Army Chief-of-Staff Briga-dier General Michael Atherly this week called on his ranks to rededicate themselves to the continuing task of evolving a truly national defence force which lives up to the tradition of service.

The Chief-of-Staff delivered this charge in his message read by Colonel Khemraj Persaud on Tuesday during a religious service at the GDF auditorium, Camp Ayan-ganna, to commemorate the force’s 38th anniversary. The COS pointed out that despite limited resources, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has been able to rise to challenges and will continue to do so in the future

Atherly recognised that the past year had been challenging for the army as his ranks ventured “into non-traditional areas of operation.” Following the upsurge in criminal activities on the lower East Coast Demerara last year, the army was called out to support the police. One of its ranks, Corporal Shemton Dodson, was fatally wounded in the process and another, Private Ryan Thompson, was shot in the head and had to seek overseas treatment.

The COS said the issues that were involved in the recent spate of crime were of a different character from those that would normally necessitate an army’s response, but the GDF was able to rise to the challenges.

“As members of the force, we are all stakeholders in the process of national security...We therefore look forward for the full support of all concerned, especially from those in authority and the various national institutions,” Atherly’s message read.

Atherly urged his ranks to continue to prepare themselves to face all challenges that lie ahead, since a professional organisation such as the GDF can scarcely achieve any of its objectives without rigorous high quality training.

“I am confident that as a force we possess the necessary competence, professionalism, loyalty and patriotism embedded in our training directives and aimed at producing a multi-faceted soldier. By our training therefore, we shall honour our constitutional responsibilities and discharge them efficiently without fear and favour, affection or ill will.”

Atherly also expressed his appreciation for what he described as “the excellent bilateral relations” with the army’s friendly counterparts. Among those present at the church service were Second in Command of the GDF, Colonel Edward Collins; Superior Commander of the Armed Forces in French Guiana, Brigadier General Salvignol; Defence Attaché to the Venezuelan Armed Forces, Brigadier General Carlos Jose Rodriguez Grau; Senior Colonel Yisang Ni of the People’s Liberation Army of the People’s Republic of China; Military Attaché of the Brazilian Armed Forces, Colonel Jose Julio Dias Barreto; and US Military Liaison Officer, Major Kip Chojnacki.

Reverend Evan Semple, who delivered the sermon, said soldiers are nearer to Christ, although they may not be aware of it. The reverend based his observation on the ranks’ way of living, which he said, mirrors Christ’s teachings, “for they bear others’ burden, endure hardship and practice charity”.