Volume 5, Issue 2 February 14, 2012 “SERVICE”

A Thanksgiving Church Service on February 1, marked the commencement of celebratory activities in observance of the 45th Anniversary of the formation of the Guyana Defence Force Women’s Army Corps (WAC). At the service which was held at Base Camp Ayanganna BC(A), Officers and Ranks of the Force were joined by special invitees which included female Officers and ranks of sister Disciplined Services.

In a fitting address to female soldiers, First Lady Deolatchmie Ramotar recognised that the initial female recruits were the standard bearers for the inclusion of women in all spheres of the disciplined services, and impressed upon them to never think of themselves as (being) second best to anyone. “Women do not have to sell themselves short. You are second to none. You can achieve just as much as your male counterparts!” she remarked.

The First Lady urged the serving female officers and soldiers to be role models and mentors to potential recruits w h o m a y s e e k c a r e e r s i n t h e military.

M e a n w h i l e , C h i e f - o f - S t a f f Commodore Gary Best challenged the females in the Force to “look ahead into the future and have a vision of how the WAC should evolve.” He reminded them t h a t t h e i r commitment to serve must be underlined by honesty, integrity and selflessness.

First Lady, Deolatchmie Ramotar, seated fifth from left (front row), joins Officers and Ranks of the Guyana Defence Force as they give thanks at the 45th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service of GDF’s Women’s Army Corps.

The Force’s Academic Educat io n Programme (AEP) has been designed to e n h a n c e y o u r g e n e r a l performance as a soldier and to prepare you for ac-tive and constructive civil-ian life after you would have left the Force.

As you embark on the AEP, the disciplines which can be accessed are: English Language, Mathemat ics ,

efficiently with the material provided in your guides and workbooks.

Each Student Guide is divided into units of work and each unit contains material that relates to a stated Topic. Each unit also has specific objectives or outcomes. As such, you will be clear about what you have to achieve by the end of each unit.

You will be required to submit your course assignments and workbooks according to the schedule that has been provided. Additional worksheets will be provided, from time to time, to allow you to practise.

Teachers will also visit you and engage you in discussions on the assignments you would have presented. As stated above, you wi l l be r e q u i r e d t o submit your c o m p l e t e d c o u r s e a ss ignments a n d w o r k -b o o k s a s scheduled. Your course work will be worth 25% of your final grade and a final examination will be worth 75%.

This is YOUR OPPORTUNITY to improve and advance yourself. Do NOT SQUANDER IT!

Social Studies, Integrated Science and Spanish.

The delivery of the academic content is via the Distance Education mode. You will be provided with learner-friendly material and will also benefit from the visits of teachers.

Although the programme’s mode of delivery is different, it’s content is patterned after the regular Secondary School Education Programme that is offered by the traditional secondary school. STUDENT GUIDES and WORKBOOKS have been prepared at the P re-Foundat ion /Remedia l l eve l , the Foundation Level and the CXC Level.

T h e R e m e d i a l a n d F o u n d a t i o n Programmes are designed to allow you to prepare for the CXC-level programme (the AEP). However, at all levels, self-assessment exercises are built in to the Student Guides and Workbooks to provide you with the tools to judge your progress. In this regard, you are expected to be self-starters and good ‘team-players’ because you are expected to establish study groups in an effort to deal

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VOLUME 5, ISSUE 2

February, 2012

“No person is your friend

who demands your silence, or denies your right

to grow.”

Alice Walker

OP-ED Women are meaningfully engaged in several occu-

pations and professions in every industry and eco-nomic sector across Guyana! Their involvement spans occupational tasks which are performed at every con-ceivable level: from clerks and janitorial staff, to caregivers and customer service representatives. They work as teachers, doctors, nurses, engineers, techni-cians, designers, broadcasters, retailers, managers, police officers, supervisors and entrepreneurs. The list is much longer.

But, it is the women of the Guyana Defence Force on whom we focus: the brave, strong, women who enlist as Officers and Other Ranks and who dedicate their lives in service to Guyana each day. Though not currently serving in combat roles, they are committed to protecting Guyana’s territorial integrity and pre-serving safety and security in our nation: they are the proud members of the Women’s Army Corps!

