SPEECH BY H.E. THE PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, LT. GENERAL SERETSE KHAMA IAN KHAMA AT THE GRADUATION CEREMONY OF CLASS 06 OF SENIOR COMMAND AND STAFF PROGRAMME [Full Text] It is my honour and privilege today to be amongst you in this Graduation Ceremony of Class 6 of 2013 of the Defence Command and Staff College whose journey started twelve months ago. Yours was a journey full of challenges. Now as you come to the end, I am very sure that you realise that all you went through was not in vain. The course that you have just completed has armed you with the necessary skills to plan and conduct joint and combined operations from a tactical to operational level, while understanding the principles of strategic planning. You are now able to demonstrate a clear understanding of different operations through effective planning, exercising and execution of appropriate tasks. The knowledge that you now have, was achieved through a series of deliberations on modules such as in combat operations, operations other than war and strategic studies. The fifty two weeks staff college course was modelled to capacitate you to effectively serve the BDF as mid level commanders and staff officers in various formations and units of the BDF. As graduates of this course, a lot is expected from you since you have been offered an opportunity to improve your operational awareness and leadership skills. This opportunity will have been lost if you don’t go out there and implement what has been imparted to you. By doing so, this college would have demonstrated its pivotal role in enhancing the operational readiness of the Botswana Defence Force. The DCSC has equipped you with the prerequisite knowledge which is expected to enable you to translate the Commanders thought process into meaningful orders. Thus you will be able to oversee the execution of the Commander’s plan and possess the ability to think, analyze and make timely decisions. The BDF has given you the opportunity to lead, however, it will not be your knowledge and acquired skills alone which will make you an effective leader but your character, courage and discipline under the most difficult circumstances. In addition to character, and in tune with the BDF value system, integrity will take a leader further than any other single quality; integrity is more than our talk, integrity brings security; the absence of integrity leads to ruin. If you would travel far and do much as a leader in the Botswana Defence force and generally in life, never compromise your integrity. My advice to you is that integrity, discipline, good character and knowledge are the guiding principles which will always bring meaningful development in the BDF and the nation at large. It is for this reason that the BDF guiding values are duty, integrity, espirit de corps and discipline. All members of the BDF have to be an embodiment of all these values. Great leaders are not in leadership and management for personal gains, but for their desire to serve other people. Furthermore, rely on discipline – not emotion; leadership is often easy during the good times. It is when everything seems to be against you, when you are out of energy and you are reluctant to lead, that you earn your stripes as a leader. During every season of life, leaders face crucial moments when they must choose between stepping up or giving up. To make it through those trying times, rely on the firm foundation of discipline and not the shifting sand of emotion. As you take on various leadership positions in the BDF, be familiar with the current security challenges facing our country and the world in general. As the world continues to experience volatile economic trends, the economic and security needs have therefore heightened the need for more knowledgeable and exemplary leadership. I wish to recognise the contribution of the University of Botswana, the Botswana Public Service College, the Defence Command and Staff College and other stakeholders, without their contributions you could not have achieved all what you have achieved. Indeed, the Defence Force will always be indebted and grateful to all those who have contributed to the successful completion of your course. Let me on behalf of the nation thank you for supporting the BDF. It is through partnerships like these that we will be able to meet our national aspirations and fulfil our national vision, especially the pillar of a safe and secure nation. A professional and well trained military will enable our Defence Force to achieve its core mandate of protecting territorial integrity, sovereignty and national interests, hence the importance of an institution of this nature. In conclusion, let me urge you to use the knowledge that you gained to empower others and I congratulate you for having successfully passed this course. Thank you. PULA!
Posted on: Tue, 24 Sep 2013 05:47:22 +0000
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