"You must cherish and uphold the dignity of services in the Armed Forces of Guyana," President Jagdeo urged in his address to the 26 graduands on the Commissioning Parade which was held at the GDF Drill Square, Camp Ayanganna amid the usual pomp and ceremony yesterday afternoon.

The President pointed out to the officers that they are embarking on a career in the Military at "a peculiar period" in Guyana which is characterised by "a multitude of challenges".

"The manner in which we face these challenges and the consequential outcomes will in a large measure determine where we go as a country (and) you have a role to play in influencing how we face these challenges," he said.

"As Officers, you will have to display strong leadership and exemplary commitment to high ideals. The tradition of the military must inspire you. Your future conduct must contribute positively to upholding that proud tradition (and) you must cherish and uphold the dignity of service in the Armed Forces of Guyana," President Jagdeo told the graduating Officers.

He stated: "Your families and friends have high hopes and confidence in you. Those closest to you will play a very important part in your career development and will eventually play a decisive role in the level of your achievements."

"I implore you to take heed of their caring counsel. Do nothing to disappoint them. Importantly, Guyanese expect much of you and you must strive to live up to their expectations," he added.

The President also said he is pleased that in this batch there are graduates from the Joint Services entities, namely, the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) and the Guyana Fire Service (GFS). "The joint training between the military and civilian law enforcement and service agencies gives added meaning to the concept of the joint services. It is in keeping with more enlightened and modern practice of collaboration between various security forces.

President Jagdeo also noted that service in the military can be a rewarding experience. "Much, however, depends on you. My administration has increased the opportunities in skills training. You must take advantage of these opportunities and show others that as a career choice, service in the military is second to none," he posited.

The Guyanese Head of State also urged the young men and women of Guyana to see the army as a place for personal development and at the same time, contribute to the development of Guyana.

"As Officers, I expect you to be patriots. Love of one's country is a powerful motivating factor, especially for those in the joint services," he asserted.

The Army's Chief of Staff, Brigadier Michael Atherly, MSS, in his message to the graduating officers, pointed out that the client of their profession has to be the society they serve, and loyalty must be to the State which holds and ensures a monopoly of their service.

"Your duty is to serve society to help to provide that which society cannot provide for itself - the security of the nation. As you accept that responsibility, a moral courage is established between you and society," Atherly said.

According to Atherly, the SOC #35, like all previous Officer Cadet training programmes, provided numerous challenges, which helped to give the skills required to assist in discharging the duties of young officers.

He told them that once commissioned, their training as young officers will focus on education to promote values. "I charge you to remain committed to a career of continuous study and learning so that you can discharge your responsibilities to your organisation and subordinates with the degree of competence and professionalism that will be required of you," Atherly charged.

"As you continue your careers, the road ahead of you will be filled with even greater challenges, which will demand a high level of personal and social discipline," Atherly stated.

He urged the graduands to inculcate strong moral courage, develop tenacious characters and confirm to regulations, military ethics, traditions and social mores of the military.

"Your stewardship must therefore be of an exceptionally high standard encompassing integrity, open-mindedness, sturdy mental and physical fortitude, and consistency of performance," the Chief of Staff said.

"Welcome on board and best wishes as you embark on this noble profession of ours," he added.

Of the 26 Officers who were on parade yesterday, 21 were from the Standard Officers' Course #35. They are - from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) - Gordon Nedd (Best Student), Johnny Talbot (Runner Up to Best Student), Diallo George, Thakur Nandall, Kenton Munroe, Rono Joseph, David Shamsudeen, Kirk Marlock, Robin Baljeet, Loring Bennons, Notoya Lewis, Andre Williams, Doolwant Sooklall, Harold Fraser; from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) - Brian Eastman, Clive Rodney, Joel Mascoll and Motie Dookie; Kurt Corbin from the Guyana Prison Service; Dwayne Scotland from the Guyana Fire Service (GFS); and Jervin Lapsley from St. Kitts & Nevis.

The other five Officers on parade were from the Reserve Officers' Course #13 and they are Leon Adams, Samantha Chung, Marlon Daniels, Deon Heyligar and Althea Daniels-Thornton.

It is understood that two other officers from the ROC #13 - Quincy Bourne and Ron Daniels - were not on parade yesterday but will nevertheless receive their instruments of commission today, like the rest of the other graduands.

Another step will be taken today when the Officers would be provided with their Instruments of Commission. The ceremonial dinner will then conclude their official introduction into the Officers' Corps of the GDF.

According to the Army Press Officer, Major Musa, the Standard Officers' Course #35 commenced on 4 March, 2002 with 30 students who were drawn from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), the Guyana Prison Service (GPS), and the St. Kitts & Nevis Defence Force.

