Kofi Ampeah Woode
Fifty (50) Private (Pte) Young Soldiers who were recently posted to 1 Infantry Battalion (1Bn), after completing Basic Infantry Training Course from various Ghana Army (GA) recruit training schools, have been adorned with the Unit’s red lanyard, after successfully undergoing 6-weeks of continuation training.
A lanyard-adorning parade was held on the 1Bn Square, Michel Camp, Tema on Friday 6 January, 2023, where the Reviewing Officer, the Commanding Officer (CO) – Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Dominic Ampomah, aided by his Second-In-Command (2ic) – Major (Maj) Philip Owusu Amanfoh and Officer Commanding (OC), Bravo Company – Maj Daniel Aiplah Kabenla, arrayed the Young Soldiers, to signify their official integration into the Unit, as part of the Custom of the Unit for Young Officers and Soldiers.
For six weeks, Officers and Instructors worked to ensure the successful completion of yet another rigorous training program which entailed lessons on Drill, Scale at Arms, Map Reading, Voice Procedure, Guard Mounting, Service Offences, Unit Customs and Traditions, Rules of Engagement, among others, for the new Soldiers.
Lt Col D Ampomah told the Pte Soldiers that the ceremony is significant, in that it confirms their being exposed and taken through the basic rudiments and regimentation necessary to ensure their smooth take-off as Young Soldiers of the “Ready and Willing” Unit, and that they are ready to be deployed in any part of the Unit’s Area of Responsibility and assigned any task commensurate with their rank.
He said at a time when the Unit is engaged in a number of Internal Security Operations and at the same time aiming to dominate its vast Area of Responsibility with deployment of troops, the continuation training program was meant to equip them with the basic knowledge and skills necessary to undertake basic duties and responsibilities as Young Soldiers.
The Young Soldiers will be deployed in Operations (Op) MOTHERLAND in Akosombo, Akuse and Atimpoku, Op CALMLIFE within Tema Metropolis, Ashaiman, Kpone-Katamanso and Koforidua municipalities, Op COWLEG at Kwahu Abetifi and Afram Plains, Op SAFE in support of Bank of Ghana and Ecobank, and Op HALT I and II among others in addition to internal duties within the Unit, the CO said.
Col Ampomah stated in no uncertain terms that it is unprofessional for soldiers to stay glued to their phones either browsing, chatting or receiving calls when on patrols or on sentry duties, for which reason no acts of indiscipline and unprofessionalism will be tolerated from anyone in the discharge of their duties.
The Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) of 1Bn – Senior Warrant Officer Class II Kingsley Ebow Koomson, Warrant Officers (WOs), Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCOs) and Soldiers, were present at the ceremony.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
