Officers must reciprocate the expenditure made on them by making use of resources, facilities, instructors and the time allocated towards them for improving themselves and nothing else, said Chief of Defence Staff, Commander of the Army General Shavendra Silva. He made this statement today (17) during the Buttala-based Officer Career Development Centre (OCDC) inauguration. In his speech, General Silva said that the elevation had been supplemented with necessary infrastructure, training facilities, course curriculums, as well as a hand- picked set of well qualified instructors with a view to giving the best to learning officers. ""As you know, this elevation has been supplemented with necessary infrastructure, training facilities, course curriculums, as well as a hand- picked set of well qualified instructors with a view to giving the best to learning officers. Also I remind that I will never hesitate to invest in military training and apparently I expect that the training will foster high standards in the Army which would be upheld throughout. Therefore, I insist that military education today is an indispensable aspect of an officer's career. The future learning at OCDC will be aligned to bridge the knowledge gap as anticipated by 'Sri Lanka Army Way Forward Strategy 2020-2025' to meet His Excellency the President and the Government’s Vistas for Prosperity Agenda," he said. He went on to say that the multi-faceted change in the context demands the Army to have competencies on intervening in a much broader spectrum of conflicts than before from classical military posture to the posture in the wake of pandemics. "We never know whether it would be furthermore in time to come.So far Sri Lanka Army has demonstrated the resilience, and the capacity to adjust to evolving situations and new demands, while remaining relevant to any situation. Thus, His Excellency the President and the Government of Sri Lanka have kept complete confidence in the Sri Lanka Army as the most credible responder in any sort of eventuality. Also the people of this country have the utmost faith in the Sri Lanka Army and expect the Army will continue to be the defender of the country and its people in this dynamic security environment. Consequently, we must be conceptually, physically and morally prepared to match the future demands and be relevant in time to come. Therefore I feel it very much pertinent to speak a few words on military education," said the Army General. Additionally, General Silva said that Officers are the leaders, decision makers and managers of the Army, and that this role comes with very real mental and physical challenges, with Officers being expected to lead from the front in all situations which are usually cumbersome, tiring and strange. "Nowadays, with the frequently changing demand, versatility and professionalism are the driving principles of an officer. Also lack of knowledge, and competencies are the evils which have no more precedence in the officer corps today. Therefore, the purpose of officer training is to develop the character and leadership of officers and instil the necessary knowledge, confidence, sense of duty and responsibility at frequent intervals and levels so that officers can bear the responsibilities at all levels. Thus I urge the Instructors and Directing Staff to train the student officers to acquire relevant, and updated and necessary knowledge at different levels. If you wonder why all these trainings are characterised by exerting heavy pressure on students; it is because the tendency of making a wrong decision is more when a leader is under the pressure and thus through the training, officers must be moulded to withstand the pressure under tiring situations," he added. General Silva explained that the resilience, perseverance and focus during training will come in handy one day in the field and will enable officers to serve diligently, with integrity and self-satisfaction. "Therefore, training the “doers” with the basics of command, operational and staff aspects is a must to function effectively in today’s environment. Further, in the future, more middle grade officers are likely to find themselves responsible for tactical planning and execution of tasks possibly different from operational tasks. It is high time for the middle grade officers of Sri Lanka Army to enter into the tactical and operational realm by educating and training them to understand, transform, plan, and execute multi array of operational and non-operational commitments in a wider security context," said General Silva He added that the Junior Command Course has been designed to learn, interpret, apply, test and question the military concepts, doctrines, tactics, techniques and procedures used in the Sri Lanka Army and providing conducive platform for innovative and creative problems solving, further stating that the hardship the officers would have to undergo today will be an investment for them to perform the command, staff and instructor duties with confidence and professional competence. To the Students of Senior Command Course, General Silva said that he expected the future battalion commanders to be knowledgeable, competent and reliable officers who can interpret the bigger security picture and transform it to a workable plan understanding the role to be played by the battalion in that context. "I know most of the student officers of the Senior Command Course have served terms in the front line during the LTTE conflict and have completed 11 more years after the war in various appointments. Perhaps there can be officers who have missed the higher military education due to the operational commitments. Therefore, the Senior Command Course serves three purposes. First, it will allow an opportunity for officers who are the most deserving of command, but could not make it due to various commitments and prerequisites placed into command. Second, it will identify the potential as well as toxic leaders so that officers who deserve to command and with strategic potential can be screened from those who are not. Third, it will change the culture of the Army officer corps to one that deeply values the abilities most needed by tomorrow’s strategic leaders, such as critical and innovative thinking, effective oral and written communication, strategic temperament, and an authentic respect for subordinates and peers. Therefore, I believe you will get the maximum from the course and prove yourself competent to be future leaders," he said. To the Instructors and Directing Staff, General Silva commended their relentless effort to foster the learning and uplifting the standard of the Army. "Let me remind at the end of the day you will be judged by the student officers not for your past records but on how much you give them for their development as well as your ability to inspire them for learning. Therefore, I suggest that you keep abreast with the modern development of the security environment, encourage the student officers for an updated learning and establish the right balance between theory and application," said the Army General. Further, General Silva suggested that, to help the students and officers to unlock emotions, attitudes, and responses to intellectual challenges and stimulate self-learning habits and develop confidence in exchanging ideas and participating in forums during the course. General Shavendra Silva is the brainchild behind the realisation of the conversion to be in parallel with his 'Way Forward Strategy-2020-2025' for the Sri Lanka Army, was warmly received by Major General Swarna Bothota, Commandant at the OCDC and Colonel Commandant of the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps after a colour-rich and vibrant drive- pass Guard Turnout saluted General Shavendra Silva at the entrance. General Silva added an indelible chapter to the newest, 'Think Factory' for Commanders of the Tri Services, Police and civilian leaders at the strategic level afterwards unveiled the new name board of the 'Army War College' (AWC) and the plaque to the same effect at the entrance to the main auditorium at the invitation of the Commandant in the new AWC. The lighting of the traditional oil lamp, observance of one-minute silence in honour of fallen War Heroes and the recital of the Army song successively set the stage ready for a video documentary of the new AWC which traced the saga, related to the birth of the hitherto functional OCDC and the AWC's new vision that could usher in a new era to provide high quality professional military education, conduct of Research, Publishing, Engagement in Discourses and Wargames and strategic leader development through agile, constantly reviewed and updated graduate courses, necessary for success in the contemporary operational environment. Presenting an overall exposure to the new AWC's 'vision and mission', General Silva launched the official website of the AWC (https://alt.army.lk/awc/) as proceedings got underway. Awards of accolades and certificates were presented to the top three student Officers in the Senior Command and the Junior Staff Courses and also to several foreign military Officers who followed those graduate courses. Towards the end, the Commandant, AWC presented a symbolic memento to the day's Chief Guest for his gracious presence at the occasion and General Shavendra Silva was invited to leave memories by posing for group photographs, planting a sapling and signing the Visitors' Book at the AWC. [foogallery id="179847"]