Reports reaching this paper say Defense Minster designate has promised to advocate for salary increment for personnel of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) so as to commensurate with their competence and values.
The Minister of Defense-designate Prince C. Johnson III, observed that there are more educated and dedicated men and women in the service, as compared to the past, but fell short to state the salary grade per soldier in ranking order.
Johnson observed that doing so would motivate the soldiers, as there are more educated people in the military these days; therefore, increasing salaries or incomes to commensurate with their level of academic achievement cannot be overemphasized.
Speaking at the Armed Forces Day symposium yesterday in Monrovia, he stated that over 70 percent of the military personnel had acquired graduate degrees and are being kept in the service; therefore, it is important to improve the salary of the soldiers.
Johnson went further that there are other personnel of the service who are pursuing their Philosophy of Doctoral (PhD) programs, so keeping them in the force for professionalism, they must be given better salaries, which is another means of sustaining the democracy of the country.
The former Chief of Staff of the Army was recently retired, alongside one of his principal deputies, Geraldine George, from the military, having being designated as Minister and Deputy Minister for Operations respectively at the National Defense Ministry by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
The Tuesday program brought together both local and international community, including individuals and organizations. However, what is not known is what the budgetary allotment has been over years to the military, for which it is wanting increment so as to upgrade incomes.
