The "institutional integrity" and respect of the T&T Regiment can only be guaranteed if officers remain true to their service and loyal to the "purpose of their professional call to duty."The comments were made yesterday by the Commanding Officer of the Defence Force Colonel AWJ Phillip Spencer during an address at a church parade commemorating the 49th anniversary of the military outfit.The parade, which climaxed the week-long celebrations, was held at the Special Anti-Crime Unit of T&T (Sautt) auditorium at the Cumuto Barracks, Wallerfield.
Spencer, who urged officers "to be true and faithful," also echoed the sentiments of Roman Catholic priest Fr Matthew Ahye who called on army colleagues to be an inspiration to one another in the way they carried out their tasks.Ahye, feature speaker at the ceremony, alluded to the exalted characteristic of "selflessness" which he said went against man's "natural law of self-preservation" and was a "noble" quality truly exhibited by the many officers of the T&T Regiment.
He said: "As a soldier, your profession demands a high degree of selflessness, and the mere fact that your actions transcend the natural, makes what you do extraordinary."The celebrations this year included a luncheon for retirees of the Regiment on July 19 at the Cumuto Barracks, an anniversary parade at the Teteron Barracks in Chaguaramas on July 21, and an Open Day exhibition held last Friday at Camp Ogden, Long Circular Road, St James.