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From Ben Dunno, Warri
The Coordinator of New Guard, a surveillance security outfit in Warri, Delta State, Col Elijah Bratte, has urged the newly promoted soldiers of the 3 Battalion Barracks, Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area, to embrace the responsibility attached to their new ranks with zeal and renewed commitment in the service of the nation.
Col Bratte (retd), who gave the charge in his goodwill message during the decoration of one hundred and thirty-one (131) ranks and files at the barracks on Tuesday, reminded the soldiers that the nation expected so much from them, especially during this critical period, adding that “to whom much is given, much is expected”.
While appreciating the families of the newly promoted soldiers, especially their spouses and children, for their supportive roles in the course of discharging their duties, he appealed to them to sustain their understanding with the herculean nature of their jobs as they have signed to contribute their little quota in securing the nation.
According to him: “They say the reward for hard work is more hard work, so for the newly promoted soldiers my advice to you is to work harder so that you attain the next rank by God’s grace; to do this you must be mindful that to whom much is given, much is expected.
“The new ranks you are wearing come with responsibilities; you must be seen to be living up to those responsibilities. If you are a Lance Corporal you know automatically you are supposed to be a unit head in that your section; if you are a Corporal you are the Section Commander and if you are a sergeant, a Platoon Head.
“These appointments come with responsibilities; if you are failing in your responsibilities you become the weakening link within the unit and that can cost lives, so you must live up to your new ranks and I believe looking at your faces, knowing your units, knowing your officers, your C.O, your C.O (R) and other officers you have your R.S.M and the senior S.C.Os guiding you.
“From what I’ve seen so far, especially with your enthusiasm in wearing your new promotion and determination to serve diligently, I’m very optimistic you will continue to excel as a unit and as individuals.
“I will not fail to acknowledge the role played by our families, your wives, who continue to be the rock at home; we want to thank all of you for standing by your husbands giving them peace at home and the psychological well-being to carry out the very important job they perform in the security of our nation,” he stated.
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In his speech at the occasion, the Commanding Officer (CO), Major Mohammed Salma, implored the newly promoted soldiers not to disappoint the trust reposed in them with their new ranking, noting that all eyes are now on them to see how they are going to bring their wealth of experience to bear in whatever responsibility assigned to them.
His words: “Let me first of all congratulate you for attaining the next rank; you will also agree with me it was not easy to pass through this process, meet all the criteria and most importantly, you know it is said even if you do everything correctly that is only 50 percent; luck and prayer covers the remaining 50 percent.
“So you should find yourself very lucky to be promoted; you will all agree with me that promotion comes from God and you should find yourself very lucky.
“I want to appeal to each and every one of you not to disappoint us as the earlier speakers mentioned; they said to whom much is given, much is expected. Some of you are going to be commanders now, RSMs as the case may be. I want to appeal to every one of you to remain dedicated, to continue to be hardworking.
“For those of us that were not lucky to be promoted this time around, you will also get promoted when your time comes; you will be given another opportunity and hopefully you will be promoted once again.
“It is on this note that I wish to once again congratulate you and thank you and also to appeal to you to continue giving us your best.
“I will also give you more responsibility and you must show me that this new rank you are hanging is justified; the army did not make any mistake by giving you this rank,” he concluded.
A breakdown of the total number of one hundred and thirty-one (131) ranks and files that were decorated includes: WO to MWO = 2, SSgt to WO = 19, Sgt to SSgt = 39, Cpl to Sgt = 39, Lcpl to Cpl = 28 and Pte to Lcpl = 4.
