The Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) has enrolled new soldiers who completed their basic military training on 28 December 2017 at Nasho Basic Military Training Centre. The new young women and men also demonstrated to the RDF leadership their newly acquired professional skills at arms and drills before being welcomed in the Defense Force.
The enrollment ceremony was presided over by the RDF Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Patrick Nyamvumba on behalf of the Commander-in-Chief of RDF and the President of the Republic of Rwanda. The new RDF soldiers were urged to join hands with their brothers and sisters in the RDF to protect the national sovereignty and contribute to the national transformation process.
“You are joining the RDF, a Defence Force with good and well-earned history and reputation. Those you are joining today have stopped Genocide against the Tutsi and liberated Rwanda; they continue today to contribute to the country’s development and transformation. I urge you to join them in this journey they started. They laid a strong foundation for you and it is up to you to build on it and even do better as one united force”, the RDF Chief of Defence Staff advised the new soldiers.
The CDS further underscored the importance for them to maintain discipline and commitment. “I also want you to maintain discipline you have acquired through training; be it individual or collective. Discipline and commitment are core values in the RDF that are never compromised”.
The RDF spokesperson, Lt Col Innocent Munyengango revealed that recruitment and integration of new soldiers, same as retirement, are recurring processes that are in line with the RDF’s professionalization to better accomplish its mandate. During recruitment and integration, young Rwandan men and women are selected and undergo a rigorous basic training at the end of which those who pass successfully are enrolled in RDF. The new members of this intake started their training back in November 2016 and were enrolled after one year of basic military training.
“The new members that joined us today in RDF bring new blood that will help us continue performing our constitutional roles”, the Spokesperson said.
The overall best new soldier among intake 09/2017, Private Nkurunziza Patrick told the media that he was proud of joining the RDF and serving his nation. “I am proud to having been able to join the RDF and I am ready to give the best I can to serve my country”, he said before adding that his best performance can be attributed to hard work and discipline throughout the training.
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