During the course six students were "Struck Off Strength" for different reasons, three were relegated and one was released in September to pursue a Government of Guyana Scholarship in Cuba. The Standard Officers' Course is geared to produce officers capable of commanding a platoon in peacetime and limited war.

Musa said the fields of study during the course included skills-at-arms, drills, field craft, map reading and navigation, tactics, first aid, military law, signals, military calculations, communication skills and administration. As long as the Officer Cadets measure up to the required standards, they are elevated to the rank of Ensigns during a simple parade. During the ensigncy stage, a management package and leadership studies are done.

The GDF commenced training its own Officer Cadets in 1969. After 12 years, the Officer Cadet Division of Training Corps evolved into the first Officer Cadet School in the English speaking Caribbean. It became known as the Colonel Ulric Pilgrim Officer Cadet School (CUPOCS), in honour of Col. Ulric Pilgrim, the first Local Commander of the Force.

The role of CUPOCS, which was established in 1981, is to train young potential leaders of various disciplined services to serve their country. A total of 35 Standard Officers' Courses have since been conducted at the school, commissioning in excess of four hundred officers for the disciplinary services, both locally and from sister CARICOM countries.

Patron of the CUPOCS, Col. Ulric Pilgrim, MSM, in his message to the graduands, noted that it remains for him a "distinct privilege as indeed a pleasure, to offer my sincere congratulations and best wishes to you - our graduands of this Standard Officers' Course #35".

He told the officers, "Your future is in your hands, aided only by the quality of your effort, the leadership to which you are exposed, and the support of your family."

"Fortunately, your passing out (graduating) comes also at a time when the Disciplined Forces of our country are being reminded in a practical way of their responsibilities to the Nation, and the critical importance of working assiduously and in the most professional manner to satisfy these expectations," he asserted.

"You will therefore have less time for pleasure and more opportunities to practice your profession (and) this is the best environment in which to begin your career," Col. Pilgrim posited.

"You will develop and do so quickly. You will, as such, better appreciate the efforts of your instructors and develop greater confidence in your ability as your leadership skills evolve," he assured.

He told them also, to remain proud as an Officer and a leader, to be ever concerned about the welfare of their subordinates and remember that wherever there are bad soldiers there will be questionable leadership delivery.

"Congratulations once more to you and your families. May God Bless and continue to guide you as you progress throughout your military career," Col. Pilgrim added.

The Standard Officers' Course (SOC) was created to provide training for new Army Officers as well as Officers from the other services. The SOC therefore provides a solid foundation for the subsequent professional development of all cadets entering the GDF. It is consequently only an introduction to the officer training and development systems of all military and paramilitary services in Guyana and the Caribbean and must be supplemented by the appropriate specialist and technical training of the relevant services.

The Reserve Officers' Course (ROC) is the primary training programme for Reserve Officers recruited from civilian life. It provides military training on a part-time basis for civilians who, as reserve Military Officers, provide support to the Regular Force when called upon. The ROC is conducted over an 18 months period and training is very intensive. The course requires a high level of discipline and commitment and includes training in military skills, tactics, military law, leadership and command responsibilities, management, national policy and physical endurance.

It must be noted that military professionalism is just as important for the Reserve Officer as it is for the Regular Officer, and this course lays the foundation for such professionalism. Although part-time, its contents and aims are the same as the Standard Officers' Course, and successful candidates are better equipped to serve their civilian employers and their country in general.

Best Graduating Officer, Gordon Nedd, 21, said the SOC #35 was a very demanding course filled with many challenges. "It has made me a gentleman and a leader of men who is capable to successfully accomplish any given mission within the sphere of my rank," Nedd said.

Another graduand, Kirk Marlock, 20, noted that the SOC #35 was an experience which has made him a better person. "The compact and rapid change of a civilian into a trained soldier brought out the hidden qualities in me. It has made me a strong and rounded individual and gave me the confidence to face any challenge placed before me," Marlock said.

Nineteen-year-old Harold Fraser said the SOC #35 has given him "tremendous self-confidence and self-discipline as well as enriching me with wisdom". "Every day was a dawn of new challenges, which were confronted with fighting spirit and the desire to successfully achieve tasks," Fraser said.

Among those present were Prime Minister, Sam Hinds; Opposition Leader, Mr. Desmond Hoyte; Georgetown Mayor, Mr. Hamilton Green; United States Ambassador, Mr. Ronald Godard; British High Commissioner, Mr. Stephen Hiscock; Chinese Ambassador, Mr. Song Tao; Home Affairs Minister, Mr. Ronald Gajraj; Secretary to the Defence Board and Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon; Police Commissioner (ag), Mr. Floyd McDonald; other members of the Diplomatic Community, Members of Parliament; Senior Officials from the Joint Services.