Guyana Defence Force

SCSC 20 VISITS CARICOM SECRETARIAT

Students of the Senior Command and Staff Course Number 20 (SCSC 20) recently visited the CARICOM Secretariat as part of the final phase of their training.
The Senior Command and Staff Course is a strategically focused programme that prepares officers for command and senior staff appointments through a combination of academic instruction, practical engagements, and professional development activities.
The engagement was designed to provide officers with practical exposure to the role and functions of regional organisations within the Caribbean, while enhancing their understanding of the mechanisms that support regional cooperation and collective decision-making.
The students are pursuing studies in administration, military studies, global and environmental studies, military law, and the Law of Armed Conflict. The visit to the CARICOM Secretariat complemented these areas of study by providing insight into regional cooperation mechanisms, policy development processes, and the role of regional institutions in addressing contemporary security and development challenges.
The engagement also broadened participants' appreciation of the relationship between security, governance, and development, while reinforcing the importance of regional collaboration in addressing shared challenges across the Caribbean.

CARICOM Secretariat welcomes GDF delegation for special engagement - CARICOM On Thursday, 4 June, the CARICOM Secretariat welcomed a delegation from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Senior Command and Staff Course Number 20 (SCSC #20). The visit featured a special knowledge-sharing session with officials from the Secretariat’s Crime and Security Programme. The GDF officers p...

While engaging residents during the Government’s Cabinet outreach in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), President and Commander-in-Chief, His Excellency Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, took the opportunity to spend time with members of the Guyana Defence Force currently participating in the Platoon Sergeants’ Course at the Colonel Robert Mitchell Jungle and Amphibious Training School at Makouria.

The interaction reflected the Commander-in-Chief’s continued interest in the development of the men and women of the Guyana Defence Force and his commitment to nurturing the next generation of military leaders. Taking time from a demanding schedule of community engagements, the President met with the ranks, exchanged greetings, and paused for photographs with those undertaking the course.

The ranks are presently engaged in the close country warfare phase of the Platoon Sergeants’ Course, a demanding component of training conducted in the dense jungle environment of the Essequibo. Designed to prepare Non-Commissioned Officers for greater leadership responsibilities, this phase challenges participants to operate effectively in restricted terrain where endurance, initiative, sound judgement, and teamwork are essential. Conducted deep within the mighty Essequibo, the training reinforces the fieldcraft, tactical proficiency, and leadership qualities required of Platoon Sergeants who must lead by example and ensure the operational effectiveness of the soldiers under their charge.

The visit also provided an opportunity for President Ali to recognise the contribution of Guyana Coast Guard personnel who supported the outreach. Before departing, the Commander-in-Chief joined the Coast Guard ranks for a group photograph, acknowledging their role in facilitating the movement of his delegation throughout the region’s extensive riverine network.

Though brief, the interactions were warmly received and served as another demonstration of the President’s enduring support for the servicemen and women of the Guyana Defence Force. Whether in training establishments, operational deployments, or national development initiatives, the Commander-in-Chief has consistently emphasised the importance of investing in the people who stand ready to serve and protect the nation.