A Liberian Student To Command AFL For A Day, Ahead Of This Year’s Armed Force Day Feb. 11
PHOTO: Assistant Defense Minister Sam Collins
By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
Ahead of Armed Forces Day next month, Liberia’s Ministry of National Defense will this Wednesday and Thursday organize public displays and exhibition of the various units of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) to students of various schools at the Barclay Training Center (BTC) in Monrovia.
Assistant Defense Minister for Press and Public Affairs, Sam Collins disclosed that as a part of the units display, the Chief of Staff of the AFL, Major General, Prince Charles Johnson will hand over the command of the Liberian army to a student who will be in command of the force for one day.
Addressing a press conference in Monrovia recently, Minister Collins explained that during the unit display, various units of the AFL will also showcase their equipment at different stations.
Collins maintained that students, who will be observing the AFL unit displays, must be dressed in their school uniforms in order to be identified but not adults.
The Assistant Defense Minister for Public Affairs indicated that this year’s Armed Forces Day will held under the theme: “Inter-Agency Collaboration :Working Together for Peaceful Elections.”
According to him, the unit display, which is a part of the activities marking the celebration of the 66th anniversary of the Armed Forces Day, will begin with an Islamic service at the EBK Barrack in Schiefflin, Margibi County on the 3rd of February, 2023.
“On Saturday, the 4th, of February, 2023,” Minister Collins went on, “one hundred personnel of the AFL in collaboration with the Lone Star MTN, employees at the Ministry of National Defense and veterans of the Armed Forces of Liberia, will conduct general cleaning up campaign so as to give the Duport Road community a facelift.”
“On same day,” Minister Collins continued, “a team of 20 personnel from the medical command form the AFL will be on a medical outreach rendering general health education, HIV prevention messages, other basic medical screening for the local inhabitants and administer treatment to few out patients in the areas.
Commenting on other outdoor activities, he said the joint security, the Federation of Liberian Youths, the Liberia Motorcycle and Tricycle Union, the Liberia National Student Union and Lone Cell NTN will engage in a soccer and kick ball tournament at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex.
On Sunday, 5th February, 2023, soldiers of the AFL will converge at the International Military Church at the Edward Beyan Kesselly Military Barracks located Schiefflin, Margibi County for thanksgiving service.
“On Tuesday, the 7th of February, 2023, a one-day symposium, under the theme: “ Fostering Effective Stakeholders Engagement for Sustainable Democracy,” will be held at the conference room at the Monrovia City Hall,” Collin told the press
The Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Program, Stephen Rodrigues will deliver the keynote speech while, the Resident Representative of ECOWAS in Liberia, Josephine Nkumah; the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Fonatis Koffi; the Commissioner General at the Liberia Maritime Authority, Eugene Nagbe will serve as panelists.
Others panelists are the Chairman of Senate Committee on Defense, Intelligence and Veteran Affairs, Senator Steve Zargo; the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection. Williametta Piso Saydee-Tarr; and the Chief Imam of Liberia, Sheik Ali Krayee, among others.
The Commanding General of the 46th Military Police Command in Lansing, Michigan, Major General Pablo Estrada will serve as the guest speaker at the official celebration of the Armed Forces Day .
The program will be followed by a military parade through the primary streets in Monrovia.