Special forces of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the US military were recently engaged in training here.
A release from the US Embassy yesterday said that a graduation ceremony was held at Camp Stephenson on August 29, 2014, to mark the completion of the month-long training exercise between the Guyana Defence Force 3-1 Special Forces Squadron and members of the United States Special Forces.
The release said that the Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET), took place in and around Camp Stephenson and comprised three phases.
The first phase, taught by the U.S. Special Forces soldiers, included short and long range marksmanship, swimming, and classroom training.
The classroom training encompassed tactical combat casualty care, radio operability, patrolling techniques, and leadership skills.
The release said that thirty-four Guyanese soldiers moved rapidly through phase one, which ended with a Combat Water Survival Test.
Phase two added to the skills learnt in Phase one, but at a faster pace. Phase three concluded with a rigorous 72-hour exercise with individual and team events that tested the newly learnt skills. The soldiers also practised their marksmanship, radio procedures, combat life-saving medical skills, and swimming. They also performed a physical training test, swimming test, and obstacle course.
The release said that after this exercise ended, U.S. Special Forces soldiers attended a training course at the Colonel Robert Mitchell Jungle and Amphibious Training School (CRMJATS). Under the guidance of the GDF 3-1 Special Forces, the U.S. soldiers received 72 hours of instruction and familiarisation on a wide range of survival skills, the release said. Brigadier Mark Phillips, GDF Chief of Staff, was on hand to observe the concluding exercise and presided over the graduation ceremony.
Lieutenant Commander Bob Novotny, the United States’ Senior Defence official in Guyana, said “this was outstanding training and an excellent partner-to-partner exercise for the United States and Guyana Defence Force soldiers.
These teams were able to provide each other world class training in their areas of expertise and in doing so created life-long relationships”.