Forty-five years ago, in 1967, the first batch of women number 60 in total, were enlisted in the Force. Their recruitment was as a result of a “manpower crisis” which had occurred due to the deployment of existing GDF troops in response to Venezuela’s seizure of the Ankoko Islands in the Cuyuni River. According to Brigadier (Ret’d) David Granger in a mimeograph entitled Women in The Guyana Defence Force, women soldiers were initially required to enlist in the Reserves. He writes,

“Women were paid, trained and treated as temporary reservists who could be ‘disembodied’, or have their full-time service stopped at any time if their post became redundant or if they ceased to fulfill employment standards. Indeed the official role of the WAC was stated clearly: “To provide a body of trained officers and women to be a ready reserve in any type of emergency, and to reinforce the regular element and replace men in non-combatant duties.”

Much has changed since that time and women began receiving combat training as early as 1969. Women have risen through the ranks as officers to hold the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and most recently, the Force has witnessed the elevation of the first female Officer to the rank of Colonel (Col Windee Algernon). Some were trained as commercial and helicopter pilots and many others have attended the University of Guyana and benefitted from train-ing overseas. There have been several female soldiers who elevated to the rank of Warrant Officer Class One (WO1), the highest rank that can be held by an Other Rank. Many have gained education at the Cyril Potter college of Education, the Government Techni-cal Institute, and other post-secondary institutions.

Women continue to serve with honour in the GDF and the Force is proud of their commitment and achievements. All can attest to the fact that the mili-tary has provided opportunities for them to grow and excel. The GDF salutes all those women who have served and continue to serve the GDF and Guyana!

All Ranks pursuing studies via the Army Education Programme (AEP) are being issued Student Guides and Workbooks.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Ranks will be required to pay for the Student Guides which are issued to them and the payments will be done via payroll deductions. These payments are totally refundable.

When the soldier completes the work set out in the Student Guides and returns the Guides to the Education Unit at BC(A) the monies deducted will be refunded to him/her.

Soldiers are required to use the Workbooks to submit their completed lessons. If they fail to return the Wor kbooks , th en the cos t o f th e Workbooks will also be deducted from their salaries. If this happens, the deductions will only be refunded if the Workbooks are completed and duly returned to the Education Unit at BC(A).

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VOLUME 5, ISSUE 2

February, 2012

This Newsletter can be accessed on the GDF’s website at: http://www.gdf-gy.org

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I t was not by chance, but by her will and determination that Warrant Officer Class Two Hulda Heywood-Porter has given 27 years of dedicated service to the Guyana Defence Force. She will retire shortly, and, as she put it, “with no regrets.”

In her childhood years in Den Amstel on the West Coast of Demerara, WO 2 Porter began her formal education at the Blankenburg Primary School. She continued on to the Vergenoegen Community High School where she wrote the Secondary School Proficiency Examination and gained a place at Meten - Meer - Zorg Secondary School.

Inspiration for becoming a member of the Guyana Defence Force came from her father, who was a very proud and dignified soldier and who extended his military disci-pline to his home, ensuring that his nine children were always man-nerly. And so she enlisted on March 1, 1985. She took the rigorousness of the BRC training in good faith since she was determined to make herself a dedicated soldier, especially since this was her first work experi-ence.“The training, in those days was tough, but I persevered and my father played a major role in helping me to understand what to expect and so I knew that I was in for the long haul and had to be successful,” she recollected.

Following completion of the BRC, she was posted to the 5 SSBN and, in 1986, was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal. Immediately following, she was transferred to the Training Corps at the Tacama Battle School where she worked in the Mess Hall. While there, she completed the Junior Leaders Course in 1987 and the Switchboard Operators Course in 1988. In 1989 she was pro-moted to the rank of Corporal.

“When I became Corporal, I felt really good; but inside, my determination and urge to do better was activated. My father had retired as a Corporal and I wanted to make him proud by doing better,” she said.

By this time, she was posted to the Signal Corp and, until 1996, was entrusted with the task of training the Force’s Switch Board Operators. Later, WO Porter returned to Tacama where she com-pleted the Section Commanders Course, then reposted there to train Recruits. While there, she was promoted to the rank of Sergeant following completion of the Platoon Sergeants Course and the Drill Course. She was then reposted to Signal Corps where I was appointed as IC. She then completed the Junior All Arms Ordnance Course. In the year 2000 she attained the rank of Staff Sergeant and, in 2002, completed the Drill Instructors Course, the Senior All Arms Ordnance Course and the Senior Leaders Course.

Thereafter, she was privileged to be sent overseas and completed the Shelter Management Course in Grenada and a Hands-Off Course in Dominica. Later, she was selected to conduct Training for Instructors in a Shelter Management Course with the Civil

Defence Commission. In 2008, WO2 Heywood-Porter, became the first female

Regimental Sergeant Major in the Training Corps. She also has the distinction of being the first female to act as Regimental Sergeant Major for the 5SSB, the Unit at which she now serves and was also the first female to function as Warrant Officer during a Funeral Parade.

