04 Dec 2018

Botswana Defence Force Commander, Lt Gen. Placid Segokgo has commended Squadron Officer Basic Course Class One of 2018 for a job well done.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony held at Thebephatshwa Air Base recently, Lt Gen. Segokgo said since the inception of BDF Air wing, which transformed into the Air Arm Command, professional development programmes were predominantly skewed towards training pilots, engineers and technicians to the exclusion of professional development and delivery of military capabilities through Air power.

“The development of Airmen in educational programmes was solely dependent on the availability of opportunities offered by our strategic partners such as the UN, USA, Canada, UK, Zambia and Kenya to mention a few.”

These opportunities, he said, came with costs, and  limited professional growth, ‘particularly in this area because the BDF had no control over the frequency of training opportunities offered’.

The ambition to establish the Squadron Officer School, the commander stated, was born from their determination to close the gap as well as improve their ability to develop officers in critical areas such as sense of judgment, critical thinking and decision-making to help them assume new roles and command leadership management. 

He also highlighted that the courses were highly sought after as they enhanced the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the Air Arm and the army at large. 

“The beauty of having our institution is the ability to teach air power theory using our own doctrine,” he said, adding that by so doing, it would inculcate ethos and traditions attuned to national values.

Giving the course overview, Col Christopher Mbaakanyi, said the school was unique in that it offered Professional Military Education (PME) for the development of Junior and Field Grade Officers of the Air Arm Command.

He further stated that the design of the Squadron Officer School curriculum was delivered in three phases - the Basic Course, which was delivered in six weeks, the Intermediate Course delivered in eight weeks and the Advanced course, which is offered in 12 weeks.

The course, which is the first of its kind in the BDF, started in October with 20 officers, 17 majors and three Captains nominated from various Squadrons of the Air Arm Command.

The basic Course reportedly offered numerous opportunities to students on experiential activities such as research framework, presentations, critical thinking and analysis, leadership, command among others. In addition, Col Mbaakanyi  said the academic requirement of the course was consistent with the BDF physical fitness standards.  Also, a survival exercise sponsored by the Special Forces Instructors was conducted for a few days to resuscitate the survival skills of the officers.

For his part, Maj. Sean Mckee representing office of Security Cooperation and the US embassy, said they were proud to have gone through the journey with the BDF under curriculum development.  Through this one and half year project, the US has been happy to assist and tried to meet some of the shared goals with BDF. The US had particularly assisted with curriculum development.

Major Nicholus Tiro, who emerged Best student in Strategy, Conflict and Security as well as Best Overall student, said the course was not much about one’s capabilities, but rather the three Ts being Time management, Team work and Temperament.  “Without these three it is difficult to make it in this course, he said.  ENDS