| More than 300 young males and females, from across coastal Guyana, successfully completed a two-week stint at the Guyana Defence Force 2015 edition of its Annual Camp for reservists.The participants, whose ages ranged from 18 years to 41 years, were drawn from Regions two, three, four, five, six and 10; and, while a few already had jobs, the majority was unemployed.The camp’s participants demonstrated the proficiency they developed over the period in the areas of Drills, Skill At Arms, Weapons Handling and Marksmanship, Foot and Vehicular Patrols, Field craft, and,Cheap NHL Jerseys, Jungle Operations and Survival Techniques. Other areas of instruction included Military Knowledge, Disaster Risk Management, and an understanding of the GDF’s Social Media Policy.The camp was conducted at Base Camp Seweyo, and at the Colonel Robert Mitchell Jungle and Amphibious Training School (JATS) at Makouria, with the reservists spending one week at each location.In his address at the conclusion of the camp, Chief of Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips, congratulated and praised the participants for their bravery and endurance.“I am proud of you all as I am sure you are proud of yourselves. I am proud firstly, because you dared to leave the comfort of your families and your familiar communities, to come to us and engage in this two-week training programme.That was a courageous decision. I am also proud that you have endured the environment and the training. That demanded of you your purposefulness and commitment. Congratulations!”Brigadier Phillips recounted for the participants, a brief history of the GDF “Reserves”, noting that the Reserves is as old as the GDF itself, because the Defence Act which established the GDF in 1965, declared clearly, that it must comprise a Regular and a Reserve force.The high point of the Reserves, was the establishment of the Guyana People’s Militia (GPM), which existed from 1976 to 1997, after which, it was downsized as and was designated the Second Infantry Battalion Group.The COS cited a publication by current Commander in Chief His Excellency President David Granger, which explains the role of the Reserve– to provide a framework by which citizens can be trained and be ready for emergencies, to support the regular force in all of its functions when called upon to do so, and to provide a reservoir of trained recruits for the regular force.“Notwithstanding the changes over the years, the Reserve continues to be an important component of the Guyana Defence Force, carrying out important defence and national security-related activities throughout Guyana.Our Reserve contributes today, to national defence by not only being mobilised for national emergencies, but can be found serving on our border locations.”Additionally, the Chief of Staff said that the Guyana Defence Force Second Infantry Battalion Reserve must have detachments in all the administrative regions of Guyana.“Defence and Security (for Guyana) is not a Coastal affair! We have to build up our Reserve Battalion. We have to return to having a vibrant reserve force,” he added.Brigadier Phillips revealed that a concept paper, prepared by Commander of the 2nd Infantry Battalion, Colonel Patrick West, outlines a proposal for the establishment of Coast Guard and Air Corps Reserve Units, as well as an additional Reserve Battalion at the Second Infantry. However, Brigadier Phillips said that in the short-term, the Force will work to re-establish Reserve detachments in every administrative region of Guyana.“The interior of Guyana, our hinterland, is not a separate nation! It is, undoubtedly, the most prosperous region of Guyana and it is now necessary, that all our regions have Reservists to readily reinforce the regular Force to secure our borders and effectively harness the talents of residents to respond to national disasters such as floods and other environmental hazards,” he said.“The Reserves have been here since the establishment of the GDF and, as we celebrate 50 years of service, we are also celebrating the service of our Reservists!” said the COS.“The defence of Guyana and the guarantee of her territorial integrity depend on a robust and vibrant Reserve force,” he added.“You, who are present at this year’s Annual Camp, have volunteered to be trained and to be brought to a stage of readiness during this camp. I ask you to commit yourselves to attending further training and exercises planned for the remainder of 2015, because these will make you better trained and ready for your role in the defence and security of Guyana,” Brigadier Phillips encouraged.Presenting an overview of the Camp and its activities, Commanding Officer, Second Infantry Battalion Reserve (2 Inf Bn Res), Colonel (Col) Patrick West, explained that the camp was designed in part to expose the Reservists to the fundamentals of closed country Warfare and Jungle Operations skills that could be used to support and protect the mining and forestry industries, enable an easier formal transition from Coastland to Interior living, and to curb phobias usually resident in citizens, regarding the military and what it does. He noted that the Camp’s objectives had been met.Some of the short term goals of the 2 Inf Bn (Res), as outlined by Colonel West, included the re-establishment of active companies in all the Regions of Guyana, the rebuilding of the corps of Senior Non-Commissioned Officers, the rehabilitation of Drill Halls, the regrouping of Reserve Officers, and the re-establishment of the School Cadet programme. With regard to the latter, Col West revealed that the pilot schools identified thus far, are the New Amsterdam Multilateral and the Stewartville Secondary.The Force is building the Reserves with the objective to bring its strength up to two complete battalions. About ten percent of the 2015 Camp’s Reservists are gainfully employed; and with another seventy percent indicating a desire to continue serving in the military, it is quite likely that the 2 Inf Bn (Res) will quickly achieve its objective. |
