Feb 12 – Royal Gibraltar Regiment Mentors Gambian Armed Forces
Two servicemen from the Royal Gibraltar Regiment recently returned to Gibraltar following a five-week deployment to Gambia as part of the UK International Development Programme.
Captain Garcia White and Colour Sergeant Dellipiani acted as training mentors to the Gambian Armed Forces (GAF) during their Pre-Deployment Training for the United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). The GAF provide a company rotation of around 130 personnel known as GAM Company for the UNAMID peacekeeping mission.
The Royal Gibraltar Regiment have supported the process since 2006 when they initially delivered training directly to the Gambian contingent. This was followed by support to the Gambian Training School in the form of ‘Train the Trainer’ enabling the Gambian Instructors to deliver training themselves.
Captain Garcia White said: “"It's very rewarding to see how far the training programme has come since we first started our deployment to Gambia in 2006. The GAF Training School is now very well managed and the Instructors are extremely professional, knowledgeable and can deliver a cohesive training package suitable for peace support missions."
The close relationship between the Royal Gibraltar Regiment and the Gambian Armed Forces is evident looking at the Junior Non Commissioned Officers Mess, which was built by the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, and has aptly been named the ‘Royal Gibraltar Jnr NCOs Mess’.
The Regiment now use the deployment as an opportunity for Officers and Soldiers to develop their training delivery and liaison with other armed forces.
Photos show:
1. Gambian Armed Forces with Capt Garcia White and Colour Sergeant Dellipiani
2. Colour Sergeant Dellipiani and GAF soldier outside Royal Gibraltar JNCOs Mess
