September 12, 2017
Gabriel Dumbuya has the proud distinction of being the first soldier from the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) to be selected to undertake the Regular Commissioning Course, held at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, for the first time since the 1990s. Officer Cadet Dumbuya started his training course on Sunday 10 Sep, and – if successful – he will qualify as a Commissioned Officer at the end of 44 weeks of intensive training in the UK.
The course is split into three stages or “terms”, testing basic soldiering skills and tactics; Platoon and Company level tactics; and a final exercise. The examination will include full live fire and tough physical exercises. If successful he will then attend the passing out parade in 45 weeks’ time, called the Sovereigns Parade and Commission as an Officer.
During his time at Sandhurst Cadet Dumbuya will also be taught Defence and International Affairs and War Studies, learning the lesions of the past to help shape a stronger, safer future in Sierra Leone. He will also study Cultural and Behavioural Studies, which educates cadets on soldier management and will help prepare him for the role in supporting, managing and leading his men.
Cadet Dumbaya was selected to train at Sandhurst after impressing on UK-funded military courses. The British High Commission Defence Attaché said that the selection showed “great credit to the officer, his family and RSLAF, the working relationship between the British and Sierra Leonean military, and shows how far RSLAF has come in terms of the quality of its officers and the progression they making.”