33 GDF members honoured as Force commemorates 60 years of service

Thirty-three members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), including two officers and 31 ranks, were presented with medals on October 22, 2025, during a parade at Base Camp Ayanganna, as the Force marked its 60th anniversary of dedicated service to the nation.

The GDF hosted its 60th Anniversary Medal Presentation Parade on October 22, 2025, at the Drill Square of Base Camp Ayanganna. The event formed part of the Force’s Year of Legacy observances, marking six decades of distinguished service to the nation.
In attendance were the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali; the Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, MSS; other Heads of Services; members of the Defence Board; retired Chiefs of Staff and the Force Sergeant Majors; and Military Attachés, along with officers and ranks of the Guyana Defence Force.
President Ali underscored that the Medal Presentation Parade was not merely about the conferral of medals but about the ideals and virtues they represent. Each medal, he stated, tells a story of sacrifice, leadership, and distinguished service, the very qualities that have strengthened the Guyana Defence Force throughout its 60 years of existence. He reminded the gathering that the ceremony holds a rightful and respected place within the Defence Force and is not mere pageantry but “a living expression of the values that define military service, which are discipline, respect, and pride in duty.”
During the parade, medals were conferred on officers and ranks in several categories, including the Military Efficiency Medal (MEM), which recognises consistent professionalism and exemplary soldiering; the Border Defence Medal (BDM), awarded to those who safeguard Guyana’s frontiers; and the Special Operations Medal (SOM), honouring those who demonstrate courage and excellence in specialised missions. Recipients also received the 60th Anniversary Medal, commemorating the Force’s six decades of service to the nation.
In addition, several ranks were honoured with the newly established Commander-in-Chief’s Special Series of Medals, introduced under the authority of the President to broaden recognition across the Force. These included the Engineering and Border Operations Medal (EBOM), Search and Rescue Operations Medal (SROM), Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response Medal (HADRM), and the Joint Services Operations Medal (JSOM). Each of these new medals reflects the evolving nature of military service, celebrating those who contribute not only in combat but also in humanitarian, engineering, and cooperative operations across the joint services.
The 60th Anniversary Medal Presentation Parade stands as a proud reminder of the Guyana Defence Force’s unbroken tradition of excellence, discipline, and unity. As the Force moves forward into a new chapter of its history, it remains steadfast in its mandate, a true family bound by service and dedicated to the defence of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.