Africa-Press – Gambia. His Excellency, President Adama Barrow, on Wednesday officiated the graduation ceremony of the 39th intake of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF), held at McCarthy Square in the capital city. The event marked the successful completion of 22 weeks of basic military training by 351 recruits.
The recruits underwent a comprehensive training program encompassing physical conditioning, weapons handling, combat tactics, field craft, and military discipline. Emphasis was placed on instilling the core values of patriotism, teamwork, loyalty, and resilience.
During the ceremony, the newly inducted soldiers demonstrated their acquired skills through synchronized drills, self-defense exhibitions, and weapons proficiency displays.
Delivering the keynote address, President Barrow commended the recruits for their dedication and endurance, highlighting the importance of their commitment to national defense.
“You have demonstrated the resilience, discipline, and mental fortitude required to transition from civilian life into the professional ranks of the GFA. Your journey, thus far, indicates commitment to the sovereignty and security of our dear nation, which you surely value more than yourselves,” President Barrow stated.
He reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to building a modern, professional, and well-equipped military force.
“My government remains fully committed to transforming the GAF into a modern, professional, and well-resourced institution. We will continue to invest in infrastructure, training, logistics, equipment, and the welfare of the personnel. In accordance with our democratic values, our defence transformation agenda is rooted in transparency, accountability, and respect for civilian oversight,” he added.
Also speaking at the ceremony, Chief of Defence Staff Major General Mamat O. Cham urged the new soldiers to serve with humility and uphold the military’s core values.
“As you march forward into service, I call upon you to embody and uphold the core pillars of my command philosophy, which I fondly refer to as the three Cs Capacity, Cooperation and Confidence. Capacity speaks to our need to continuously train, equip and empower our personnel with the skills and tools to meet modern and asymmetric security challenges. You are now part of that capacity, a vital building block in enhancing our operational readiness,” he said.
As part of the event, President Barrow awarded a cash prize of D40,000 to the best-performing recruit in recognition of outstanding achievement and a demonstration of excellence in training.
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