Over one thousands officers and men of the Republic of Sierra Leone Army Forces (RSLAF) on Thursday 18th February commemorated the Army Forces Day.
Addressing the gathering at the National Stadium in Freetown, President Ernest Koroma, Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, said the day was commemorated to honour men and women in the armed forces who had sacrificed their lives to bring peace to the country. He said the day was to also assure Sierra Leoneans of their safety and security. The President said the day served as reminder to the people of Sierra Leone that the armed forces of the nation were committed and dedicated to sustaining the peace the country now enjoys. He said Sierra Leoneans should be proud of the fact that they had one of the most disciplined armed forces in Africa. He said in the area of transparency and accountability, the armed forces had demonstrated what he called an excellent compliance output. President Koroma said his government was thinking of supplying a bag of rice per month to every soldier. President Koroma also unveiled the war monument for fallen heroes and heroines of Sierra Leone. President Bai Koroma said he planned to soon increase the size of the army in peacekeeping operations from a company to a battalion. The president said he was very much proud with the military for demonstrating their artistic ingenuity and craftsmanship in erecting the monument to the admiration of the public. He said government was proud of the army and determined to maintain its professional standards. President Koroma explained the importance of the monument to the country's development. President Koroma added that it was good to encourage and diversely support the professional values in the army. He advised the public to fully utilize the monument as educational ground for especially the children. The monument was erected on State Avenue in Central Freetown. Hundreds of Sierra Leoneans turned out to witness this year's armed forces day. They described the RSLAF as a changed force capable of maintaining the country's external security.
