Best Graduating Student, Sergeant Andrew Bright, was awarded the Chief of Staff’s Leadership Star when 12 new sergeants graduated from the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) Academy on Wednesday.
A release from the GDF said that the Sergeants are the second batch to graduate from the Academy which was established in 2012.
Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Mark Phillips exhorted the graduates to set the example.
“As leaders, you will have followers who will look up to you! Set the example!” he urged, according to the GDF press release.
He emphasised that as Sergeants they were now Senior Non-Commissioned Officers, with the responsibility of training and enforcing discipline among their juniors.
Bright said that his goal was always to excel. “I started the Leader Sergeant Course with the desire to be the best. It was always my aim and so, I worked hard, sacrificed sleep, studying until the wee hours many mornings,” he said.
He related that the most difficult aspect of the course was executing Exercise Chameleon. “On Exercise Chameleon, we had to demonstrate that we
had indeed learned what was taught to us. We had to pull on all our strengths and apply ourselves in order to be successful. I am happy to have graduated at the top of my class, but I could not have done it without the support of my colleagues”, said Bright.
Prior
Also clinching awards were Tyshon Bentick (Runner-Up Best Graduating Student), Keioma Livan (Best Military Knowledge and Fittest Student), Cornelius Messiah (Best Shot) and Chris Corbin (Best Drill). Clavern Baptiste was the lone graduate selected from the pool of civilian applicants to complete the programme.
The nine-month programme is available to eligible members of the Force as well as civilians who meet the admission criteria. Its curriculum emphasises leadership, critical thinking and decision-making training.
