At least a total number of 461 security personnel recently graduated at the Fajara Barracks after a three-week intensive training on peace support operations, conducted by The Royal Gibraltar Regiment from
Speaking at the graduation, Lt. Pierre Beyai, the Army PRO gave a brief history of the British army, noting that they have supported and will continue to support the Gambia Armed Forces.
"In 1984, the British Army helped to form what is now the Gambia Armed Forces, through its training programme known as BATT," he stated.
According to Lt. Beyai, the British Army has distinguished record of military service and military operations worldwide, and that GAF is a replica of that distinguished record as a product of the British Army. He further said that the BATT has continued to provide training and give logistics support to the Gambia Armed Forces.
"Many of our senior commanders benefited from such training packages in the reputable Royal Military Academy-Sanhurst in
For his part, Phil Sinkinson, the British High Commissioner to The Gambia, said the training gets better each year, due to the professionalism of the trainees and trainers, coupled with the trust. He commented on the community aspect of it saying "I went to Madiana where engineers built another classroom block in nine days".
Ousman Badjie, the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff, praised the British Army for consolidating the positive and reputable image the Gambia Armed and Security Services have earned themselves in international peace-keeping and peace support arena.
"The skills acquired from the training will not only be good for peace keeping but for the maintaining of the security and integrity of our sovereignty," he concluded.
