Georgetown: Twenty-four cadets of the Florida National Guard, who are in Guyana on the third edition of the Guard’s Cultural Understanding and Language Programme (CULP), completed their training with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) on Friday. The cadets were awarded their certificates at a simple ceremony at the GDF’s Colonel Robert Mitchell Jungle and Amphibious Training School (CRM-JATS) at Makouria, on the Essequibo River.
Addressing the graduating cadets, Acting Chief of Staff, Colonel KemrajPersaud, lauded their endurance. “Your training with us has occurred at a critical time when our country faces threats from our western neighbour. You would have, during your training, realised our level of preparedness for such a challenge. Exercises like this help us to forge strong bilateral relations with our partners who can assist in our efforts to remain a peaceful nation. The highlight of your week of training was the jungle- survival element. That you are alive and well is testimony to your fortitude and determination to endure. You were challenged to survive very harsh conditions, designed to test that very element of endurance. Indeed, the training would have also enhanced aspects of your character. Character is important for all good leaders and its development determines how successful, as individuals, you become.”
Colonel Persaud encouraged the cadets to embrace values such as loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, integrity and personal courage. He also spoke to the issue of personal courage, saying that personal courage was “…not the absence of fear, but rather, the ability to cast fear aside and do what is necessary.” He observed that the physical aspect of courage required overcoming the fear of bodily harm in doing one’s duty. “It is the bravery, for example, that allows a soldier to take risks in combat, in spite of the fear of being wounded or dying. In contrast, moral courage is the willingness to stand firm on your values, principles and convictions. These traits enable leaders to stand up for what they believe, regardless of the consequences,” he said.
The cadets endured three days of Spartan Warrior, an exercise staged at the GDF’s battle school at Tacama, during which they engaged with GDF officer cadets in training. They then completed four days of Jungle Fighter “Operation Stay Alive” at JATS. They will remain in Guyana for another two weeks and will be taking part in cultural exchange programmes in the Rupununi before departing for the USA..
You must be logged in to post a comment.