30 new recruits join the army |23 December 2013

A group of 30 new recruits have joined the Seychelles Peoples’ Defence Forces (SPDF).

In the name of the Commander in Chief of the SPDF, the Chief of Defence Forces Brigadier Leopold Payet accepted the thirty new soldiers in the force during a passing out ceremony at the Seychelles’ Defence Academy on South East Island on Friday afternoon.

The group of soldiers had been following a four-month basic military training since August this year. Altogether a total of nearly a hundred young Seychellois have joined the SPDF this year.

Friday’s ceremony took place in the presence of a delegation from the Tanzanian Armed Forces led by Lieutnant General W. M. Kisamba. Also present were the Chief of Staff of the SPDF Colonel Clifford Roseline, Deputy Chief of Staff Lieutenant Colonel Michael Rosette, Commander of the Academy Major Simon Dine, other senior army officers and the recruits’ parents.

Addressing the newly enrolled soldiers, Brigadier Payet commended them for having taken the supreme decision to sacrifice personal pleasures and to defend their country.

He told the young men and women that the training they have received will help them succeed in a career which is filled with opportunities.

He however stressed that their success will depend on their own discipline and responsibility.

Brigadier Payet revealed that new subjects which touch social responsibility have been added to the military syllabus in order to prevent the soldiers from becoming victims of bad influences currently affecting our youths.

He also called on other youths who have the love for the motherland to join the SPDF.

He took the opportunity of the presence of the Tanzanian delegation to thank the Tanzanian armed forces for the role they played in the creation of the SPDF back in 1977.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, the group’s best academic performer Yannick Marie said that they had taken the decision to join the army for two reasons. Firstly, to contribute to defend the country and secondly to ensure their personal development and that of the SPDF.

He added that the training has not been easy but that they have been able to adapt to the military principle due to devotion and perseverance.
 
He concluded that they are now prepared to protect the country and defend the national flag.

Two other soldiers, Andrew Joubert and Dominique Sedwick, were respectively rewarded as the best practical student and best overall recruit.

The new recruits, who received the blessing of army chaplain Deacon Louis Agathine, will now join different units of the SPDF. One of them will pursue his training to become an aircraft pilot.