US Special Forces, GDF ranks complete joint training

…as 122 soldiers complete Junior Leaders’ course

One hundred and twenty-two soldiers have successfully completed the Junior Leaders’ Course 2020-02, and graduated at the Base Camp Stephenson. The Guyana Defence Force on Wednesday said that awarded winners on this course were: Lance Corporal (LCPL) Marlon Marks (Best Graduating Student; Able Rating (AR) Randy Munroe (Runner-up Student); LCPL Donella Joe (Best Military Knowledge); LCPL Rolex Sam (Best Shot); LCPL Jamal Campbell (Best Drill); and AR Lindon Walcott (Best Fitness).

Meanwhile, 70 personnel have graduated from the Section Commanders’ Course 2020-03.
Award winners on this course were: Corporal (CPL) Donston Richmond (Best Graduating Student); Leading Rating (LR) Stayroy Nieulder (Runner-up Student and Best Military Knowledge); CPL Quancy Alleyne (Best Shot); LR Ruschell Bradshaw (Best Drill); and CPL Neil Anthon (Best Fitness).
Colonel General Staff, Colonel Julius Skeete, the GDF said, congratulated the graduates of both courses, and said they needed to recognise their achievement means they had made another step in their careers and their development as leaders in the army.

“Your expectation of yourselves should be to strive for excellence; to return to your units and make a difference (by inspiring) those ranks subordinate to you – your peers and even those seniors to you – with your commitment and professionalism,” he said.
Colonel Skeete pointed out that Guyana and the GDF is on the move, adding that “your training was just meant to prepare you…you have a responsibility to continue your personal development. You must work to make yourself better; it is very important.”
The soldiers were encouraged to let professionalism be the hallmark of their continued service.

Joint Training
Meanwhile, the GDF, also on Wednesday, said 17 Special Forces Squadron have benefited from a six-week stint of combined small unit tactics training, which was conducted by a nine-member team from the Seventh Battalion of the US Army Special Forces.
The training, the GDF said, was intended to provide the ranks with knowledge and practical skills to operate as a small operational team. The six-week stint included one week of jungle training. The ranks were engaged in a field exercise designed to have them demonstrate what they had learnt.
According to the GDF, the instructors noted that the GDF troops were eager to learn, and displayed a high degree of discipline, maturity, and enthusiasm throughout the training. For their part, the GDF ranks indicated that the training was very informative, with the practical exercises enhancing the learning process.
The graduates of the course, who demonstrated high assimilation of what was taught as well as showcased great leadership, were Second Lieutenant Shevin Sparman, Corporals Wayne Campbell and Orlando Norton, Lance Corporal Royden Hendricks, and Private Mikhail Wills. Private Wills is the youngest to receive such recognition.