Guyana Defence Force

22/10/2026

GDF AND BRAZILIAN MILITARY DISCUSS EXPANDED MILITARY COOPERATION

Military cooperation between Guyana and Brazil is important to protecting their shared border and addressing regional security challenges.
This formed the basis of today's discussions at Base Camp Ayanganna, where Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Omar Khan, MSS, met with a senior Brazilian military delegation led by the Military Commander of the Amazon, General Luiz Gonzaga Viana Filho.

The delegation comprised the Commander of the 1st Jungle Infantry Brigade, Brigadier General Roberto Pereira Angrizani; the Deputy Commander of Operation Catrimani, Brigadier General Klauber Rogerio Candian; and the Assistant to the Commander of the Amazon Military Command, Colonel Bastos Costa.
Their respective roles in Brazil’s Amazon region brought relevant operational experience to discussions on border security, military capabilities and areas for closer cooperation between the two countries.

Brigadier Khan was joined by Colonel General Staff, Colonel Kenlloyd Roberts, MSM; Task Force Commander, Captain (CG) Vernon Burnett; Adjutant General, Colonel Lloyd Souvenir, MEM; Colonel Administration and Quartering, Commander Roger Nurse, MEM; Commandant of the Guyana National Reserve, Lieutenant Colonel Drumson Mc Caulay; Inspector General, Lieutenant Colonel Nastasha Stanford-Francis, MEM; and other senior GDF officers.

Discussions centred on shared defence and security concerns, information exchange and opportunities to develop military capabilities.
The Brazilian delegation also received a security briefing as part of the engagement.
During his remarks, Brigadier Khan described the discussions as productive, noting that continued engagement between the two forces was important to addressing shared challenges. He posited that instability elsewhere in the hemisphere could have wider regional implications, making sustained dialogue between Guyana and Brazil essential to informed strategic planning and decision-making.

The CDS also acknowledged Brazil’s longstanding contribution to GDF training and professional development since Guyana’s independence. Building on this history, the two sides considered expanding training opportunities beyond infantry and jungle warfare to include officer development and a list of specialised courses.

General Viana Filho welcomed closer engagement and encouraged continued information sharing, alongside further discussions on capacity building. Mountain warfare training was among the opportunities to be continued. He also invited Brigadier Khan to visit the Amazon Military Command Headquarters.

At the start of the visit, the Commanding Officer of the 3 Infantry Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Jaime Castello, and his team received the Brazilian delegation at the Takutu River Bridge. The bridge connects Lethem in Guyana with Bonfim in Brazil’s Roraima State and serves as an important link between Guyana and Brazil.

The discussions build on longstanding defence cooperation between Guyana and Brazil and identify further opportunities for military training, information exchange, and capacity development. Specialised training and closer military engagement would build both forces' capabilities, supporting Guyana’s efforts to safeguard its territorial integrity and the Brazilian military's responsibilities in the Amazon region.

19/10/2026

17/10/2026

AIRBORNE OPERATIONS GAIN 21 NEWLY QUALIFIED GDF
PARATROOPERS

The ability to deploy trained personnel by parachute adds a specialised option to the Guyana Defence Force’s operational capabilities. The Force has added twenty-one newly qualified paratroopers to its pool of airborne personnel after they successfully completed the sixteen-week Basic Paratrooper Course, which tested their physical endurance, technical proficiency, and ability to execute the required jumps.

The graduates comprise one junior officer, sixteen Ensigns from Standard Officers’ Course number 57 (SOC # 57) and four ranks from the 31 Special Forces Battalion. The students completed three basic static-line jumps and one battle jump. The sixteen Ensigns, including two females, achieved a 100 per cent pass rate.

Training covered physical fitness, break-fall techniques, harness procedures and other practical skills required for static-line parachuting. Daily assessments tested the trainees’ proficiency and compliance with established training standards.

At the closing ceremony, Commanding Officer of the 31 Special Forces Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Loring Benons, cautioned the graduates against carelessness, overconfidence and shortcuts, stressing the consequences of lapses in a discipline where precision and adherence to procedure are essential.
“In this field, there is no room for carelessness, overconfidence or shortcuts. The smallest oversight can have serious consequences. This qualification is not the end of your learning, but the beginning of a continuing responsibility to remain proficient,” he stated.

He urged the graduates to maintain their skills and uphold the standards required for safe and effective parachuting throughout their careers.

