The Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) on Friday, 27 February 2026, held a graduation ceremony for a new cohort of instructors who successfully completed a six-week Training of Trainers (ToT) course at the Gambia Armed Forces Training School (GAFTS) in Fajara. The course, which comprised 29 GAF personnel, underscores the Armed Forces’ unwavering commitment to professional development and institutional capacity building.
The comprehensive programme combined formal lectures with practical exercises and covered critical areas including methods of instruction, ground navigation, map reading, field craft, and minor tactics. The training was designed to equip participants with the pedagogical competence and tactical proficiency required to serve as pillars of the Army’s future readiness.
In his address to the graduands, the Commandant of GAFTS, Major Abdoulie Secka, emphasized the profound responsibility that accompanies the title of instructor. “The strength of any army is measured not by its weapons but by the competence of its trainers. You have undergone rigorous training, both mentally and physically, and today you have earned the title of Instructor in the GAF. You have proven that you are not only capable of mastering skills but also of teaching them, which is the cornerstone of military professionalization,” Major Secka stated.
He charged the new instructors to return to their respective units and impart their knowledge, serving as mentors to young soldiers and upholding the highest standards of discipline, competence, and ethical conduct.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Commander Gambia National Army, Brigadier General Sait Njie, the Commanding Officer of 1 Infantry Battalion, Colonel Ousman Bah, commended the participants for their dedication and underscored the strategic importance of the skills they had acquired. “The essence of the Training of Trainers course is the multiplication of knowledge through effective transfer. You are therefore urged to disseminate this knowledge within your respective battalions, units, and formations across the GAF. This endeavour constitutes a critical pillar of our institutional development. By equipping you with advanced instructional skills, modern methodologies, and a strong ethical foundation, we are not only enhancing your personal career progression but also significantly strengthening the overall efficiency and operational readiness of the Armed Forces,” Colonel Bah noted.
He encouraged the newly certified instructors to discharge their duties with integrity, dedication, and excellence, recognizing the responsibility they bear in shaping the next generation of soldiers.
As the instructors received their certificates, the central message resonated clearly: the responsibility now rests with them to produce more efficient, disciplined, and capable soldiers, ensuring that the professionalism and operational effectiveness of the GAF remain a direct reflection of the quality of its instruction. The ceremony concluded in an atmosphere of pride and accomplishment, marking their readiness to assume critical instructional roles within the Armed Forces.
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