Gibraltar Regiment praised for Gambian Forces' success
31 Mar 09
As praise is heaped on the Gambian Armed Forces (GAF), senior figures in the country claim that the reason for their troops' success is the training provided by the Royal Gibraltar Regiment.
Corporal Michael Sanchez's platoon celebrate after winning an inter-platoon competition
[Picture: Royal Gibraltar Regiment]
The GAF are now widely recognised for their success on UN/African Union peace-support operations in Burundi, Eritrea and Liberia, with their most significant achievements seen in the troubled Sudan region of Darfur.
And another 400 infantry and paramilitary troops have now been prepared for operational deployments on the latest of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment's (RG) training courses.
It is this training, provided by the British Military Advisory Training Team, made up from soldiers of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, that is being credited with part of the success of the GAF.
The most recent course saw recruits taking part in an exercise in a temporary tented camp, specially built for the purpose by the RG instructors, which was to be defended from attacks by 'rebel militia' and used as a secure base from which patrols would move out into neighbouring villages, looking for the militiamen.
In this exercise, all the necessary peace-support skills, such as camp security, vehicle searches and patrolling, were tested to the full and the Gambian troops were also assessed as part of an inter-platoon competition on their military knowledge and weapon-handling drills.
The Royal Gibraltar Regiment's training was very well received
[Picture: Royal Gibraltar Regiment]
With their finely-honed operational skills, the GAF is in high demand for its services as its reputation now precedes it. Mr Phil Sinkinson, the British High Commissioner in The Gambia, said:
"The professionalism of the Gambian Armed Forces in Darfur is so striking that everyone wants them. The head of the UN Mission definitely wants them to work in the force headquarters - he even wants them to guard his house. This is a real reflection of their professionalism."
As evidence of the impact the RG's training has on the GAF, the track leading down to where the temporary base stood has been named 'Castrey Road' in honour of the RG's chief instructor, Colour Sergeant Dean Castrey.
Officer Commanding, Captain David King, said:
"This has been another highly successful piece of work by our training team. Our soldiers have been praised by Gambia's Chief of Defence Staff and by the British High Commissioner. That is praise indeed."