Minister of Foreign affairs Carl B. Greenidge Reaching militaryage annually (2005 est.) Founder Forbes Burnham | Chief-of-Staff Brigadier Patrick West Commander in chief David A. Granger Founded 1966 | |
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Military age 16 years of age for selection process, 17 years of age is actual serving age (As of 2007) Percent of GDP 1.09% (2010) This article incorporates public domain material from the CIA World Factbook website https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html. Foreign suppliers Similar Trinidad and Tobago D, Barbados Defence Force, Belize Defence Force, Suriname National Army, Royal Antigua and Barb | ||
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The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is the military service of Guyana.
Contents
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History
The GDF was formed on 1 November 1965. Members of the new Defence Force were drawn from the British Guiana Volunteer Force (BGVF), Special Service Unit (SSU), British Guiana Police Force BGPF and civilians. Training assistance was provided by British instructors.
The GDF is an integral part of the Guyanese nation. Resources and equipment of the GDF are used to help other Guyanese; examples include medical mercy flights and the construction of roads and airstrips by the Engineering Corps.
Enlistment into the Force is Voluntary for officers and soldiers. Basic training is done within GDF training schools, which has also trained officers and soldiers from Commonwealth Caribbean territories. However, Officers are trained at two of the world-renowned British officer training schools: Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (Infantry Training) and Britannia Royal Naval College (Coast Guard Training).
The training and skills gained by the members of the GDF have been used when they move either into civilian life or into the sister military organizations, the Guyana People's Militia (now the Second Infantry Battalion Group Reserve) and the Guyana National Service.
Role of the GDF
Motto
The motto of the Guyana Defence Force is "SERVICE".
Organization
Infantry weapons
Armoured vehicles
Artillery and mortars
Aircraft Inventory
The Defence force air wing was formed in 1968 and was then renamed the Guyana Defence force air command in 1973. Seven Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander were delivered over a five-year period in the 1970s and then were supplemented by Short Skyvans series 3Ms in 1979. In 1986 3 Mil Mi-8 were delivered. The GDF currently operates two fixed-wing aircraft and four helicopters.
Navy
The Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard is the naval component of the Guyana Defence Force.