MINUSMA GHANENGCOY 8 ends Pre-Ops Training

The Ghana Engineer Company (GHANENGCOY) 8 of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), has ended a four-week Pre- Operational training at the Battle Training Camp (BTC), Bundase and the Engineer Training School (ETS).

The training commenced on Sunday 17th November and ended on Saturday 14th December 2019. The aim of the training was to condition troops psychologically, mentally and physically for the operational theatre. It is also to improve upon their peacekeeping skills prior to deployment in Mali early next year.

The training encompassed Physical Fitness Training and Test, First Aid Training, Patrolling, Advance Rifle Marksmanship, Construction of Base Camp among others. A two weeks Specialist Engineer Training was concurrently conducted for the troops at the Engineer Training School (ETS) by the USA Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI) aimed at sharpening the engineer skills and techniques of the soldiers. The soldiers were taken through Engineer Planning, Construction of Pre-Fabricated Structures, Site Planning, Generator and Plant Equipment maintenances and repairs.

The Director Army Peacekeeping Operations (DAKOP), Col AS Ogaja, in his remarks during a training visit urged the personnel to take advantage of the training in order to build upon their respective expertise and competencies.

Col AS Ogaja used the opportunity to commend the US Government and the GPOI Team in particular for their continued support to the Pre-Operational training. According to him, the training will contribute immensely to the quality of the troops’ performance in the mission. He was hopeful the collaboration between the two countries would continue to grow in strength.

Certificates of participation were presented to the personnel at the end of the Specialist Engineer Training.