The Ghana Armed Forces, Friday, graduated 378 recruits with a caution to them to desist from all illegal and unauthorised activities that would tarnish the image of the Ghana Armed Forces.
This follows 24 weeks of intensive standard military and basic infantry training course at the Army Recruits Training School (ARTS), Shai Hills, in the Greater Accra Region.
Brigadier General Moses Mohammed Aryee, the Commandant of the Training Command, stated that in recent times some self-seeking individuals who entered the military with ill-conceived motives, had been involved in debt collection, land guarding, chieftaincy disputes and other fraudulent and other duties.
He said these acts of indiscipline were facilitated by friends and relatives, and, therefore, reminded them not to yield to such negative influences.
He explained that the military job was one of the most sacrificial jobs, which put professionalism and patriotism above making money.
The GAF, he said, had carved an enviable image for itself; both locally and internationally by the accomplishment of their predecessors through discipline, selflessness, commitment, hard work, dedication to duty, courage, honesty, and, above all, respect for the supremacy of the Constitution of Ghana. It was the resolve of the High Command to enviously guard this hard-earned reputation, he said, and there would be no compromises. The recruits who were admitted to the ARTS in July 20, last year, went through instructions in First Aid, Drills, Physical and Weapon Training, Map Reading, Minor Tactics and Field Craft, Military Laws among others. However, 14 of them were released on health grounds, misconduct and indiscipline.
Another 17 who failed their exams would continue until they meet the Basic Military Training Standards.
The recruits exhibited great skills at the passing out parade to the admiration of the officers and guests at the occasion.
They would, subsequently, be deployed to the various duties that the Ghana Armed Forces is engaged in.
Brig-Gen Aryee said the Armed Forces across the globe had unique basic standards with regard to medical and physical fitness, discipline and mental and physical resilience and robustness.
These attributes and others, he said, must amply be demonstrated during training and thus the failure to meet these standards disqualified one from becoming a soldier.
“Do not think that your passing out today marks the end of your struggle; there are career courses ahead, he told them. The re-introduction of promotion exams for other ranks is also in the pipeline. You, therefore need to put in a lot of efforts to address whatever weaknesses that is in you”.
Brig-Gen Aryee said the good news however was that, there were abundant resources and measures in place in the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) for serious-minded soldiers to tap for their self-development.
WOI Acheampong Prince won the Overall Best Recruit and Best in Academics Awards. RSM Gyasi-Asamoah Samuel won the Best in Drills; while WOI Oko Ose Apepoka Agnes won the Best Female Recruit Award.
Some of the dignitaries present were the District Chief Executive for Shai-Osudoku, Mr Daniel Akufo, the Commanders of the various unit, together with other heads of security agencies in the region.
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