“My career as a soldier has been challenging, but completely beneficial. In the midst of it all, I became a mother of four and a wife and was able to manage it with the help of relatives, and was still able to do what my job required of me. So I was not robbed, but rather privileged to become what I am today. As the only female Warrant Officer in the GDF I feel a great sense of achievement, and I know that many more would be able to celebrate this achievement once they are determined enough.”

“The Guyana Defence Force has helped me so that, today, I can help my children to be better individuals. I knew what I wanted and I had the mentality to achieve it. I am now in a better position to send my children to school and make investments in their future.”

WO2 Heywood-Porter is adamant that the Guyana Defence Force is a good organisation for females and strongly believes that women have the same abilities as men and should never allow anything to keep them back. “I urge them to maintain levels of excellence and always work to surpass the efforts of their counterparts,” she said.

As she prepares to move on, WO Porter urges female soldiers to have self confidence and build a solid future for themselves. Among many aspirations for when she retires, The WO plans to work with Persons Living with HIV in order to help them cope and live healthy lives.

“When I became Corporal I felt really good but inside, my determination and

urge to do better was activated. My father

had retired as a Corporal, and I

wanted to make him proud by doing

better.”

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VOLUME 5, ISSUE 2

4 February, 2012

On this page from left: Miss BC(A), PTE Russell Coates; Miss 4Eng Bn, LCPL Monica Welcome; Miss 2 Inf Bn, PTE Ladonna Cornette; Miss 5SSB, LCPL Alicia Blackman; Miss Band Corps, PTE Tiffany Samuels; Miss BC(S), PTE Shinella Adams; Miss Signals Dept/ITD, LCPL Tamara Cameron; Miss 31 SF Sqn, LCPL Melika Scotland; Miss JNCO’s Club, LCPL Abigail Gordon;

Nineteen beauties sizzled on stage at the Sashing Ceremony of the Ms Guyana Defence Force 2012 Pageant which was held at the Audito-rium at Base Camp Ayanganna, on the evening of February1, last.

Before a wildly appreciative crowd, the female soldiers, representing various Units, Sub-Units and Departments of the GDF, introduced them-selves and gave a brief description of the

Units/Departments which they are representing.

Unlike traditional pageants, beauty is not the main focus of the Ms GDF 2012 pageant. Contestants will compete with each other in Swimsuit and Talent Competitions and, as military women, prove themselves in the pageant’s most challenging element, the Run-and-Shoot.

Contestants will grace the stage of the National Cul-

VOLUME 5, ISSUE 2

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February, 2012 5

tural Centre on March 9, to compete in the Evening Gown segment which will bring the pageant to its con-clusion. The contestant gaining the highest cumulated score for all the pageant events will be declared Ms GDF 2012. Currently, the contestants are in high spirits with each exuding confidence that she can win.

The pageant is one of the celebratory events for the Force’s 45th Anniversary of the Women’s army Corps. Others includes Raffle which was drawn at the Sashing

Ceremony, an Outreach by Female NCOs, to female retired shut-ins and a Debating Competition. All the pageant contestants will be involved in these other activities.

Tickets for Pageant night will be on sale and Officers and Ranks are encouraged to bring out their friends and families to support the contestant of their choice in what promises to be a superlative evening of entertainment. C U there!

On this page from left: Miss 21 Arty Coy, PTE Nakita Quintyn; Miss COS Office, PTE Natisha Dos Santos; Miss MCID, PTE Shibekie Benjamin; Miss DHQ, PTE Kascia Beaton; Miss CG, LCPL Michelle Holligan-Heywood; Miss Air Corps, LCPL Shameka Devonish; Miss Fin Dept, LCPL Kessa Massiah;Miss Trg Corps, PTE Cameta Trotman; Miss Med Corps, LCPL Shannon Rose-Cox and Miss 1 Inf Bn, PTE Eunice Henry.

