By: Fatmata Grace Okekearu -Bo City
The Universal Chaplain Corps and Rescue Mission recently held a colourful decoration and promotion ceremony in Bo, marking a significant milestone in the professional development of its personnel.
The event, held at the former Bo Friendship House, attracted family members, friends, and well-wishers who gathered to witness the formal decoration of newly recruited officer and the promotion of serving personnel. The ceremony was enlivened by impressive displays of discipline, coordination, and talent by members of the Corps.
Addressing the gathering, Colonel Cecil Stevens Ansumana, National Director of Public Relations and Education and member of the High Command, explained that the ceremony is an integral tradition of the organization, conducted after the successful completion of each training cycle.
He disclosed that Batches 18 and 19* were combined for the 2025 ceremony following their rigorous training at the 4th Infantry Battalion, Teko Barracks in Makeni. According to Colonel Ansumana, the blended batches successfully completed intensive physical, moral, and leadership training designed to prepare them for service within the chaplaincy and rescue mission.
The Colonel noted that the newly trained officers were decorated with their respective ranks and will be posted to various locations across the country to commence active service. He added that senior personnel who have demonstrated commitment, discipline, and exemplary service over the years were also promoted to higher ranks in recognition of their dedication.
Colonel Ansumana further revealed that all training for the Universal Chaplain Corps and Rescue Mission is conducted by the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) under a Memorandum of Understanding between the two institutions. This partnership ensures that personnel are trained to professional standards aligned with national security and humanitarian service requirements.
In his closing remarks, Colonel Ansumana admonished the newly decorated officers to uphold discipline, obedience, and responsibility in the discharge of their duties. He emphasized that service in the Corps requires passion, integrity, and commitment to humanity, urging officers to serve as worthy ambassadors of the organization wherever they are deployed.