Ouagadougou: The Minister and Chief of Staff to the President of Burkina Faso, Supreme Commander of the National Armed Forces, Captain Martha Cleste Anderson Dekomwin Medah, presided over the official graduation ceremony of the second cohort of a military training program at Camp Naaba-Koom 2. This program is designed for senior officials from the Presidency of Burkina Faso and its affiliated services, culminating in their designation as Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP).
According to Burkina Information Agency, the Minister praised the resilience and courage of the class named "Lawili," whose motto is "to serve with honor and loyalty, to commit oneself courageously to the service of the People." He emphasized the importance of diversity, likening it to the beauty of a carpet woven from various colors, and encouraged the VDP graduates to be models of civic responsibility.
The class representative, Comrade Minister and Special Advisor to the President of Burkina Faso, Ga«tan Oudraogo, spoke about the demanding nature of the training. "In truth, this training was no walk in the park. It demanded sacrifices, sweat, drool, snot, tears, and sometimes blood from us. We learned to push our physical and mental limits, to overcome fatigue, to tame pain, to adapt to deprivation, and to make discipline our compass," he shared.
According to the training director, Comrade Captain Inoussa Tarnagda, the program included physical endurance tests, strict military discipline, intensive learning of weapons handling, combat shooting, and a visit to the National Commando Training Center of P´. The trainees also climbed Nahouri peak to test their endurance limits.
The ceremony concluded with a grand military parade, where the graduates marched proudly to the rhythm of the national band, saluting the assembled authorities amidst applause from the guests. These new soldiers of peace and development are now prepared to serve the Nation with discipline and dedication, combining military discipline, acquired knowledge, and values with their professional roles to align with the revolutionary dynamic of the Homeland.