"It has also created the conditions, and I have noted with serious concern, the temptation for the Army to become too politicised as an institution at the centre of domestic strife...we must all guard against this," he added in an address this week.

Opening the Standard Officers' Course Number 36 at the Jaguar Lecture Hall, Camp Stephenson, Timehri on Monday, Atherly said the GDF must be seen as a stable band in society, noting that too many important national institutions are currently under threat of collapse.

For the GDF to counter this threat, he stated, "we must embody and upkeep military traditions and those ideals I mentioned. Our deployment to, and operations on the lower East Coast of Demerara have done us some harm in this regard."

He said that while members of the GDF were working hard within the limits of the law to support the Police in the fight against crime, "others seem to be working equally hard through a centrally coordinated propaganda campaign to tarnish our good image for whatever sinister reason."

The Army deployed troops on the East Coast Demerara last year to back up the Police in efforts to quell violent criminal attacks and has been criticised for not responding promptly in several reported incidents.

In his address, Atherly said support for, and promotion of the national interests of Guyana must be seen as top priority over the internal interests of any other sector of society.

He explained that harmonious civil-military relations must form part of the bedrock of democracy in Guyana and professionalism must always prevail, cautioning ranks never to be tempted to do otherwise.

Said Atherly, "We in the Guyana Defence Force must support and promote the national interests of Guyana as a priority over the internal interests of any particular sector of our society. Professionalism must always prevail...never be otherwise tempted."

Emphasising the importance of training, he noted it was the "cardiovascular system of military service" which must always be of "top quality and help to promote public image, identity and character."

Atherly said that territorial integrity was still the Army's most serious national challenge in Guyana and that the exploration of identified offshore hydrocarbon deposits was still an issue to be settled with eastern and western neighbouring countries.

He also stated that maintaining the integrity of Guyana's Exclusive Economic Zone, especially against foreign economic aggression, was becoming increasingly important, and that the concept of maritime operations and the functions of the Coast Guard must be appropriately covered on the Standard Officers' Course.

Atherly stressed the importance of the GDF's roles, stating that apart from its primary function in support of security and defence policy, troops, through efficient training, ought to provide an important and distinctive strand in the fabric of the Guyanese nation.

"We must promote the ideals of integrity, discipline, professionalism, service and excellence. This, together with the important role of providing a constant source of well-trained and experienced personnel for society, could make a contribution to national stability and cohesion," he added.

Noting that only roles that seek to satisfy legitimate national security objectives should be assigned to the Army, he stressed, "honourable and credible roles can help to draw the Army out of functions that would otherwise lead it into politics and so harm civil-military relationships."

The Chief of Staff told the potential officers that while military service would demand more from them as citizens when they would have become commissioned ranks, they should not see themselves as part of an institution with totally different values to the rest of society.

He noted that the GDF sets its own values only when it is necessary to do so, by virtue of function, and that the training was designed to inculcate such values in the Officer Cadets.

Atherly stressed that the legal right to apply force to achieve legitimate national security goals demanded the cultivation of high moral standards, which could reduce the temptations of inappropriate use of that legal right.

And explaining the use of force, he hinted at some possible solutions.

"The use of force is always only temporary; it may subdue for a moment but it does not remove the necessity of subduing again...political, economic, social and humanitarian levers are useful for finding long lasting solutions."

Atherly reminded cadets that the Standard Officers' Course was primarily concerned with converting civilians into military leaders who would serve with true faith and allegiance by preparing to kill or die for their country.

"Training that does not foster soldierly competence is a failure, but equally, if it does not inspire soldierly values, is a hazard to all concerned," he said.

He outlined that the Officer Cadet training is the basic foundation on which the future development of military leaders is built.

"That foundation must be well laid...rigorous and robust training must therefore be the order of the day throughout your course," said Atherly.

He told the cadets that the training they were about to undertake was planned and programmed in accordance with Force policy and doctrine and, "it will be a mistake of the first order for anyone to confuse rigorous and tough training with savage sadistic treatment."

Atherly said that the Army must train to deal with future conflict situations and not simply to imitate the nature of past operations, adding, "the ever changing demands of national and international security and the volatility, uncertainty and complexity of future events must be kept in focus to allow us appropriate and forward looking training."

"The centres of global power that be now seem to have little regard for the conventional concept of sovereignty. The fight against terrorism and the current Israeli/Palestinian conflict, as well as the Iraq war, show little regard for borders. We must understand these global changes and so shape our structures and programmes accordingly."

He congratulated the potential officers for measuring up to the entrance standards of the course and for being successful at the Commissions Board interview.

The course, which is being conducted at the Colonel Ulric Pilgrim Officer Cadet School, commenced on Monday, March 17 with 24 participants, including one each from the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Prison Service. However, three students have since opted to return to civilian life.