These men and women of the armed forces are not parading to go for war, but on standby to compete among each other.
The end of the year event aims at producing service men and women who are professional, disciplined, alert and obedient in the discharge of their military duties and constitutional mandate.
Lt. General Yankuba A. Drammeh, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Gambia Armed Forces, said drills provide the basis for team work and maintain a standard of discipline in the army.
CDS Drammeh added that drills are yardsticks of measuring the level of discipline of soldiers, the need for peace and security in the country. He advised his men and women in uniform to be committed to the maintenance of peace across the country.
"No given country can succeed without peace and security, so I advise you to maintain peace in the country," he said.
The CDS indicated that the aims of the armed forces as written in the constitution are to defend and preserve the sovereignty and territorial integrity of The Gambia, to aid civil authorities during emergencies and national disasters; to engage in productive activities such as agriculture, engineering, health and education for the development of The Gambia.
According to him, The Gambia has generally benefited from a stable political climate since independence in 1965.
However, the 1997 Constitution gave The Gambia Armed Forces additional mandates in the light of the changing phenomena in the traditional roles of the Armed Forces.
These additional mandates have allowed the expansion of the role of The Gambia Armed Forces to Rescue Missions, Emergency and Disaster Operations, and International Peacekeeping and Peace Enforcement Missions, the CDS said.
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