News / National
17 army officers graduate
04 Nov 2013 at 02:18hrs | Views
SEVENTEEN soldiers were last Friday presented with certificates after completing a three-month logistics staff training course in Harare.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Commander Zimbabwe National Army Lieutenant General Philip Sibanda said the aim of the course was to develop the professional knowledge and understanding of Grade 2 Staff Officers.
He said the officers were exposed to a number of studies which included staff duties within the structures of Zimbabwe Defence Forces, logistics in peacetime, in conventional war operations and a variety of other operations.
He said they were also exposed to staff checks, movement and dumping, the operational and logistics estimates and procurement and finance, among others.
Lt-Gen Sibanda said they would continue to improve the methods of instructions, during the course, in line with dynamic technological and tactical innovations in order to add value.
"To compliment these teaching techniques, the college invited high profile outside guest speakers ranging from Government officials, captains of industry and other eminent speakers from academic field and reputable institutions including retired seniors officers to come and address the course," he said.
He said the domestic infrastructure study tour offered the students the opportunity to reconcile the theoretical knowledge acquired during presentations with the actual national infrastructure and economy of Zimbabwe in a practical way.
"Consultations with Bindura and Chinhoyi Universities are currently in progress for the course to be recognised at diploma level. As these efforts are being pursued, further comparative studies with other friendly countries that run a similar or equivalent course, preferably Pakistan, India and others are recommended in order to improve the course syllabi," Lt-Gen Sibanda said.
Zimbabwe Staff College commandant Brigadier General Augustine Chipwere said the impact of logistics on the successful execution of military operations was clearly documented in the history of warfare.
"The introduction of the logistics staff course bears testimony to the desire to move towards placing logistic considerations at the same level with operational considerations, for without logistics, the tanks, armoured personnel, carriers, artillery pieces, are just numbers on the equipment table," he said.
He said the critical nature of logistics was that it determined the forces that could be delivered to the theatre operations, the size of forces that could be supported once deployed and determines the tempo of operations.
Brig Gen Chipwere said with the officers that graduated, they were confident that they had adequately developed the intellectual capacity of the officers.
He said it was his hope that the officers would be given the opportunity to constantly practice the planning and co-ordination of logistics missions and tasks.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Commander Zimbabwe National Army Lieutenant General Philip Sibanda said the aim of the course was to develop the professional knowledge and understanding of Grade 2 Staff Officers.
He said the officers were exposed to a number of studies which included staff duties within the structures of Zimbabwe Defence Forces, logistics in peacetime, in conventional war operations and a variety of other operations.
He said they were also exposed to staff checks, movement and dumping, the operational and logistics estimates and procurement and finance, among others.
Lt-Gen Sibanda said they would continue to improve the methods of instructions, during the course, in line with dynamic technological and tactical innovations in order to add value.
"To compliment these teaching techniques, the college invited high profile outside guest speakers ranging from Government officials, captains of industry and other eminent speakers from academic field and reputable institutions including retired seniors officers to come and address the course," he said.
He said the domestic infrastructure study tour offered the students the opportunity to reconcile the theoretical knowledge acquired during presentations with the actual national infrastructure and economy of Zimbabwe in a practical way.
"Consultations with Bindura and Chinhoyi Universities are currently in progress for the course to be recognised at diploma level. As these efforts are being pursued, further comparative studies with other friendly countries that run a similar or equivalent course, preferably Pakistan, India and others are recommended in order to improve the course syllabi," Lt-Gen Sibanda said.
Zimbabwe Staff College commandant Brigadier General Augustine Chipwere said the impact of logistics on the successful execution of military operations was clearly documented in the history of warfare.
"The introduction of the logistics staff course bears testimony to the desire to move towards placing logistic considerations at the same level with operational considerations, for without logistics, the tanks, armoured personnel, carriers, artillery pieces, are just numbers on the equipment table," he said.
He said the critical nature of logistics was that it determined the forces that could be delivered to the theatre operations, the size of forces that could be supported once deployed and determines the tempo of operations.
Brig Gen Chipwere said with the officers that graduated, they were confident that they had adequately developed the intellectual capacity of the officers.
He said it was his hope that the officers would be given the opportunity to constantly practice the planning and co-ordination of logistics missions and tasks.
Source - herald