For the Ensigns, the qualification adds a specialised skill to their preparation for commissioned service, while the four ranks from the 31 Special Forces Battalion further develop their existing operational capabilities.

These newly qualified paratroopers expand the Guyana Defence Force’s pool of personnel trained for airborne operations. Sustaining their proficiency will be essential to ensuring that this capability remains available to support the Force’s operational requirements.

15/10/2026

WOMEN’S ARMY CORPS SEMINAR ADDRESSES HEALTH, FINANCIAL LITERACY AND PERSONNEL WELFARE

A professional military's effectiveness depends not only on operational capability but also on the health, financial security, and welfare of its personnel.
Recognising this, the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) hosted a one-day seminar to address these priorities among female officers and ranks.

Held during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the seminar featured presentations on reproductive health by representatives of the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA), Ms Diana Gittens and Nurse Amanda Hackett. Dr Lauren Bancroft,
Wellness and Health Promotion Officer at the Ministry of Health, addressed the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), its association with certain cancers and the importance of preventive care.

Ms Tanzi Powell, Loan Officer of the GDF Credit Union, led the financial literacy session, covering budgeting, saving, financial planning and maintaining a sound credit score.

Following the presentations, the seminar continued with an open forum led by the Commanding Officer of the WAC, Lieutenant Colonel Natasha Stanford-Francis, MSM, provided female personnel with an opportunity to discuss service-related experiences and concerns directly with their leadership. The exchange gave the Commanding Officer firsthand insight into issues affecting the Corps.
Lieutenant Colonel Stanford-Francis encouraged participants to recognise their strengths, make informed decisions and pursue opportunities for personal and professional advancement.

By equipping female personnel with practical knowledge and providing a direct channel for their concerns, the seminar contributed to a more informed, supported and professionally capable workforce. These efforts advance the GDF’s commitment to
personnel readiness and to developing the human capacity required to fulfil its national defence mandate.

10/10/2026

JCSC #34 PREPARES OFFICERS FOR COMMAND AND STAFF APPOINTMENTS

A military force’s effectiveness depends on officers who can translate the commander’s intent into decisive action. Fifteen officers, including three from regional defence forces, have completed the Guyana Defence Force’s Junior Command and Staff Course Number Thirty-Four (JCSC #34).

The 12-week course brought together officers from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force (ABDF) and the St Kitts and Nevis Defence Force (SKNDF). Instruction covered operational planning, battle procedure, military law, leadership, administration, intelligence and resource management.

Practical exercises and scenario-based assessments tested the officers’ ability to apply military
doctrine, exercise sound judgement and make decisions in operational settings. The regional participation also facilitated professional exchange among the three defence forces.

Addressing the closing ceremony, the Commanding Officer of the Training Corps, Lieutenant Colonel Dale De Mendonca, described officer development as a strategic imperative for the GDF. He urged the graduates to treat course completion as a milestone in their careers and remain committed to professional growth.

The Colonel General Staff, Colonel Kenlloyd Roberts, MSM, addressed the responsibilities that accompany advancement. He stressed that character, competence and accountability must guide officers’ conduct and performance, particularly as they assume greater authority and lead their
subordinates.

“Rank is responsibility,” Colonel Roberts reminded the graduates, emphasising that promotion brings greater expectations of professional conduct and performance.

Lieutenant Randolph Best of the ABDF received the Best Graduating Student award, while Lieutenant Delon Abrams of the GDF was named Runner-Up Graduating Student. Sub-Lieutenant Mohamed Khan of the GDF Coast Guard received the Best Service Paper award, and Captain Kenish Garnette of the SKNDF received the Physical Discipline award.

The Adjutant General, Colonel Lloyd Souvenir; the Commandant of the Guyana National Reserve, Lieutenant Colonel Drumson McCaulay; and other senior officers attended the ceremony.

The JCSC contributes to the GDF’s ability to meet its operational responsibilities by developing officers capable of sound planning, decisive leadership and effective staff work. These competencies are vital to safeguarding Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

03/10/2026

GDF, BRAZILIAN ARMED FORCES ADVANCE SOUTHERN BORDER
SECURITY AT 29TH REGIONAL EXCHANGE

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) continues to enhance its strategic partnership with Brazil. Just recently, the 29th Regional Military Exchange between the GDF and the Brazilian Armed Forces was held in Boa Vista, Brazil.

