AFM special duties company deployed to Somali training mission

Fourth successive deployment since 2009 for Armed Forces of Malta in EU efforts to train Somali soldiers within newly established security forces.

Most of the training is conducted in Bihanga Training Camp, Uganda, and involves positive interaction and a training partnership with the Ugandan People’s Defence Forces. Photo: MaltaToday. www.kismaayodaily.com – your gateway of Somali news around the world.

The Armed Forces of Malta have deployed a three-person infantry training team consisting of members of C (Special Duties) Company to the European Union Training Mission to Somalia (EUTM Somalia) in Uganda.

This is the fourth successive deployment since 2009 that the Armed Forces of Malta have been involved and represented in the EU’s efforts to train Somali soldiers for service within Somalia’s newly established security forces.

The latest Maltese training team to deploy, comprising Warrant Officer John Grixti, Sergeant Adrian Cipriott and Lance Bombardier Angelo Gatt, follow up on the work completed previously by the third team, namely Warrant Officer Anthony Grech, Sergeant Alan Harvey and Lance Bombardier Chircop, who returned to Malta in May after a successful posting in Uganda that lasted over six months.

Most of the training is conducted in Bihanga Training Camp, Uganda, and involves positive interaction and a training partnership with the Ugandan People’s Defence Forces. With the third intake of trained Somali soldiers ready to return to duty in their home country, the shifting focus is now on a fresh fourth intake of trainees which is expected to arrive in Bihanga Training Camp later this month.

Unlike the first two intakes which focused primarily on basic training levels, the last two intakes focus more intensely on junior officer and Non-Commissioned Officer command roles and skills, as well as a flourishing train-the-trainer programme, which hitherto has provided excellent results.

Besides the provision of trainers, for a second time, the Armed Forces of Malta have also provided a personal assistant to the Irish Mission Commander of EUTM Somalia, Colonel Michael Beary. Major Melvyn Haber replaced Major Christopher Attard in this role, and is scheduled to remain in theatre until around October this year.

The soldiers trained by EUTM Somalia have proved invaluable in strengthening the Transitional Federal Government and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM)’s efforts to improve security levels in Mogadishu and its surrounding districts.

Source: (MaltaToday).