The Ministry of Defense (MoD) says the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) will conduct a graduation ceremony for 176 recruits this week.
A Defense Ministry release issued Monday 19 December 2022, said the ceremony will be held at the Barclay Training Center in Monrovia on 22 December 2022 for the 176 recruits.
The release said the recruits have completed the Initial Entry Training (IET). The graduating class comprises 56 females and 120 males, the release said.
This is part of efforts in line with the Commander–in–Chief and President of the Republic of Liberia George Manneh Weah’s objective to augment the current strength of the AFL.
The Defense Ministry said President Weah’s effort to boost the AFL’s readiness capacity led the MOD/AFL to launch a recruitment drive in early January 2022.
The recruitment provided an opportunity for young Liberians who met the eligibility standards to serve.
“It is important to note that the recruitment process represents a geographical balance of Liberia and was conducted at four strategic and geographical locations,” the release said.
It named Montserrado, Bomi, Bong, Grand Gedeh, and Maryland Counties as locations where the recruitment was conducted.
The recruitment process consisted of three vigorous and stringent phases. Phase One involved the Intake (Screening of academic documents, aptitude test, and initial medical and physical fitness test.
Successful applicants from this phase were placed into Phase Two which consisted of an in-person-Interview, background check, and public vetting.
The final phase, which is Phase Three consisted of the following: a Call to service letter, and final medical and physical examinations. Successful applicants in the order of merits based on the above criteria were selected for IET.
“This graduation ceremony marks the completion of over 12 weeks of intense basic military training conducted at the Tubman Military Academy, Camp Todee Montserrado County,” the release disclosed.
Additionally, it said the IET was intended to transform civilians recruited into military personnel.
During the training, basic military skills are instilled into the recruits. After graduation, the soldiers will return to the Military Academy to undergo Advanced Individual Training (AIT).
Following this, the release said they will be assigned to various units/formations of the AFL.
Meanwhile, 24 Officer Candidates (OC) are also undergoing training at the Officer Candidate School at the Tubman Military Academy, Todee.
Officer Candidates are personnel with various professional qualifications including medical doctors, and engineers, among others.
The OC Class is expected to graduate early next year.
The Defense authorities have invited and encouraged the public to be seated at 0700hrs at the Barclay Training Center, United Nations Drive for the graduation ceremony.
