The Most Outstanding Student was Lance Corporal Dario Pilgrim (at left) who was congratulated by Chief of Staff of the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) Colonel Alvin Quintyne.
Six-week course takes troops through their paces
Sun, 04/03/2016 - 12:00am
AFTER an intensive six-week course, 28 troops from the force’s various units proved successful in ensuring that they are better prepared to execute their duties, responsibilities and authority as Junior Non-Commissioned Officers (JNCOs).
As he delivered remarks at the closing ceremony of the Junior Command Course 1/2016 on Friday at the Paragon base, Commanding Officer Major Ryan Smith said that the individuals had gone through the necessary paces in command, leadership and management training.
He pointed out that the students were assessed in their ability to instruct, command a group in simple task, command a team in a tactical scenario by day and night and lead and manage troops.
Congratulating each individual on a job well done, he reminded them that their role was a critical one to the functioning of the force.
“The choice of non-commissioned officers is an object of the greatest importance. The order and discipline of a unit depends so much upon the behaviour of its leaders that too much care cannot be taken in preferring none to that trust, but those who by their merit and good conduct are entitled to it. Honesty, seriousness, a remarkable attention to every point of duty and setting the right example are indispensable requisites and the 28 students graduating today have demonstrated that they merit being selected to be NCOs.”
“The lessons learnt will prove essential to their growth and development as they continue to navigate not only the testing waters of military service, but also the uncertainties of life as young adults in a rapidly changing local, regional and global society,” he added.
Later in the event, those in the audience got a first hand look at the results of the training when the troops conducted a section battle drill, squad control and a lecture. (JMB)