Fifteen military officers, including personnel from Antigua and Barbuda and St Kitts and Nevis, have completed a 12-week command and staff course conducted by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), aimed at preparing them for greater leadership and operational responsibilities while strengthening professional ties among Caribbean defence forces.
The graduating officers completed Junior Command and Staff Course Number Thirty-Four (JCSC #34), which covered operational planning, battle procedure, military law, leadership, administration, intelligence and resource management.
The course brought together officers from the GDF, the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force (ABDF) and the St Kitts and Nevis Defence Force (SKNDF). Practical exercises and scenario-based assessments tested their ability to apply military doctrine, exercise sound judgement and make decisions in operational settings.
The participation of officers from the two regional forces gave the programme broader significance beyond individual professional development, creating opportunities for shared learning, the exchange of military experience and stronger working relationships among Caribbean defence establishments.
Such cooperation can help improve coordination and understanding among regional forces as Caribbean countries confront shared security concerns and participate in joint military and emergency-response activities.
Addressing the closing ceremony, Commanding Officer of the Training Corps, Lieutenant Colonel Dale De Mendonca, described officer development as a strategic imperative for the GDF. He urged graduates to treat the course as a milestone in their careers and remain committed to continuous professional growth.
Colonel General Staff Colonel Kenlloyd Roberts, MSM, emphasised the responsibilities that accompany promotion and the assumption of greater authority, stressing that officers must demonstrate character, competence and accountability in their conduct and performance.
“Rank is responsibility,” Colonel Roberts reminded the graduates, emphasising that promotion brings greater expectations of professional conduct and performance.
Officers recognised
Four officers were recognised for outstanding performance across academic, professional and physical training disciplines during the 12-week course. The awards highlighted individual excellence among participants from Guyana and its regional defence partners.
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Best Graduating Student: Lieutenant Randolph Best, Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force (ABDF).
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Runner-Up Graduating Student: Lieutenant Delon Abrams, Guyana Defence Force (GDF).
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Best Service Paper: Sub-Lieutenant Mohamed Khan, GDF Coast Guard.
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Physical Discipline Award: Captain Kenish Garnette, St Kitts and Nevis Defence Force (SKNDF).
Building on six decades of military service
The training programme forms part of the GDF’s broader responsibility to develop officers capable of translating commanders’ instructions into effective operational action.
The Force was established on November 1, 1965, when training began under British instructors, during the Forbes Burnham-led coalition government of the People’s National Congress and United Force, ahead of Guyana’s independence from Britain in May 1966. Its initial recruits were drawn from the British Guiana Volunteer Force, the Special Service Unit, the British Guiana Police Force and civilian volunteers.
Since its formation, the GDF has been responsible for defending Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while also contributing to national development and emergency operations.
The GDF said the Junior Command and Staff Course strengthens its operational capabilities by developing officers equipped with the planning, leadership and staff skills required to support military missions.
The inclusion of regional participants also underscores the importance of professional military cooperation in building capabilities across the Caribbean, where collaboration and the exchange of expertise can support the defence and security responsibilities of individual states and the wider region.
