Sixteen Junior Officers have successfully completed the Junior Command and Staff Course Number 33 (JCSC 33). The 18-week course, conducted under the tutelage of the Colonel Cecil Martindale
Command and Staff School (CCMCSS) is designed to prepare officers to function efficiently as commanders and staff officers at the junior level across the full spectrum of military operations.
During the course, participants were trained and assessed in a wide range of subjects, including Battle Procedures, Combat Arms, Defensive and Offensive Operations, Internal Security, Military Operations in Special Environments, Military Law,
Communication Studies, Administration, and Management.
In keeping with the evolving nature of warfare, three new modules; Drone Operations, Electronic Warfare, and Introduction to Multi-Domain Operations, were introduced to the curriculum. These additions mark a progressive step in the professional development of junior officers, equipping them with critical knowledge and competencies to operate effectively in technology-driven, multi-dimensional
operational environments.
Two officers distinguished themselves with outstanding performances during the course. Lieutenant Troy Hestick emerged as the Best Graduating Student and received the Best Service Paper Award, while Lieutenant Terronde Benn was adjudged the Runner-Up Student.
Delivering the feature address at the closing ceremony earlier today, Colonel General
Staff, Colonel Kenlloyd Roberts, MSM, congratulated the graduates and commended the Directing Staff for maintaining the high standards of professional military education.
He reminded the officers that they now operate at the direct level of leadership, where their actions and decisions have the most immediate impact on those they lead.
Colonel Roberts emphasised that a military leader’s foremost responsibility is to their soldiers, noting that a well-trained soldier is a confident soldier. He urged the officers to view training as a continual commitment to growth, readiness, and excellence
anchored by the discipline required to sustain it.
He also highlighted discipline, physical fitness, integrity, and mutual trust as cornerstones of effective leadership. Physical fitness, he said, underpins both physical and mental endurance, while integrity remains the foundation of credibility. He called on the officers to lead with honesty, fairness, and consistency, and to build mutual trust
through reliability and accountability.
The successful completion of JCSC 33 underscores the Guyana Defence Force’s commitment to continuous professional development and its drive to cultivate competent, adaptable, and forward-thinking leaders.
