PARAMARIBO, Suriname - New Horizons Basic Security Force Course Class 11-02 graduated, July 30, 2011, at Memre Buku, a Surinamese military training site in Paramaribo.
The 30-day course is a U.S. Joint Forces Command effort taught by Marine Wing Support Group 47, New Orleans and Illinois Air Guard’s 183rd with lessons in basic security tactics such as vehicle, building, and individual searches during New Horizons 2011.
New Horizons is a cooperative humanitarian mission between the Suriname government and U.S. Southern Command with the goal of helping improve the quality of life for the people of Suriname.
“The course is a U.S. Embassy military liaison initiative to form a joint training partnership with the Suriname army and enhance the security, training, and tactics of the Surinamese soldiers,” said Senior Master Sgt. Shawn Barber, New Horizons anti-terrorism officer.
Training for the 28 soldiers of the Surinamese army’s 33rd infantry, 2nd platoon, culminated this week with an intense review of core blocks of instruction validated by U.S. Marine instructors, said Chief Warrant Officer Anthony Wilson, platoon commander and lead instructor, with Marine Wing Support Group 47 of New Orleans.
The South Dakota Army National Guard’s 235th Military Police also contributed to the Joint Force training of the Surinamese army soldiers.
Lt. Col. John Blackwell, the New Horizons 2011 task force commander, addressed the Surinamese soldiers at the graduation ceremony.
“You 28 have risen to the challenge and met all the expectations for this security training class,” said Blackwell.
Every soldier received a certificate of completion signed by Blackwell and Navy Cmdr. H. Scott Johnson, the U.S. Embassy Suriname military liaison.
“This certificate brings me a lot of happiness,” said Jonelly Akiemboto, platoon sergeant, 33rd infantry Suriname army. “It is something I can be proud of. I can show the certificate to others and prove that I was a part of the training.”