Kofi Ampeah Woode
Ghana Army’s 5 Infantry Battalion (5Bn) has held an Inter-Platoon Drill Competition for Young Soldiers recently posted to the Battalion, to complement the training they received from their various Army Recruit Training Schools, and to climax its Orientation Training for Young Soldiers of Basic Infantry Training Course (BITC) 1-4/23.
The exciting one-day contest took place on Friday 26 April 2024, at the Bale-Baz Square of the military ‘overlords’ of the Greater Accra and Central Regions of Ghana, also known as ‘the lions’, with Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Samuel Twumasi – Commanding Officer (CO), 81 Signal Regiment, as the Chief Guest.
In his remarks Lt Col S Twumasi said the Drill Competition, which culminated into the Continuation Training for the Young Soldiers of the Unit, was important, as it would help improve on their precision and ability to understand and execute orders.
Delivering his welcome address, the CO, 5Bn – Lt Col Kwame Owusu-Afriyie said Drill is one of the highest forms of expressing military discipline, with an aim to present a confident, alert and obedient soldier, and provides the basis of teamwork.
He added that Drill also serves as a means of enhancing and preserving some military traditions and customs, and that it takes good training and constant rehearsals to attain mastery in Drill, ending with a quote: ‘’whenever drill is taught or practiced, those in command must stress its objective. It must never be used as a punishment, but always as a means of raising standards within a body of men.’’
The Young Soldiers on Orientation Training were segmented into Four (4) Contingents or Platoons namely; BAWAH (named after the First CO of 5Bn); AMENU (Second CO); BALE-BAZ (First Regimental Sergeant Major {RSM}), and YARO (Second RSM), with each contingent made up of 1 Officer and 22 Soldiers, but for the Female Contingent, which had 1 Officer and 31 Soldiers.
Each Platoon was allotted the stage and time to demonstrate their skills in Foot Drill (slow and quick time), Salute to the Flanks and to the Front, Up-system at a halt, and Advance-in-Review-Order working on the Up-system.
With the three topmost winners being awarded various cash prizes, and the Over All Best Platoon winning a trophy, BALE-BAZ Platoon was adjudged 1st, BAWAH 2nd, YARO 3rd, and AMENU 4th (nearly last), with four cash prizes also awarded to Individual Best in Drill, one from each of the contesting contingents.
Present at the event included COs of Adjoining Units, Officers, RSMs, Officers, Senior Non-Commissioned Officers, and Defence Civilian Staff.
