President Kabbah At Military Passing Out

Friday, September 10th: The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Sierra Leone, Alhaji Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, on Friday September 10th 2004, officiated at the passing out parade of thirty-five Cadet Officers and Ninety-three Recruits of the Sierra Leone Armed Forces, who have just completed a six-month intensive training at the Armed Forces Training Centre, Benguema.

Delivering his address after a colourful display by the parading officers, President Kabbah congratulated them on becoming members of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), adding that the performance he witnessed is an indication that the Military is indeed on its way to becoming one of the best in Africa. He said that with continued discipline, courage, dedication and hard work, he has no doubt that the officers will be among the best in the world.

President Kabbah stated that he had no doubt that that the decision of the officers to be part of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces was borne out of their love for their country. He commended them for staying and successfully going through the training even though the task was rigorous and the challenges difficult, noting that this is an eloquent testimony to their level of commitment to the service of their country and determination to elevate the stature of the RSLAF.

He admonished them to uphold the values of their profession, emphasizing that the training and standards of the Military are not only high, but they cannot be compromised. President Kabbah expressed hopes that the new officers will exert their best endeavours to rebuild the heritage of the RSLAF. He appealed to them to remember their lessons in civil-military relations and remain vigilant to the demands of human rights as they carry out their soldiering duties.

The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces observed the absence of women among the Cadet Officers. He however appealed to women who are already in the other ranks of the army to acquit themselves well so as to qualify for and be eligible to apply for the position of officer cadet in the Armed Forces. This, he said, will encourage other women to work hard and enter into the officer corps of the RSLAF.

President Kabbah also told the newly trained Recruits and Cadet Officers that the Armed Forces Training Centre has become the focal point for all training activities within the RSLAF. He said its curriculum has been expanded rapidly to incorporate advanced professional training for serving officers, and that the centre is also progressing rapidly towards becoming a centre of excellence in the sub-region. The President commended the joint efforts of the Infantry Training and Advisory Team (ITAT) and their counterpart Sierra Leonean instructors for a job well done.

While assuring the officers of government's continued support for their welfare and training, President Kabbah reminded them of the responsibilities that lie ahead of them. The Military, he said, is a disciplined and structured institution where they are expected to always exhibit high moral and professional standards, and obliged them to be loyal to Superior Officers.

The newly trained Cadet Officers and Recruits that performed excellently during the training period received various prizes for excellence.