Africa-Press – Botswana. Botswana Defence Force (BDF) service personnel have been awarded medals to recognise and appreciate their outstanding service and conduct in military duties.
The ceremony was held yesterday (Thursday 24) in Francistown at Second Military Garrison (Donga Camp) conducted by the BDF Commander, Lieutenant General Placid Segokgo accompanied by Second Brigade Group Commander, Brigadier Thomamo Makolo.
The medal categories awarded were Pearl Jubilee Medal (PJM), Foreign Service Medal (FSM), and Long Service Order (LSO). The PJM medals were awarded to a member of BDF who completed 30 years of honourable and continuous service to the army.
FSM medals were awarded to BDF officers for honourable service outside the borders of Botswana on operational deployment, related foreign assignment of collective training for a period of two years or more.
The medals were awarded by Ground Forces Command, Major General Simon Barwaabatsile accompanied by Commanding officer, 163 Air Defence Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Jobe Mogwera.
LSO was awarded to any member of the other ranks within the BDF who had served with good conduct for a period of not less than 15 years and were presented by Lt. General Segokgo, Director of Defence Intelligence, Brigadier Modise Tlhage and Commanding Officer, 224 Infantry Lieutenant Colonel Magalo Modise.
In a post interview, Lieutenant Colonel, Lefika Ramontshonyana said the BDF medal parade was one of the biggest events in the BDF calendar that started with the establishment of BDF in 1977.
He said it’s an annual event held in April.
Lieutenant Colonel Ramontshonyana said such medals served to motivate, as well as to encourage BDF officers to be hard workers and to serve diligently.
For More News And Analysis About Botswana Follow Africa-Press
