty to the nation is paramount; it is an obligation that must not be taken for granted or treated as insignificant. The defense of one’s territory is a matter of survival, as our territory is what makes us a state, and a state cannot exist without a population and a defined space.
The 34 who were elevated to the rank of ensign Today included seven from the Guyana Police Force, one from the Guyana Prison Service, two from the Belize Defense Force, two from the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force, and the remaining 22 will serve the GDF. Notably, female Ensign Nicol Gomes has obtained the coveted jungle badge, after achieving the standards of jungle training. It is the first time in the history of the SOC that this has been made possible. During the first year of the training, the Ensigns were exposed to Open Country Warfare, Jungle Training, Country Warfare, Field Engineers Training, Internal Security, Military History, Physical Fitness, Drills, Map Reading and Navigation, Field Craft, and Weapon Proficiency, among others. The training culminated with the exercises Tripflare, Sapling, Hunter, and Rat Trap. Photography by Corporal Marvin Frank and Lance Corporal Anton Baird of the G9 Branch.
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