10 graduate from paratrooper’s course

Georgetown : One Officer and nine soldiers of the 31 Special Forces Squadron today officially earned their paratroopers wings following a display , signalling their successful  completion of  the Basic Paratroopers Course.

The troopers were decorated with their wings by their parents who were invited to witness them in action, a first time for the Guyana Defence Force. The ten students along with 25 other seasoned static line jumpers as well 10 Free Fallers performed an exhibition jump at the Air Corps.

Colonel Enoch Gaskin, who is the most senior paratrooper in the Force congratulated the newcomers and cited their significance, pointing out that paratroopers are essential when other conventional means are not always possible during combat. He told them that they have been given the foundation and that the Force is now waiting to see the results.

He charged them to ‘fly swiftly’ ahead of others and be shining examples of their peers.

The Basic Paratroopers Course was of a five week duration and aimed at equipping soldiers with the core skills necessary to effectively execute Basic Paratrooping on any mission within a Special Forces team . This course is the first one for this year and catered for 10 students, all of whom were successful

 

The Guyana Defence Force commenced Paratrooping Training in 1969 and over the many years our Officers and Soldiers have also received training in Brazil, Cuba , the U.S and U.K.

The students of the Basic Paratroopers Course 2013-01