President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Dr Irfaan Ali, has called on newly commissioned officers and warrant officers of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to embrace the evolving landscape of national and global security with strategic thinking, technological competence and a renewed sense of unity and purpose.
Delivering the charge as the GDF officers received their instruments and took their oath on Friday, President Ali said the officers’ elevation marks the beginning of a new era of leadership, one that demands adaptability, discipline and innovation as Guyana navigates a fast-changing security environment.
“You are assuming leadership at a time of rapid transformation, both within our country and across the global security environment,” the President told the officers.
“The nature of warfare and defence has evolved traditional threats are now compounded by transnational risks, cyber intrusion, narco-trafficking, illegal fishing, environmental disasters, and regional instability.”
He stressed that the modern military leader must combine courage and moral strength with technological proficiency and strategic awareness. “The modern officer must be as comfortable with data and digital tools as with discipline and drills,” Dr Ali said, noting that continuous education and training are indispensable for building a “modern, agile, and technologically advanced” Defence Force.
While highlighting the importance of innovation, the President reminded the officers that technology alone does not build a strong military—unity, teamwork, and trust do. “An army divided cannot stand,” he cautioned. “Every success in military history, from the smallest tactical victory to the preservation of national peace, has been built on cohesion and mutual trust.”
Dr Ali said the Defence Force must continue to function not only as a strategic arm of the state but also as a partner in nation-building. “Whether responding to floods, supporting law enforcement, or assisting in community development, the GDF must always act as a unifying symbol of national pride and stability,” he said.
With Guyana’s rapid development and growing role in regional affairs, the President urged the new officers to lead with foresight and moral clarity. “Leadership is both a privilege and a burden,” he noted. “It demands consistency, sacrifice, and humility. The mark of a true officer is not the number of orders given, but the respect earned through fairness, competence, and genuine concern for those under your command.”
He also reminded them that service in the GDF represents a “higher calling”—one that asks for selflessness, loyalty to the Constitution, and unwavering love for country.
“Service to a higher duty means answering a call to defend ideas that are greater than any one person,” the Commander-in-Chief said. “It is the triumph of principle over privilege, of commitment over comfort, and of nation over self.”
Dr Ali commended the officers for their dedication and sacrifice, urging them to wear their new authority with humility and pride. “The eyes of your nation are upon you,” he concluded. “Lead with vision, courage, and integrity. The future of our Defence Force—and our Republic—rests, in part, on your shoulders.”
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