178 personnel of the Republican National Guards (RNG) were recently promoted at a ceremony held at the Fajara Barracks in Bakau.

50 of the soldiers were promoted from the rank of Private to Lance Corporal, 64 from Lance Corporal to Corporal, 39 from Corporal to Sergeant, 10 from Sergeant to Staff Sergeant, 10 from Staff Sergeant to Warrant Officer Class 2 and 5 from Warrant Officer Class 2 to Warrant Officer Class 1.

Speaking at the decoration ceremony, Brigadier General Lamin Bojang, chief of Army Staff, said promotion in the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF)?now is different from the way it used. He said GAF, under the leadership of the chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Lt. General Masanneh Kinteh is expanding, and that promotion is based on merit.

He stressed that this year’s the decoration is more than that of previous years, adding that it was not done by accident, instead it means that GAF is expanding. “The decoration in as much as it is based on merit, commitment, dedication, hard work and selfless duties, promotion is also based on terms and conditions of GAF. “You are dedicated and hardworking that is why you are serving the Gambia Armed Forces and all of you are sacrificing selflessly to serve your nation,” he said.

He also noted that gone are the days when people keep reporting each other unnecessarily in GAF. Brigadier General Bojang advised the soldiers to be truthful, frank and law abiding as well show total loyalty to the commander-in-chief, President Jammeh.

Lt. Col. Baboucarr Sanyang, commanding Officer of the Republican National Guards at Fajara Barracks, said the RNG, formerly (Gambian National Guards) was established on 22nd July 1994. He spoke at length on their achievements and advised the newly promoted soldiers to keep the momentum.