President George M. Weah has reechoed his government’s commitment to providing every necessary support to the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) in order to address challenges faced by the Army.
In a special statement Saturday, February 11, 2023, at the 66th AFL Day Program at the Barclay Training Center, the President, who is also the Commander-In-Chief of the AFL mentioned the Recruitment Drive for new members to join the Armed Forces, which began in 2022.
“And this process is ongoing, with 2,335 successful applicants from the five regions. The first batch of recruits and Officer Cadets training began in October last year at the Armed Forces Training Command, comprising 176 recruits and 24 officers.”
“The first batch graduated from the Initial Entry Training in December of last year, and they completed the Advance Individual Training at the end of last month at the Barclay Training Center,” the Liberian leader asserted.
The Commander-In-Chief indicated that the AFL is significantly involved in infrastructural development in the country to ensure it contributes its quota to meeting the needs of Liberians while at the same time conducting its security operations.
“I must say that the Armed Forces has lived up to this opportunity and has been instrumental to numerous infrastructural development efforts of the Government so far. The Engineer Company has also been actively involved in the construction and reconditioning of feeder roads and bridges, as well as pedestrian walkways in some towns and villages of our country.
These projects are well-structured and up to international standards. Also significant was the medical outreach offered to the Liberian people by the Armed Forces in Po River, and the clean-up campaign undertaken by the Armed Forces personnel in Du Port Road Community as part of the Armed Forces Day Celebrations,” the Liberian Leader continued.
President Weah asserted that his administration is aware the AFL made these achievements in the face of numerous challenges, including inadequate funding, a lack of manpower, inadequate accommodation for personnel, and insufficient codified policies for administering military justice.
He noted further: “However, let me assure you that my Administration is making all concerted effort to address these challenges. For example, just recently, I approved the Court Martial Regulation for the Armed Forces, which will greatly assist the administration of military justice in Liberia. Many such regulations will come on board in the coming days.”
According to him, the AFL is in the process of establishing its Non-Commissioned Officers Academy at the Armed Forces Training Command at Camp Sandee Ware and that the Academy will not only increase Military capacity but will also foster and strengthen regional and international ties with foreign militaries.
As part of efforts geared towards improving the operational and administrative course of the AFL, he announced the approval of the Court Martial Regulation for the Armed Forces, which he said will greatly assist the administration of military justice in Liberia.
“We understand that there will be challenges in the performance of our duties. However, we ask all Liberians to continuously see the Armed Forces as a true representation of the Liberian people, and I charged all Liberians in all walks of life to support the AFL to always conduct its functions as a professional military that serves the collective interest of all Liberians,” he added.
President Weah thanked the Minister of Defense, Major General Daniel Ziankahn (Rtd.), and his able team for what he called “the excellent leadership they have manifested in making our Armed Forces a “Force for Good”.
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