By: Josephine Nyeweah in Kenema district
The newly transferred Brigade Commander of the 2nd Infantry Brigade in Kenema, Brigadier General George Mamoud Bangura, has called on the public who had the intention of coming into the Army to make money to stay out.
He made this statement while talking to the press about Armed Forces Day at the Bridge headquarters in Kenema.
“We are now entrusting the Army generation into the hands of the young folks to take over the Army and protect the integrity of our nation, adding that the commitment for national service is selfless,” he said.
If you are coming into the Army to make money, it means you are not ready to serve the nation.
He encouraged all that there is no money in the Army, but he assured all and sundry that the government will continue to take care of the Army by providing accommodations, logistics, uniforms, and incentives, and at the end of every month, you must get some amount for the services the Army is rendering to the people of this nation.
He pointed out that the services of the army must be in the minds of all serving personnel at all times.
As you are coming into the Army, be ready to serve your country and your people at all times.
Talking about the Armed Forces Day, which he said is a broad term that entails a lot of things. He added that the Army is always trying to display to the outside world by keeping the Army in the public eye.
The Armed Forces Day is celebrated because at the end of the war, they realized that the army lost a lot of heroes, and a lot of legendary people are still serving the army.
They have decided to observe Armed Forces Day, which can make the Army celebrate its heroes that gave up their lives for the nation, and there are still men and women in the force that are veterans worth celebrating.
The army decided to continue observing the day as a way of celebrating the heroes and legends that are still alive in the country.
In the Eastern Region, the Army has a series of activities in observance of the day that fall on the 18th of February every year.
“We have done an interface service at our churches in the Kenema, Kono, and Kailahun districts for keeping us alive and for those that have gone, football matches in the region between the army and a team in the various districts that will be followed by troop entertainment as part of the celebration,” he pointed out.
The Commander recounted his days in the Army and during the war, which started in 1991, and in 1993 he became a commissioned officer.
He focused special attention on the disarmament process and the destruction of weapons at Lungi. He was a lieutenant at that time, and he saw what happened, and they were able to tell the people that the war had finished.
This is the only county in the world that experienced war, but the rebels did not hold on to any big cities and towns because the RSLAF stood to defend the people.
Thanks and appreciation to the Commander in Chief of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, His Excellency Rtd. Brigadier Dr. Julius Maada Bio, and the people of this nation.
He is a hero and mentor; that is why we are following his footsteps and good examples.
He said there is a need for the Army to go now into the hands of the young generation, and the appointment of the new CDF is not a mistake; he is a man of vision and knowledge, he is good at cooperating with people, and he has a good heart for the Army.
He added that this is why he stated a vision; his vision is a well-motivated and professionally efficient force that can leverage technology and professionalism and cohesion to be able to defend and deliver security to the nation. The vision shows that he is a modern-day man.
“The movement of the army is unshakable; the mission statement is well-trained and combat-ready, capable of deterring and defeating threats to national security while contributing to national development.
“The Army is not only depending on the government but also contributing to national development by involving itself in some activities that will make the Army project itself, by not only and wholly depending on what the government is providing but also by being able to get something that will contribute to national development.
“The military should continue to do what they did in December in 2023 when they resisted anybody who wanted to derail the peace and stability of the country.
In Sierra Leone, the royalty of the army remains over 100% untouched,” he concluded.
