2005 Press Releases

RSLAF SOLDIERS GRADUATE AT FREETOWN DEPOT

October 28, 2005

Freetown
Tel: 226481

On October 27, 2005, United States Ambassador Thomas N. Hull led a graduation ceremony for forty-five (45) RSLAF military personnel. The soldiers recently completed training at the US Government-funded military logistics facility at Murray Town Barracks. The soldiers’ graduation marks a continuation of a series of training programs at the Freetown depot, funded by the US government. The solders trained in military vehicle driving, vehicle and generator maintenance and the use and maintenance of communication equipment. The US government has committed $ 3 million to fund this initiative. Since August 2002, the Depot has trained a total of 643 soldiers from Sierra Leone, Guinea, Mauritania, Mali, Niger and Chad. Personnel who complete the training requirements return to their units as qualified communicators, generator mechanics, vehicle mechanics, and as heavy and light vehicle drivers. Today’s graduates consist of the following: 

• Vehicle Maintenance On The Job Training – 21
• Generator Maintenance On The Job Training – 4
• Communication Maintenance On The Job Training – 9
• Facility Maintenance On The Job Training – 11

To highlight the importance of the occasion, deputy Minister of Defence, Joe Blell, made remarks and Brigadier Nelson-Williams closed the event. Brigadier Dumbuya also attended. Ambassador Hull remarked during the ceremony that “the United States is pleased to provide quality logistics training and maintenance support to West African militaries as it furthers peace and stability in the sub-region by building capacity.” Other troops from RSLAF, Guinea and Mali have previously been trained at the PAE depot, and the US plans to provide future training to troops from the ECOWAS region.