Kofi Ampeah Woode
The Ghana Army Combat Training School (ACTS) has held opening and closing ceremonies for its first batch of courses of 2024, to train in Basic and Advanced courses in Weaponry and Career Professional Courses for Officers, Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCOs) and NCOs of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
On 6 May 2024, the Commander of the Army Training Command (CATRAC) – Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Stephen Woseadzikpo Kweku Parbey, opened the first Advanced Army Drill and Duties Course for 2024, at the Headquarters (HQ) of the Army Training Command (ATRAC).
The Advanced Drill and Duties (ADDC 1-24) is a 12 weeks Drill and Duties Course, modeled to train SNCOs of the GAF, as well as other sister security agencies (which included personnel from the Ghana Police, Prisons, Fire Service, Ghana Ports and Harbor Authority and the Ghana National Ambulance Service) in Leadership, Foot and Arms Drill, Discipline, Unit Administration, Military parades and other career critical skills.
Brig Gen SWK Parbey stressed on the need for participants to comport themselves and serve as role models to others within the Command. He admonished all participants to take advantage of the opportunity given to them by their respective Services while giving their best to complete the course packages.
Relatedly, on 10 May 2024, the Commander of the ACTS – Colonel (Col) R Narh, conducted the closing ceremonies for three (3) weapon training courses – Advanced Mortar Course (AMC), Advanced Infantry Platoon Weapon Course (AIPWC), and Advanced Medium Machine Gun Course (AMMGC) – run at the School for Officers, SNCOs and NCOs of all three (3) Services of the GAF.
Participants were trained for 12 to 14 weeks in the Tactical Employment of weapons in contemporary Warfare, Physical Fitness, Navigation, and Administration in the Field in all phases of war.
The courses served as an opportunity to improve interoperability among the various Services of the GAF and improve the accuracy and operational employment of military weapons in urban and build-up areas.
In his closing remarks, Col R Narh thanked all the participants and congratulated them for completing the various phases of the training successfully. He urged them to share the knowledge they have acquired in their various units and ensure to continue to upgrade themselves.
The three (3) courses ended with various students performing exceptionally well. For the AIPWC, Cpl Acheampong Ishmael from Ghana Military Academy (GMA) placed first, followed by L/Cpl Owusu Richard from 2 Infantry Battalion (2 Inf Bn) as second, and L/Cpl Nweah Stephen also from 3 Infantry Battalion (3 Inf Bn) placing third in the order of merit.
For the AMC, L/Cpl Azasu Wisdom from Army Peace Support Operation Training School (APOTS) emerged first , L/Cpl Atta Adarkwa Ernest from 11 Mechanical Battalion (11 Mech Bn) as second, and L/Cpl Sarpong Evans also from 11 Mechanical Battalion (11 Mech Bn) placing third in order of merit.
For the AMMGC, Lt Bernard Elikem Komla Keke from Jungle Warfare School (JWS) placed third, L/Cpl Alhassan Ibrahim from 2 Infantry Battalion (2 Inf Bn) was first, and L/Cpl Obeng Emmanuel also from 64 Infantry Regiment (64 Inf Regt) placing second in order of merit.
The Army Combat Training School is currently in the final stages of completing its first batch of tactical courses namely the Young Officers’ Course, Combat Team Commanders Course and the Advanced Non Commissioned Officers’ Tactical Course.
Scheduled for the next training cycle are the Basic Weapon Courses in Medium Machine Gun, Mortar and Infantry Platoon Weapon Tactical Courses for the next cycle includes a second batch of Young Officers’ Course, Combat Team Commanders Course and Advanced Non Commissioned Officers’ Tactical Course.
Credit: ACTS, GHANA ARMY
