By Buba Gagigo
The Gambia Armed Forces Guard Battalion was yesterday, December 21, 2022, announced as the Winner of the Drill Competition which was organized by the Gambia Armed Forces in Fajara.
Before the commencement of the Drill Competition on Wednesday, the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) of the Gambia Armed Forces, Yankuba Drammeh, during his welcoming remarks said;
“This year’s Drill Competition is being held among all the Battalions under the 3 Services of the GAF and the participating Teams will be competing in the conduct of military drills such as the Quarter Guard, 40 Rifle Drill Movements at the Halt and Squad Drills. These are synchronised drills and movements that are synonymous with the daily activities of the average soldier,” CDS Drammeh said.
A Panel of Judges was selected to adjudicate among the participants to determine the winners and losers.
According to the Gambia Chief of Defense Staff, the Panel consists of very seasoned retired members of the GAF with an enviable military track record.
“Additionally, there are prizes to be awarded to the Winners, Runner Up, and Third position as well as consolation prizes for each of the participating teams in this competition. Therefore, let me hasten to state that in this Drill Competition, there is no loser, unfortunately, or fortunately. Instead, the entire GAF will emerge as the winner.
“This is because this convergence shall enable us to achieve so many of the objectives that we have set for ourselves as an institution; that is a reformed, highly trained, and motivated Armed Forces equipped and maintained to carry out its constitutional mandate and other assigned roles to the admirations of all Gambians,” CDS Drammeh said.
After a day-long drill competition between different battalions of the Gambia Armed Forces, the following results were announced;
Defence Headquarters Camp took the 7th position with 106 points
Gambia Navy took 6th position with 115 points
3BA took 5th position with 117.9 points
2BA took 4th with 118 points
4Battalion took 3rd with 119.6 points
1Battalion took 2nd with 123.5 points
Guards Battalion took first with 126 points
The Inter-Battalion Drill Competition is one of the major activities forming part of the Chief of Defence Staff’s Annual Training Directive that is held as part of the end-of-year activities of GAF. It has been over a decade since GAF last conducted such a competition among its Battalions.