Captain (CG) Vernon Burnett, MSM, and Commander of the 1st Jungle Infantry Brigade of the Brazilian Army, Brigadier General Roberto Pereira Angrizani, co-chaired the meeting. The bilateral engagement brought together military representatives from both nations, all committed to strengthening defence cooperation along the shared frontier.

This annual forum enables both forces to align operational priorities and coordinate critical security measures along Guyana’s southern border. During the exchange, discussions focused on tackling pressing cross-border issues, including illicit trafficking, illegal mining, and transnational criminal networks. By sharing
operational information and evaluating common border challenges, both delegations advanced their defence diplomacy, sharpened joint situational awareness, and reinforced the long-standing professional relationship between the two militaries.

Through continued dialogue and active collaboration, the GDF remains committed to safeguarding Guyana’s borders and maintaining regional peace and stability.

01/10/2026

The Guyana Defence Force and the Guyana Police Force in the finals of the Commander in Chief T 20 cricket competition.

🎥 WATCH LIVE NOW ON YOUTUBE WITH FL SPORT!The battle for the Comma...

29/09/2026

Whether your path is to lead as an Officer, serve as a Soldier, and use your talent in service to country, the Guyana Defence Force offers opportunities to learn, grow and contribute to something greater than yourself.
A career in the GDF is built on discipline, purpose, teamwork and service , with opportunities for training, professional development and advancement along the way.
If you are ready to challenge yourself and discover where service can take you, take the first step.

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26/09/2026

31 SPECIAL FORCES BATTALION WINS THIRD QUARTER FITNESS
COMPETITION

The 31 Special Forces Battalion secured first place in the Guyana Defence Force’s Third Quarter Fitness Competition, finishing as the top male team. The two-day event tested physical fitness and the ability to perform essential military skills while fatigued.

The twelve-team event included the Guyana Police Force SWAT team. Quarterly Competition Competitors were required to shoot, rappel, swim, navigate and administer first aid. They also completed a night shoot, a five-kilometre run, the assault course, a falling plate shoot and a gr***de throw. Each event required accuracy, discipline and teamwork.

The Guyana Police Force’s SWAT team placed second in the male category, followed by Base Camp Ayanganna in third. The Guyana National Reserve won the female category. Base Camp Ayanganna placed second, while the Coast Guard finished third.

At the Closing Ceremony, Colonel General Staff, Colonel Kenlloyd Roberts, MSM, commended the teams for their commitment and noted the improvement since the previous quarterly event. He urged competitors to review their results, address weaknesses, and prepare thoroughly for the year’s final competition.

The results give commanders a clear view of each team’s fitness and military proficiency. They will also guide training ahead of the final competition and help GDF units maintain the standards required to protect Guyana’s territorial integrity and respond when called upon.

20/09/2026

GDF ATHLETE SECURES BRONZE MEDAL AT SOUTH AMERICAN
GAMES

Private (PTE) Emmanuel Pompey has won bronze in the Men’s 90kg Boxing Division at the XIII South American Games Santa Fe 2026 in Argentina.

The GDF athlete opened his campaign with a unanimous-decision victory over Bolivia’s Jimmy Nunez on 14 September. He then faced Colombia’s Jhojan Caicedo in the semi-final on 17 September, securing a place on the podium.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, MSS, and the Officers and Ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) congratulate PTE Pompey on his achievement.

PTE Pompey has been boxing since the age of 12. The son of former professional boxer Winston Pompey, he has continued to pursue the sport while building a career in the GDF.

His military training has also supported his preparation for competition. He credits the Basic Recruit Course (BRC), particularly its demanding physical training and regular six-mile morning runs, with helping to build the conditioning required for the
Games.

“BRC helped prepare me for this. Our training routines were intense, and the six-mile runs every morning helped with my conditioning. I went there prepared,” he said.

For PTE Pompey, the medal represents the result of years of commitment to boxing and the determination to compete at the highest level while serving in the GDF.

“I went there with the intention to medal, and I am glad that I did. The Colombian was stronger and more experienced and was the better man on the day, but I am proud that I came home with this medal,” he said.

PTE Pompey’s bronze medal is a personal achievement earned through years of training, discipline and determination. It also brings credit to Guyana and the GDF, adding to the record of GDF athletes who represent the country on the international
stage.