The Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) has enrolled new soldiers who completed their basic military training on Thursday at Nasho Basic Military Training Centre in Kirehe District.

The young women and men demonstrated to the RDF leadership their newly acquired professional skills at arms and drills before being welcomed into the defence force.

The enrollment ceremony was presided over by the RDF Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Patrick Nyamvumba on behalf of the Commander-in-Chief of RDF President Paul Kagame.

The new soldiers were urged to join hands with their brothers and sisters in the RDF to protect the national sovereignty and contribute to the country’s transformation process.

"You are joining the RDF, a defence force with good and well-earned history and reputation. Those you are joining today stopped the Genocide against the Tutsi and liberated Rwanda; to date they continue to contribute to the country’s development and transformation. I urge you to join them on this journey. They laid a strong foundation for you and it is up to you to build on it and even do better as one united force,” the RDF Chief of Defence Staff.

Gen. Nyamvumba further underscored the importance of maintaining discipline and commitment.

"I also want you to maintain the discipline you have acquired through training; be it individual or collective. Discipline and commitment are core values in the RDF that are never compromised.”

The recruitment and integration of new soldiers, and retirement are recurring processes that are in line with the RDF’s professionalisation to better accomplish its mandate, according to RDF spokesperson, Lt Col Innocent Munyengango.

During recruitment and integration, young Rwandan men and women are selected and taken through a rigorous basic training at the end of which those who pass successfully are enrolled in RDF.

The new intake started their training back in November 2016 and were enrolled after one year of basic military training.

"The new members that joined us today bring new blood that will help us to continue performing our constitutional roles,” the RDF Spokesperson said.

The overall best new soldier among intake 09/2017, Private Patrick Nkurunziza, told the media that he was proud of joining the RDF and serving his nation.

"I am proud to having been able to join the RDF and I am ready to give the best I can to serve my country,” he said, before adding that his best performance can be attributed to hard work and discipline throughout the training.

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