At just 18, Officer Cadet Fianna Maria Tading has turned a determination to build a better future for herself and her sisters into a historic milestone for the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).
Five months into the GDF’s Standard Officer Course Number 58 (SOC #58), Tading was selected for training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom, becoming the first woman in the history of the GDF to be selected for training at the prestigious military academy.
The distinction is important: Tading has not yet begun training at Sandhurst. She remains an officer cadet undergoing SOC #58, and her selection represents an opportunity for further professional military training once she moves on to the Sandhurst programme. Her current responsibility is to continue her officer-cadet training while preparing for that next stage.
Her achievement comes as the GDF approaches its 61st anniversary. The Force came into existence on November 1, 1965, when training began under a team of British instructors, less than seven months before Guyana gained independence.
The GDF was established under the government of Premier Forbes Burnham, whose People’s National Congress (PNC) was then in coalition with the United Force (UF). Guyana was still British Guiana when the Force was formed. It was built from personnel drawn from the British Guiana Volunteer Force, Special Service Unit, British Guiana Police Force and civilian volunteers.
Following independence on May 26, 1966, the GDF became part of the institutional framework of the new nation. Over the decades, it developed its own officer-training system while maintaining links with overseas military institutions. The Colonel Ulric Pilgrim Officer Cadet School was established in 1981, while GDF personnel have continued to pursue professional military training abroad, including at Sandhurst.
Against that history, Tading’s selection represents another milestone in the evolution of the Force and the advancement of women within its ranks.
From Moruca to the Officer Corps
Tading’s journey began in Moruca, Region One (Barima-Waini), and has been shaped by determination, family support and the encouragement of a teacher who recognised her potential.
Now residing at Strathspey on the East Coast Demerara, she completed her secondary education at Bladen Hall Multilateral School. Her interest in military service grew after a teacher encouraged her to apply for the GDF’s Standard Officer Course.
The challenge itself became part of the attraction.
“Life was a bit tough for us growing up, and I always wanted a better future for myself and my sisters. When I learnt how challenging the officer course was, I decided that it was a challenge I wanted to take on,” she said.
After successfully completing the rigorous initial assessments for prospective officer cadets, Tading began training on SOC #58. Five months into the course, her performance earned her selection for further training at Sandhurst.
The opportunity came unexpectedly, but she sees it as an important step in her development as a military officer.
“The opportunity was unexpected, but I am extremely grateful. I see it as an important step towards becoming a military officer. I intend to give my best, learn as much as I can and return better prepared to serve the GDF and share what I have learnt,” she said.
A Historic Chapter for Women
Women have been part of the GDF almost from its earliest years. The Force recruited its first four female officers in January 1967, shortly after independence. They included Joan Granger, Brenda Aaron, Hyacinth King and Clarissa Hookumchand. By 1969, women were being exposed to combat training as the Force expanded the roles available to them.
Tading’s Sandhurst selection adds another milestone to that history.
The significance extends beyond being the first woman from the GDF selected for training at Sandhurst. The Royal Military Academy is one of the United Kingdom’s principal institutions for military officer training, and the GDF identifies Sandhurst among the overseas institutions where its personnel receive professional military training.
Tading’s selection places her within a wider tradition of Guyanese military personnel pursuing advanced training abroad and returning with knowledge and experience to contribute to the development of the Force.
The People Behind the Achievement
Tading does not present the achievement as hers alone.
She credits her sisters with helping her navigate the demands of her journey, particularly her older sister, Jarilene Henry, whom she describes as her “rock and constant support.”
That support has accompanied her from her formative years through the demanding environment of officer-cadet training and now toward an opportunity that could take her to the United Kingdom.
Her story also underscores the influence that a single teacher can have on a young person’s future. Encouragement to apply for an officer course became the first step in a journey that has taken Tading from Moruca to a historic selection for one of the world’s best-known military academies.
A Message to Young Guyanese
As she continues SOC #58 and prepares for her prospective Sandhurst training, Tading hopes her achievement will encourage other young Guyanese, particularly young women, to consider careers in the GDF.
“I am grateful to the GDF for affording me this opportunity, and I am happy that I made the decision to join. I would encourage young people who are willing to work hard, challenge themselves and serve Guyana to consider a career in the GDF,” she said.
Her journey began with a decision to embrace a demanding challenge because she believed it could help create a better future.
Five months into SOC #58, that decision has already made GDF history.
The Sandhurst chapter has yet to begin. Tading’s immediate task remains her current officer-cadet training. The next stage, if completed as planned, will take her into further professional military development at Sandhurst before she returns to continue her career and service in the GDF.
From a young woman encouraged by a teacher to take a chance, to the first female GDF officer cadet selected for Sandhurst training, Tading’s story illustrates how determination, opportunity and support can open doors far beyond the circumstances in which a journey begins.
Her achievement is personal, but it also marks another chapter in the evolving story of women in Guyana’s military—and offers young Guyanese another example of where discipline, perseverance and a willingness to accept a challenge can lead.
