GMA RCC 62 NOVICES BOXING CONTEST ‘23

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“So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing” – 1 Corinthians 9:26. Another rendition says: “Therefore, I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air” – 1 Corinthians 9:26.

INTRODUCTION
As part of the series of training activities lined up to toughen and build the physical and mental endurance of prospective Officers of the elite Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), the Ghana Military Academy (GMA) conducts Inter-Platoon Novices Boxing Competition for Officer Cadets.

Officer Cadets are taught the rudiments and rules of boxing an opponent in a novices boxing bout, and then launched into the Novices Boxing Competition. Male and female Officer Cadets are paired with opponents of same sex and weight category, to box in a 3 rounds boxing bout in a professional boxing ring. They wear boxing gloves and other protective gears designed purposely for novices boxing, each round running for 3 minutes.

The boxers are given 60 seconds rest after each round, totaling 9 munities of boxing and 3 minutes rest for each bout. The 9 munities of boxing seem so short but it is a nightmare for most of the Officer Cadets; most especially for those who have never been involved in any physical altercation until the night they faced an opponent in the ring at the Academy.

As postulated by Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:26, athletes, boxers or most sports men and women participate in a competition with a well-defined purpose. They do not run or box just for the fun of it.

They have a purpose which is either to win the race and set a new world record for their category or to win the fight and set a sterling record with a new world title.

The Apostle appeals to his own conduct as an illustration of the lesson which he is teaching, and by means of it reminds the reader that the whole of chapter 9 of 1 Corinthians has been a vindication of his own self-denial, and that he has a clear and definite object in view. In the same vein, athletes and boxers exercise a great deal of self-denial, not to indulge in lifestyles outside the racetrack or the boxing ring that may derail their competency, effectiveness and efficiency. The apostle illustrates how a boxer has an adversary to contend against, and he/she strikes him/her, and does not wildly and impotently strike at him/her, and so only beat the air.

The larger populace may not be aware that fighting in the Inter-Platoon Novices Boxing Competition is mandatory for all Commissioned Officers who went through the Academy. Likewise, soldiers who did not get the opportunity to serve as an instructor or administrative staff at the Academy, may not know that their Platoon Commander, Company Second-in-Command, Company Commander, Commanding Officer, Brigade Commander et cetera, ever did engage in novices boxing at the Academy, and won or lost the fight as it were.

Most Officers do not want to talk about it as you may incur the displeasure of those who lost miserably. Hence, it is just close family members and friends who may see pictures depicting participation in novices boxing at the Academy. But it is pertinent to let all know that the Officer Cadet training at the Academy is rough, tough and rugged.

It is against this milieu that this write-up seeks to give readers an insight into the essence and conduct of the Inter-Platoon Novices Boxing Competition for Officer Cadets of GMA. Please, on a lighter note, do not find out from your spouse, father, mother, uncle, aunty, child or friend who is an Officer in GAF, whether he or she won his or her bout after reading this article. You may…

AIM
The aim of this write-up is to acquaint readers with the essence and conduct of the Inter-Platoon Novices Boxing Competition for Officer Cadets at the GMA.

THE CONDUCT OF THE 2023 INTER-PLATOON NOVICES BOXING COMPETITION
The 2023 Inter-Platoon Novices Boxing Competition for Regular Career Course 62 (RCC 62) was a week-long (Monday 20 – Friday 24 February 2023) power-packed, high tempo competition. In fact, it was nights of boos and oohs, garnished with lively commentary from the commentary box and spectators alike.

The Guest of Honour for the 2023 Inter-Platoon Novices Boxing Competition for Regular Career Course (RCC) 62 was Major General (Maj Gen) William Azure Ayamdo (Rtd), the immediate past Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of Ghana Army. In order to give an idea of what really transpired during the five exciting nights of boxing, I will quote extracts from his speech during the closing ceremony:

Extracts from the speech of Maj Gen William Ayamdo (Rtd) – Guest of Honour for the 2023 Inter-Platoon Novices Boxing Competition:

“Novices Boxing has been an essential aspect of Officer Cadet training in Military Academies, and it is for a good purpose. Therefore, no one for a moment should consider it unnecessary or regard it as undue punishment for Officer Cadets. Novices Boxing is a sporting activity that trains potential Officers for unarmed combat and develops their fighting spirit as well as self-confidence and mental robustness.

