United States Ambassador to Sierra Leone, June Carter Perry, has applauded the Pacific Architectural Engineering (PAE) for an excellent job done in strengthening the capacity of ECOWAS.
The PAE training on power generation familiarization on basic operators was sponsored by the US Government.
The Ambassador advised graduates to avoid corruption and wastage and embrace team work.
She said, “the US appreciates the Mano River Union’s (MRU’s) role in strengthening trade and security throughout West Africa.”
At the certification ceremony, twenty-one (21) soldiers; seven (7) from the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) and fourteen (14) from the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) who underwent six weeks of intensive training at PAE logistics and logistical training depot, Murray Town, yesterday received their awards.
Major A B Conteh, Commanding Officer (CO) of the Joint Logistics Units (JLU) in RSLAF, said the ceremony is the 18th graduation ceremony sponsored by the United States Government.
He intimated that the depot which is operated by PAE government services has trained 773 soldiers from various ECOWAS Countries on various logistics support related disciplines.
He noted that the six (6) weeks training undergone by the twenty one soldiers “is a complete training package in which they were provided with real equipment to inspect, troubleshoot, disassemble and repair while learning and using the latest technology in tools and equipment.”
He disclosed that the graduates have passed-out with a sense of accomplishment which would enable them to meaningfully contribute to their Armed Forces and respective governments. “They would be considered as a future pool of candidates for ECOWAS to draw from when their various armed forces become part of the ECOWAS stand by force or similar grouping elsewhere,” he said.
He disclosed that the US Government has spent huge resources both in terms of material and human resource to support the training program.
Major Conteh stressed that “bravery is knowledge therefore modern soldiering is to hold knowledge and especially the quest for knowledge in high esteem.”
Major-General Kestoria Kabia said both Sierra Leone and Liberia have shared common history in the recent past, as the two Countries have experienced bitter civil wars. “Now with our past behind us, we have gone far on the path to rehabilitation, restructuring, as well as the preservation of stability and peace. Liberia and Sierra Leone share a common challenge for national development which includes improvement in national security and development in human resources,” she said.
The CDS advised the students to implement all what they have learnt during the training so that the effort of the tutors and the resources which have been used during the course would not go in vain.
By Ophaniel Gooding