36 Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) personnel have been graduated as Special Forces last Friday at the Moses Oliver Gordon Hall in Lungi.

The graduating Cadre 20 personnel comprised 3 officers and 33 other ranks (including 1 female) that successfully completed the required 3 phase training; mountain phase, Guma jungle school and special core skills phase.

RSLAF Joint Command, Commanding Officer (CO) of FRU, Lt Col Oliver Gordon stated that the Recce Cadre training was rigorous and highly selective. They commenced with 54 pre-selected personnel across RSLAF; but only 36 personnel graduated.

Lt Col Gordon congratulated Private Nabieu Alima, female volunteer for making it through the rigorous cadre where many have failed.

“I admire your resilience and courage to serve the RSLAF Special Force as a female volunteer,” he said.

The Chief of Staff at the Headquarters Joint Force Command (HQ JFC), Air Commordore JAS Gbondo adviced the graduating personnel that “as the elite force of the RSLAF, there is no room for indiscipline”.

Special reconnaissance (SR) or recon team is conducted by small units of highly trained military personnel, usually from special forces units or military intelligence organizations, who operate behind enemy lines, avoiding direct combat and detection by the enemy.

Like other special forces, SR units may also carry out direct action and unconventional warfare, including guerrilla operations.