One hundred and forty-six recruits graduated from the Basic Recruit Course of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) on Wednesday, with a stern warning not to be influenced by outside forces.

For the next two weeks, the new soldiers are expected to remain at the Colonel John Clarke Military School up the Berbice River at Tacama to be trained in martial arts skills. Two representatives from the Chinese Military, currently in Guyana, are expected to assist in that area.

Thereafter, the ranks will be posted to various operational units within the force, where, together with other soldiers, they would be required to defend the territorial integrity of Guyana, assist the civil powers in the maintenance of law and order, help sister security services in the maintenance of law and order whenever necessary, and contribute towards the economic development of Guyana.

“As soldiers, you would be required to defend our borders, whether it is of land, sea or air nature. You must protect our beloved Guyana at all times even if it means giving your life for it [and] you must remember that there can be no development without peace, tranquility and stability,” Lieutenant Colonel George Lewis said during his feature address.

However, the officer cautioned that performing those roles would not be easy, since the young soldiers will now have to operate in an environment different to the secluded Tacama.

“The situation away from this environment will be different. There will be a real enemy. There will be distractions such as so-called friends who will try to influence you to do wrong things, and there will be the public, which you must interact with,” Lewis warned.

The ranks who passed out on Wednesday were a part of 155 civilian men between the ages of 18 and 25 years who started the 13-week course. However, nine were struck from the group after it was found that they had not made the required standard - three for medical reasons and six, on physical grounds.

“The aim of the course is to produce a fit, obedient, loyal and disciplined soldier who possesses high standards of infantry skills and marksmanship abilities,” Major Clement Baird said prior to an impressive passing out parade. Eighty-five per cent of the recruits secured above ‘B’ grade and only one failed the course, which Baird said, was not an academic issue, but because he did not meet the physical requirement.

After the weeks of rigorous training, 19971 RTC Q. Briggs copped both prizes for ‘Best Graduating Student’ and the student with the ‘Best Military Knowledge’, while 19904 RCT N. Felix was awarded the trophy for ‘Runner-up Best Graduating Student’.

Other prizes were awarded to RCTs J. Alleyne, A. Waldron, A Caesar and 18-year- old R. Tappin who, respectively, graduated as ‘Best Shot’, ‘Best Drill’, ‘Best Boxer’ and ‘Most Physically- Fit Student’.

The recruits were taught and evaluated in 11 main subject areas, including foot and arms drill, skill-at-arms, physical training, map reading and navigation, service knowledge, military calculation, communication skills and internal security.

During the Skill-at-Arms display, the young soldiers demonstrated technical know-ledge of several high-powered weapons used in the army, as well as their ability to dismantle and assemble several assault rifles while blindfolded.

The ranks were urged to utilise their knowledge and training to realize their role as professional soldiers in the army.

“The overarching aim of the training was to teach you military skills so that you can be equipped to fight... Further it was to ensure that you are trained to function effectively as soldiers in an operational unit during peace time and limited war. For us in the GDF, in peace time, training is the single most important activity we do, because we recognise that training is the cornerstone of readiness,” Lewis remarked, adding that as such, “the BRC was meant to build your confidence, help you to work as teams, build esprit de corps amongst you, increase your professionalism and mould you into combat-ready soldiers.”

“I exert you to utilise the skills learnt in a meaningful way to the betterment of your unit and the force as a whole... Strive to do your best [and] go out there and be good soldiers. Be good ambassadors of the GDF,” Lewis urged.

Also attending the closing ceremony were Brazilian Military Attache, Col Barreto and the United States Military Liaison Officer to Guyana, Major Chojnacki.