6 February, 2012

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VOLUME 5, ISSUE 2

22093 PTE Makeisha Dash, of BC (S), SNLR, wef 11-12-20.

DESERTER - ORs: - (Part II Orders Ser No 005) 2012-01-19 Approval was granted for the u/m ORs, 1 Inf Bn who have deserted to be posted to DHQ as shown:

22070 PTE Darren Jones wef 11-11-23 22054 PTE Dorwayne Lewis

wef 11-12-12 21924 PTE Kaycyanna Fiedtkou

wef 11-11-07

AMMENDMENT - STRENGTH DE-CREASE - OR: - (Part II Orders Ser No 004) 2011-12-17 025. Approval was granted for the u/m ORs to be SOS as shown.:

18269 CPL Tito Farley, of 21 Arty Coy, SNLR wef 2-01-06

19827 LCPL Andre Braithwaite, of 1 Inf Bn, AHOR wef 12-05-01

21137 LCPL Jason Bruce, of DHQ (G2 Branch), AHOR wef 12-05-01

21819 PTE Devon James, of CG, SNLR wef 12-01-06.

17265 SGT Orlene Nurse conduts part of Mr. Williams’ medical check up

R etired from military life after 28 years, WO2 Patrick Williams (ret’d) still remembers his military life and insists that he is still a soldier at heart.

He recollected his days in the British Guiana Volunteer Force and the Guyana Defence Force during a brief visit by a team which included OC Veterans Affairs Capt. Marvin Chichester, Force Medical Officer Dr. Frederick Dean and Force Chaplain Rev. Brentnol Best. Williams was presented with a food hamper and benefitted from a medical check-up by the FMO. Reverend Best added rever-ence to the simple presentation, much to Williams’ appreciation.

Speaking briefly with team members, Williams thanked the Chief-of-Staff and Officers and Ranks of the Force for the gesture which he continues to enjoy. Referring to himself as “a soldier at heart “ Williams said he still felt compelled to think as though he still serves. He says wherever he sees a soldier he always imparts words of encouragement and emphasises the importance of their preparation for their future. “I always tell them, you must do your best and serve with pride and dignity but also remember that there is life after the military, so ensure that you save your earnings so you can look after yourself after you

have retired,” he said.

In honour of his sterling contribution, particularly in the training of recruits in the Guyana Defence Force, the Drill Square at Tacama was renamed for him during the Force’s 45 th Anniversary.

During its 45th Anniversary celebrations, the GDF established an office to deal exclusively with Veterans Affairs in The Force in keeping with its policy to place greater emphasis on ithe affairs of ts Veterans . WO (ret’d) Williams is only one of the individuals who will benefit from this initiative.

“I always tell them, you must do your

best and serve with pride and dignity

but also remember that there is life

after the military, so ensure that you save your earnings

so you can look after yourself after you have retired,”

7 February, 2012

VOLUME 5, ISSUE 2

GAFF & LAFF!

A mathematics teacher left this letter on the kitchen counter for his wife. It read….

Dear Wife, You must realize that you are a 56 years old and I have certain needs which you are no longer able to satisfy. I am otherwise happy with you as a wife and I sincerely hope you will not be hurt or offended to learn that by the time you receive this letter, I will be at the Hilton Hotel with my 18 year old teaching assistant. I'll be home before midnight. Your Husband When he arrived at the hotel, there was a faxed letter waiting for him that read as follows: Dear Husband, You, too, are 56 years old and by the time you receive this letter, I will be at the Sheraton Hotel with the 18 year old pool boy. Since you are a mathematician, you will appreciate that 18 goes into 54 more times than 54 goes into 18. So, don't wait up.

Your Wife

Congratulations to all the women in the Guyana Defence Force. In this Issue’s we’ll take a look at some PERSONAL GROOMING tips that you should find quite helpful. Enjoy!

Women love to look good and there are a few simple things you can do to look and feel your best. Remember, looking good must begin on the inside of you. Start by seeing your inner beauty! If you have a good feeling about yourself, others will see and feel it too! So, now that you are confident and bubbling up with good feelings about yourself, let’s begin!

Beginning with your bath - Wash your body and pay attention to your privates, under the arms and between the legs. Use a soft washcloth together with small amounts of soap or body wash that is compatible with your skin. Do not scrub your skin vigorously as it will damage your skin. Pat your skin dry with your towel; rubbing yourself dry can damage your skin.

Moisturise your skin to stay looking young and healthy, something especially important, for women with dry skin. Apply skin creams and moisturisers in small amounts, just enough to keep your skin moist and pliable. You may choose scented or unscented mois-turizers or use one recommended by your doctor.

