Monrovia, Liberia: The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Liberia and President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency George Manneh Weah, nominated Colonel George as Deputy Chief of Staff of the AFL on Monday, March 19, 2018.
Colonel Geraldine Janet George will become the Armed Forces of Liberia first female Deputy Chief of Staff when she is confirmed.
Prior to her promotion, she served as Acting Commander of the 23rd Infantry Brigade, headquartered at the Edward Binyah Kesselly Barracks (EBK), formerly, the Schiefflin Barracks.
As a female career soldier, Col. George comes to this position with incomparable extensive military leadership skills. She has served in the following posts in the Armed Forces of Liberia: Military Police Company Commander, 23rd Infantry Brigade, Brigade S-5 CIMIC Officer: 23rd Infantry Brigade, Provost Marshal:23rd Infantry Brigade, Legal Officer: Armed Forces of Liberia Headquarters, Acting Deputy Chief of Staff (DCOS):Armed Forces of Liberia Headquarters, Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel (ACOS J1)(2x)Armed Forces of Liberia Headquarters, and Assistant Chief of Staff for Operation (ACOS J3) (2x) Armed Forces of Liberia Headquarters.
Colonel George, a graduate from the College of West Africa (CWA), holds a Master of Arts Degree in International Relations, Webster University, USA, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice African Methodist Episcopal Zion University College, Monrovia. She also obtained several certificates: Intelligence, Fight Aganst Terrorism, Rome, Italy; Administration of Justice, Liberia Institute of Public Administration, Monrovia; Public Sector Management, Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM), University of Sierra Leone.
She has had several military trainings, where she attained the following certificates and diplomas: Initial Entry Training (IET), Barclay Training Center (BTC), Liberia; Advance Individual Training (AIT), Barclay Training Center (BTC), Liberia; Basic Non-Commissioned Officer Course (BNCOC), Barclay Training Center (BTC), Liberia; Officer Candidate School (OCS), Barclay Training Center (BTC), Liberia; Basic Officer Leader Course, Fort Benning, USA; Basic Officer Leader Course, Fort Benning, USA; Military Police Basic Officer Leadership Course, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, USA; Company Commander Course, Rwanda Military Academy, GAKO, Rwanda; Junior Staff Course (JSC), Horton Academy, Freetown, Sierra Leone; United States Army Command and General Staff College, USA; and United Nations Staff Officer and Military Component Planning Process (Western Accord 14), USA.
Furthermore, she has bag lots of awards and authorizations: Distinguished Graduate Advance Individual Training, 22 December 2006; Pistol Classification Sharp Shooter, January 2008; and the United Nations Medal (MINUSMA), 28 SEPT 2017. As it relates to authorization, she is authorized to wear Fort Leavenworth school badge from the Command and General staff College, authorized to wear the International Students Military Badge and authorized to wear the Basic Military Police School badge.
The nominated Deputy Chief of Staff was enlisted into the AFL on July 24, 2006 as part of the first batch of soldiers of the restructured Armed Forces of Liberia. This batch of soldiers produced the first post war Chief of Staff, Major General Daniel Dee Ziahnkan (retired) and currently Minister of Defense.
Since the inception of the Armed Forces of Liberia as far back as the days of the Liberian Frontier Force, which was established under the Administration of President Arthur Barclay, in whose honor the Barclay Training Center (BTC) is named, male soldiers have traditionally dominated the Command Structure of the AFL.
With the ascendency of first the female officer to such top position in the High Command of the Armed Forces of Liberia, it is a glaring fact that the barrier of what has been considered over a period of nearly 110 years as a no-go zone for female military personnel has finally been broken in a male dominated African society.
Colonel Geraldine Janet George, your ascendency to such high profile position within the AFL High Command will bring pride to yourself, your family, your Country and your counterparts in the Sub-region and beyond.
Bravo! Bravo! Liberia is proud of you as you are about to take on this new role within the Armed Forces of Liberia.
