Five hundred and seventy-three (573) recruits of The Gambia Armed Forces (GAF), yesterday held their passing out ceremony presided over by President Yahya Jammeh, the Commander in Chief of GAF, following a four months’ basic military training, at different times, in three batches, at the July 22 Square.

In his keynote address at the ceremony, the Commander in Chief, President Yahya Jammeh, told the recruits that the Armed Forces are a highly disciplined force where absolute loyalty is required. He said they had taken a supreme decision to sacrifice everything for the wellbeing of The Gambia. “Your role is very important in the socio-economic development of any nation. For the development of any country to be sustainable, the absolute loyalty of the armed forces to the country is indispensable. As soldiers, they should not be neutral. You are either loyal or disloyal. This country requires absolute loyalty because you and I will lay down our lives to defend the integrity and the independence of this country for the socio-economic advancement of The Gambia. If you are not loyal, you are in a wrong place, because sooner or later, you will stand out,” he said.

The Gambian leader said people join the armed forces for various reasons. “Patriotic citizens join the armed forces for one reason and that is to defend their country at any cost. He said apart from that, you are not a good soldier. The Gambian leader added that tribalism and intolerance will not be accepted in the armed forces. He said promotion in the army will be based on performance. He assured the soldiers that he will ever be part of them “Gambia is what it is today thanks to you. I will never forget you”, he assured. He called on women to join The Gambia armed forces in equal numbers to men. He added that by September 2007, he will introduce a new system where students who wish to join the army can be sponsored by the army to do any course, and upon graduation they will be expected to join the armed forces.

For his part, Colonel Lang Tombong Tamba, the Chief of Defence Staff said, the recruits went through an intensive military training, ranging from military warfare tactics, paramilitary duties, basic first aid, urban operations, arms / foot drill weapon handling communications, map reading, physical training and peace support operations. He told the recruits that the military is a disciplined and well structured institution, where they are expected to always exhibit high moral and professional standards. He reminded them that the military is subordinate to civil authority. Ten outstanding recruits were decorated Lance Corporals by President Jammeh.