Care for your face. Get a facial at least once a month, either at a salon, or, you can do it yourself. To steam out dirt and blackheads from your face you need a pot of water which has boiled and is still steaming and a towel. Place your head over the pot of steaming water and then cover both your head and the pot with the towel. The towel prevents the steam from escaping into the room. Hold your head over the pot for 7 minutes. The steam will loosen the blackheads and dirt from your pores which you can gently rinse away with cold water; the cold water has the effect of shutting your cleansed pores. Towel dry and apply a moisturizer to your face if necessary. Visit a beauty salon and regularly remove facial hair by tweezing or waxing. You may also wish to sculpt your brows while you are at it. Lipstick, eye-shadow and other makeup, should be artfully applied

Care for your hands and feet. Regularly trim and groom your nails. Get a manicure and pedicure (specialized care for the hands and feet) as needed. Wash and properly dry between your toes. Women do get athletes foot and you’ll need to check with your doctor on advice on how to deal with this problem. Seek proper advice if you are going to try home remedies. You don’t want to worsen the problem. Nail polish in either clear or colored coats may be applied to enhance your nails depending on the occasion. You may opt for the natural look when at home and use colour when going out.

Eat healthy foods and get plenty of exercise to keep your body toned and trim. You can rid yourself of the fat and excess weight if you really try.

Care for your hair. Hair must be washed regularly to remove accumulated dirt. Use only shampoo and conditioners in

your hair; Never soap! Soap will dry out your scalp! If you have dandruff, you must use medicated “dandruff shampoo”. Check with your doctor or your salon professional who may help you to choose the type that is correct for you. Your scalp needs to be moisturized. You can do this on your own or have a salon professional do it for you. Cutting and styling your hair is something that can compliment your look and add to your “sex appeal”. Hair extensions are optional. If used, they should be subtly integrated with your own hair so that it is not obvious to anyone that you are using a hairpiece or extension! Remember, men love to see women whose hair is properly groomed!

Select and wear appropriate clothing and accessories. Perhaps you have secretly made fun of another woman who has appeared unkempt, untidy, overdressed, over-accessorized, or “out of style”. If you have, chances are, someone may have done the same to you if you are prone to making ‘fashion mistakes’. Wear sensible and clean clothing to the events you attend. Your clothing; dresses, skirts, blouses, jackets, jeans, pants, shoes, sneakers, etc. should be a proper fit and enhance your body. Accessorise with moderation: sometimes less is more. A piece of jewelry, a handbag or pocketbook does not have to be outlandish to look elegant or stylish. When you step out you must radiate the confidence from the inside out! It’s all about the TOTAL LOOK! So STEP!

THIS NEWSLETTER WAS PREPARED BY THE G5 BRANCH for Distribution to MEMBERS of the GUYANA DEFENCE FORCE, GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES, MEMBERS OF THE JOINT SERVICES, LIBRARIES and EX-GDF ASSOCIATION in the USA and

UK.. IT CAN ALSO BE ACCESSED ON THE GDF’S WEBSITE AT: http://www.gdf-gy.org

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Guyana Defence Force track stars, 19901 CPL Quincy Clarke and 21361 Rupert Perry winged out recently, for five months of training at the High Performance Training Center in Jamaica, where they will put in countless hours of training in an effort to achieve qualifying times that will enable them to represent Guyana, at the London 2012 Olympic Games in July.

Both athletes compete in the 100m and 200m sprints and will be training for both events. At international athletics meets Clarke has clocked 10.6 secs in the 100m (ALBA Games in Venezuela, 2011) and 21.8 secs in the 200m (Hampton games in Trinidad and Tobago, 2010) while Perry has clocked 10.73 secs in the 100m (Falcon Games in Tobago, March/April, 2011) and 21.5secs in the 200m (ALBA Games in Venezuela, 2011). The ALBA Games which tends to feature athletes from about 35 countries throughout South and central America and the Caribbean, is the highest level of international competition to which Clarke and Perry have been exposed

The qualifying times for the Olympics are 10.24 secs in the 100m and 20.65 secs in the 200m. Clearly, the two have much work to do.

However, Clarke and Perry, chasing their dreams, are confident that they will be able to achieve the qualifying times and become members of Guyana’s track and field contingent at the Olympics.

They have indicated that during their training in Jamaica, they will be involved in competitions which will be held every weekend after training and this will aid them in getting familiar with using the synthetic track. The pair hope to develop more confidence as they will have to push themselves physically, during the training with athletes of international stature.

Indeed, the GDF is proud to have two of its own seeking the honour of representing Guyana on the international stage at the prestigious Olympics. As they endure the physical and mental preparations let us offer prayers for their success.

Left, 19901 CPL Quincy Clarke and at right, 21361 LCPL Rupert Perry displaying hardware won at the 2011 Inter-Services Athletics Championship (ISAC).