Upon reading the presidential decrees and the ministerial decisions conferring new ranks that took effect on January 1, the soldiers of the National Gendarmerie, the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy took on steps, hitting the tarmac of the Headquater’s Brigade to the sound of the grand tambour of the Army band as they marched in an orderly procession of rank from officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the rank and file to receive their new epaulets.

‘First I want to thank God because not everyone has the opportunity to be where I am today, a new rank comes with new commitments, I will have to work and face the challenges that come in daily’, said 2nd Lieutenant Abety Louis

Under the Command of Colonel Yende Sakeh Godfrey, the troop of honour constituted of platoons of the different corps marched past the tribune to the rhythm of the band, pulling cheers and standing ovation as they uniformingly executed the ‘military blocked steps’ to mark the end of the ceremony, paving the way for family festivities.

The January 2026 ceremony at the headquarters Brigade saw in all over 600 officers, 800, non-commissioned and about 20 soldiers of the rank and file who saw a change in rank. This is just the first batch of personnel to be promoted to higher ranks in the year 2026, April 1, July 1 and October 1 are pregnant with more celebrations.