By Nasratu Kargbo
President Julius Maada Bio has stressed the need to have more women in the country’s armed forces, during the commissioning of 60 cadets officers of the military at the Benguema Training Centre on Friday 3rd September 2021. The President said although many women have been recruited over the last three years, more should be attracted to join the army. “As a nation, we have recruited more women into our Armed Forces over the past three years, and our recruitment of women is far above the threshold specified in the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1425. My government has been guided by our commitment to gender equity and recognition of the critical role of women in the future of RSLAF and the Republic of Sierra Leone. As in all aspects of national life, women's voices and representation matter in our country's Armed Forces and my government will stay committed to recruiting and retraining women in RSLAF”, he stated
The training started nine months ago with seventy three trainees, amongst them eleven were specialists. Five are doctors, two pharmacists, one priest and three nurses
The cadet officers were selected among thousands of applicants across the country and initially 73 of them started the training nine months ago.
President Bio expressed appreciation for the training and also congratulated the officers for going through the transformation from being civilians to soldiers.
“We accelerate ongoing efforts to construct standard and conducive barracks accommodation for our officers, soldiers and their dependants across the country. Along with our partners, the People’s Republic of China, our work on the ultra -modern Myhaung Officers Mess and five story single officers’ quarters at Wilberforce stands as a testament. It will be a site where young officers will build camaraderie and be nurtured into the traditions and ethos of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces”, the President affirmed. He explained that they will soon commission those projects together with other construction projects across the country.
He advised the just recruited officers respected, to uphold and protect the country’s constitution and to be mindful that they have sworn to serve the nation. "You are soldiers first and always; you are not tools in the hands of politicians and you must never be. Your duty is to protect our peace, our democracy and to support our national development; so professionalism is not an option, it is a way of life for an officer. It involves discipline, loyalty, respect compassion and character”, President Bio asserted.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (06/09/21)
