Thirty-one Officers proudly received their badges of rank today from President and Commander-in-Chief, His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, during their Commissioning Parade at Base Camp Ayanganna, Thomas Lands.
Standing tall on the Drill Square, the graduates of the Standard Officer Course 56 (SOC 56) marked the culmination of two years of intense training, discipline, and leadership development, a journey that transformed them from civilians into military Officers. Of the thirty-one newly commissioned Officers, six will serve with the Guyana Police Force (GPF), four with the Belize Defence Force (BDF), and the remaining twenty-one with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).
Following the badging ceremony, His Excellency President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali presented the prestigious Sword of Honour to Cadet Officer Roger Westmoreland of the GPF, in recognition of his exemplary performance throughout the course.
Also receiving special awards for outstanding achievement were Second Lieutenant Hosea Harmon of the GDF, who received the Chief of Defence Staff Prize; Second Lieutenant Cladio Bolon of the BDF, who earned both the Best International Student and the Commandant, Guyana National Reserve Prizes; Cadet Officer Lloyd Calder of the GPF, who received the Colonel Administration and Quartering Prize; Second Lieutenant Wonetta Semple of the GDF, recipient of the Inspector General Prize; and Second Lieutenant Paul Thompson of the GDF, who was awarded the Commanding Officer, 1st Infantry Battalion Prize.
In his charge to the parade, Commander-in-Chief, His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, called on the newly commissioned Officers to carry forward the proud traditions of the Force with integrity, courage, and devotion to duty. “Today you join a lineage,” the President affirmed. “You inherit the legacy of those who came before you — Officers who have guarded our sovereignty, defended our borders, supported our communities, and upheld our Constitution. This legacy is now yours to uphold, extend, and enrich.”
President Ali also building on that charge, reminded the Officers that their leadership will be tested not only in command, but in the service of a nation on the rise. “Guyana today stands at a moment of immense transformation,” he said. “Our progress must be protected not by aggression, but through vigilance, integrity, and unity of purpose. When we invest in our Defence Force, we invest in peace, stability, and the prosperity of our people.”
Also present to celebrate this remarkable milestone in the young Officers’ careers was the Honorable Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips, MSS, Commissioner of Police Mr. Clifton Hicken, Director of Prison (ag) Mr. Nicklon Elliot, Fire Chief (ag) Mr. Gregory Wickham, members of the Diplomatic Corps, Ministers of Government, former Chiefs-of-Staff, Officers and Ranks of the GDF, family members of the graduates, and other specially invited guests.
As the newly commissioned Officers embark on their journey of service and leadership, His Excellency President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan,MSS, Senior Officers, Warrant Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, Other Ranks, and civilian employees of the Force extend heartfelt congratulations and best wishes for continued excellence in their noble calling.