Additionally, cadet must always be able to stand their grounds in the face of seemingly overwhelming adversity, to carry on when tired or hurt and to keep their heads up when circumstances threaten to subjugate them. The overall objective of this event is therefore “to build the confidence of Officer Cadets through healthy competition.

Ladies and Gentlemen, and particularly to the Officer Cadets, the purpose of this competition is not to turn you into professional boxers. It is also not intended to equip you with skills to unleash brutality or mayhem on innocent civilians. Rather, it is to teach you the art of self-defense to enable you overcome fear and pain as a potential Officer, and to be able to face and defeat any adversary that might seem unconquerable in your line of duty, when you become an Officer.

You are also enjoined to use these skills to protect the vulnerable in society where it is absolutely necessary. Certainly, it is not for anything that the motto of the Ghana Military Academy is “Service, Devotion and Sacrifice”. These three key words must guide you in your dedication and commitment to your duties, to our country and the citizenry”.

The speech rings a bell in the ear of the writer and most Officers of the elite GAF who were present during the competition and I suppose even those who would be reading this article.

For most Officer Cadets, taking part in the novices boxing at the Military Academy is the first time ever they were engaged in any form of scuffle, altercation or physical fight. Even those who might have ever engaged in physical scuffle or fight, the rules of engagement governing the novices boxing at the Academy, makes it a moment of anxiety until one has had a shot of it in the boxing ring.

The Basic/Standard Military Training phase of the Officer Cadet training is geared towards preparing them for difficult and challenging tasks ahead. This phase actually toughens and enhances the resilience and aggressiveness of Officer Cadets, and prepares them for the Inter Platoon Novices Boxing Competition and other equally gruesome exercises.

Whilst some Officer Cadets were in the best of moods during the competition, others were scared until they finished their bouts, as a result of anxiety and the fear of the unknown, i.e. the outcome of their bout. It was a humbling experience for losers and for those who won, they were elated and spent the rest of the night highly motivated.

It takes days and sometimes weeks for some losers to accept the reality of what happened on the night they fought their opponent. But at the end of it all, every Officer Cadet gets the opportunity to assess his or her resilience, toughness and fighting skills. Survival is the catch word; one must make sure he or she comes out of that ring a victor and not the victim.

Boxing is a great workout, perhaps the most challenging of all sports. It requires speed, agility, tact, power, endurance, and ultimate mental toughness. Boxing pushes the boxer like no other, pitting the finest and highest-level athletes against each other. Unless one is on excuse-duty or excuse-physical-training due to peculiar health reasons at that particular period, boxing for the Officer Cadet, is not a choice, it is mandatory to box as an Officer Cadet.

It can never be seen as sports for some Officer Cadets no matter what others may think. It is an issue of avoiding being humiliated in front of the Special Guest of Honour, Commandant, Deputy Commandant, Directors, Chief Instructors, Instructors, Staff, Civilian Employees and the local community of Teshie living close to the Academy. One must fight back even if it is throwing punches in the opposite direction to demonstrate one’s fighting skills.

There is an award for the gallant looser, so if one has to lose then it must be nothing less than winning the Gallant Looser Award, but it does not work out that simple. ‘Idle Winners’, losers and those assessed as not putting in their maximum best (referred to as ‘idling; in the Academy parlance) are made to carry logs and run around the Academy Parade Square for the rest of the night, immediately after their bout. So, one must fight to either emerge as a good winner, gallant loser or at least a good fighter.

One may be wondering what is meant by ‘idle winner’. It simply refers to an Officer Cadet who treated his or her opponent with kid gloves when he or she could have pummeled the comparatively weaker opponent into submission.

The Novices Boxing Competition is an occasion that one has to live with the rest of his or her life, as people forgive but do not forget. It is, therefore, worth considering giving all Officer Cadets who participated fully in the Inter-Platoon Novices Boxing Competition, an insignia or a broche to acknowledge the show of gallantry in the face of an opponent. This broche can be presented to them during their graduation church parade.

All those who did not participate would not be given the broche. This idea can be extended to training activities like the Steeplechase Competition, just as it is done for Helicopter Rappelling.

I wish to draw on the illustration the Apostle Paul made in 1 Corinthians 9:26, to try and explain what goes through the mind of Officer Cadets whilst they box their opponent. The Apostle intimated that because the reward for winning the race is so great and knowing his goal, he runs, keeping the goal of winning continually in view, and run straight to it, casting off every weight that may hinder him. He makes sure that whilst running, he is not distracted by bystanders or other competitors, so as to be prevented from, or hindered in running, by looking at them.

