The Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) is expected to graduate 176 recruits on Thursday, December 22, at the Barclay Training Center in Monrovia.
This is part of the government efforts to augment the strength of the military and boost its readiness capacity. The Ministry of Defense (MoD) and the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) launched a recruitment drive in early January 2022.
The recruitment provided an opportunity for young Liberians who met the eligibility standards to serve. Given this, the MOD/AFL will conduct a graduation ceremony at the Barclay Training Center in Monrovia on Thursday, December 22, 2022, for 178 recruits who have completed the Initial Entry Training (IET).
The graduating class comprises 56 females and 120 males. It is important to note that the recruitment process represents a geographical balance of Liberia and was conducted at four strategic and geographical locations (Montserrado, Bomi, Bong, Grand Gedeh, and Maryland Counties).
The recruitment process consisted of three vigorous and stringent phases; Phase One: The Intake (Screening of academic documents, aptitude test, and initial medical and physical fitness test).
Successful applicants from this phase were placed into Phase Two (which consisted of an in-person-Interview, background check, and public vetting).
The final phase, which is Phase Three consisted of the following (a Call to service letter, and final medical and physical examinations). Successful applicants in the order of merits based on the above criteria were selected for IET.
This graduation ceremony marks the completion of over 12 weeks of intense basic military training conducted at the Tubman Military Academy, Camp Todee Montserrado County.
Additionally, the IET was intended to transform civilians recruited into military personnel. During the training, basic military skills are instilled into the recruits.
After graduation, the soldiers will return to the military academy to undergo Advance Individual Training (AIT); thereafter, they will be assigned to various units/formations of the AFL.
Meanwhile, 24 Officer Candidates (OC) are also undergoing training at the Officer Candidate School at the Tubman Military Academy, Todee.
Officer Candidates are personnel with various professional qualifications including medical doctors, engineers, etc. The OC Class is expected to graduate early next year.
Members of the general public are invited and encouraged to be seated at 0700hrs at the Barclay Training Center, United Nations Drive.
