30 GDF senior ranks qualify as drill, weapons instructors

Thirty Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCOs) of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) have successfully completed two specialised instructor training programmes, qualifying them to join the Force’s cadre of instructors. According to a statement posted on the GDF’s social media page on Monday, the Drill Instructor Course (DIC) and the Skill-at-Arms Instructor Course (SAAIC) were conducted from March 9 to June 4, 2026. Nineteen SNCOs completed the Drill Instructor Course, which equipped participants with the knowledge and instructional skills required to conduct and supervise drill training in keeping with the GDF Drill Manual.
At the same time, eleven ranks completed the Skill-at-Arms Instructor Course, which prepared them to plan, conduct and supervise live-firing exercises and live grenade throwing in accordance with the GDF Shooting Policy and Pamphlet No. 21. The publication governs the planning, conduct and supervision of training involving infantry weapon systems and pyrotechnics.

Several participants were recognised for their performance during the courses. Sergeant Jamal Johnson received awards for Best Graduating Student and Best Teaching Practice in the Drill Instructor Course, while Sergeant Dason Ryan was named Runner-up Student. For the Skill-at-Arms Instructor Course, Sergeant Brentnol Carmichael was awarded Best Graduating Student, Sergeant Javed Dos Santos was named Runner-up Student, and Senior Petty Officer Shannon Ross-Cox earned the award for Best Teaching Practice. Delivering the closing remarks, Regimental Sergeant Major of 1 Infantry Battalion, Warrant Officer Class One Cleveland O’Brian, congratulated the graduates and reminded them of the responsibilities associated with their new qualifications. “Your successful completion of these courses demonstrates determination, commitment, professionalism, and a willingness to uphold the highest military standards. The knowledge and skills you have gained here are not merely qualifications to be displayed on paper; they are responsibilities that must now be carried forward into your units and demonstrated through your leadership and example,” O’Brian said. The newly qualified instructors are expected to return to their respective units, where they will support training programmes, contribute to operational readiness and assist in developing future generations of soldiers across the Force.