In the same vein, the Officer Cadets’ focus throughout the bout is fixated on his/her opponent and he/she keeps the opponent in his/her line of fire/onslaught until he/she brings him/her to the canvas in a sobering posture. The Apostle made reference to the fact that he boxes not like he is shadowboxing. That is to say he is not fighting like a man/woman missing his/her blow, and spending his/her strength, not on the enemy, but on the empty air.

Just like in a boxing bout the boxer ought to strike his/her opponent, and not missing him/her, to beat the air, to deal strokes in air. The Officer Cadet who wants to win his/her fight has no option but to be guided by the strategy adopted by the Apostle.

I will crave your indulgence once again to quote extracts from the speech of the Guest of Honour, to give you a vivid description of what transpired:

“Let me admit at this early stage of my remarks that the last few days have been electrifying with excitement. As we watched the Officer Cadets sweating it out in the ring, trading punches and counter-punches, one couldn’t have missed comments like; “don’t waste punches”, “shots must be released and followed through”. “oh, this is beautiful”, “who wheeled you?” “This was a push” and “the internationally recognized punch- “WMENORE. Apart from the exciting moment in the ring and the carefully pieced humour from the commentary position that spiced up the atmosphere, this competition also brought back a nostalgic reminder of my own experience many years ago, albeit not at this same venue.”

As the saying goes, ‘No pain, no gain’. Pain is not prejudiced; it spares no age group, cultural background, or social strata. Officer Cadets, just as athletes and boxers, have to endure pain during training and real-life scenarios. This calls for tenacity, endurance and the resolve to stay in there, no matter what. Remember the recipe for failure is to easily give up and walk away. Winners stay in there and fight back with every ounce of their strength.

It is this staying power, tenacity and having the penchant to be victorious in whatever endeavor, that we as Trainers/Instructors seek to inculcate in Officer Cadets. We do our job with passion, professionalism and enthusiasm. We remain impartial with the highest standard of loyalty to God and Country, in dispensing what we know how to do best – manufacturing Commissioned Officers for the Ghana Armed Forces.

TO BE FOREWARNED IS TO BE FOREARMED
Now to my august reading public, most especially those who have intentions of enlisting into the elite GAF: Please be prepared for anything from exhuming dead bodies in the jungles of Liberia (real life experiences of the writer whilst serving with ECOMOG Operations under Ghana Battalion 7, as Number 3 Platoon Commander), to sleeping on tombs in the cemetery whilst exchanging fire with Charles Taylor’s rebels in the rain.

The Officer must be ready for any job description known and undefined at the time of enlisting into the GAF. Personnel of GAF are trained to be an adaptable human resource for use by government in peace time and during times of emergency, to stabilize any chaotic and undefined crisis, whilst efforts are made to bring life to normalcy for the Ghanaian populace.

As a Young Officer, the writer has served on several and varied local and external missions to assist civil authorities to restore law-and-order, and to return communities to normalcy after chaotic and unpredicted complex conflict scenarios. The experiences gained during training at the Academy and as a Young Officer, fast-tracks one’s maturity into handling difficult and unpredictable scenarios, and taking decisions that have far reaching ramifications for national security and harmony.

So, the Officer must be trained to be cool-headed, resilient, nationalistic and robust. The Novices Boxing Competition does not only unearth one’s physical toughness and resilience, but exposes one to the realities of life outside one’s comfort zone. It has always been a sobering experience for Officers to rise through the ranks, to assume higher responsibilities towards national, regional and continental security, peace, integration and harmony.

CONCLUSION
It is worth taking note of the fact that the experience gained by the Officer Cadets at the Academy, will drive home the lesson of being prepared for any scenario that would confront them on the job and the need to exercise restraint, overcome fear and to protect the national interest of Ghana, at the peril of their lives. Those who proved to have lived up to the tenets of the competition were given individual awards as appropriate. The winning platoon was Chiringa Platoon.

A hearty congratulation to all the platoons that competed, the Guest of Honour – Maj Gen Azure Ayamdo, the Commandant of GMA – Maj Gen Charles Kojo Abede Asomaning Awity, Deputy Commandant, GMA – Brigadier General Fred Dankyi Ntiri, Directors, Chief Instructors, the Academy Sergeant Major, Instructors, staff and Defence Civilian Staff, for contributing to a successful novices boxing completion.