On Wednesday, June 4, 11 distinguished NCOs captured the coveted rank of second lieutenant after completing intensive platoon commander training. This four-month course, designed specifically for sergeant majors and sergeants first class, sharpens both tactical acumen and leadership skills.
Brigadier General Werner Kioe A Sen, commander of the National Army, expressed his appreciation to the brand-new officers, "Practice demands decisive leaders, not office clerks in a refrigerated room. You are now armed with the knowledge and character to act decisively under changing circumstances." With these words, he underscored the importance of direct deployment to the Infantry.
During the closing ceremony, framed by the presentation of certificates and officer's wings, the brigadier general referred to follow-on programs aimed at further professional growth. "We invest in people with real experience. You are ready to serve, decide and lead and now the field is your domain," Kioe A Sen said.
The intensive training focused on command in dynamic environments, risk assessment and coordinating troops under high pressure. Both theoretical scenarios and practical exercises on the firing range formed the core of the curriculum, preparing trainees for operational deployment.
With these promotions, the National Army is taking an important step in strengthening Suriname's armed forces. The new second lieutenants will join their units in the coming weeks, where they will immediately put their newly acquired skills into practice.
