The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is currently inviting applications from suitable candidates to become members of their cohort, who will be trained by the United States Military.
Upon being accepted, successful applicants will be trained either by the United States Military Academy, United States Naval Academy in Maryland, United States Air Force Academy in Colorado or the United States Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut.
Candidates will be a part of the Force’s Officer Cadet Programme that commences in March 2021, until they are selected for training in the US.
To be eligible for selection, they must be within the ages of 17 years, six months; and 22 years old. They should also be single without dependents and possess a SAT score of 560 and above, or an ACT score of 25 and above.
Persons who intend to write these examinations in December or January; and those who are awaiting their grades are encouraged to apply. They must be healthy, have a minimum of five CSEC subjects at one sitting or six at two sittings, inclusive of English Language and Mathematics (Grades One or Two). A technical diploma or higher certification from the University of Guyana will also be accepted.
It is a requirement that all prospective applicants have no visible tattoos.
These documents are to be submitted by email at [email protected] by November 11, 2020. The application and resume are to be attached with a valid police clearance, two recent testimonials, birth certificate and original academic certificates.
This is not the first training of such to be offered through the GDF. In July of this year, Second Lieutenant Orwin Austin departed Guyana for the USA, to attend the United States Coast Guard Academy.
The 22-year-old officer clinched the opportunity to study electrical engineering at the academy in a competitive process which involved two other applicants. In 2018, two Guyana Defence Force (GDF) pilots completed a five-year training at the Chinese Air Force Aviation University in the People’s Republic of China.
Second Lieutenants Steffon Cameron and Teffurn James successfully completed a Chinese Air Force basic fighter pilot and officer development course, in which they both gained two Bachelor’s degrees, one in Aircraft Systems and Operations and another in Military Science Aviation Flight Command; they additionally earned a professional diploma.
The Defence Force is now under the command of Chief-of-Staff Brigadier Patrick West, who took over last July.
