Staff Reporter
THE Namibian Marine Corps Battalion marked 10 years of existence with a colourful parade at Walvis Bay on Tuesday.
Battalion Commander Christian Keendjele delivered the keynote address on behalf of Commandant Captain (Navy) Olavi Shipunda.
He paid tribute to founding members whose discipline and resilience, he said, laid the foundation for the unit’s growth.
“Over the past decade,” he said, “the Marine Corps has played a vital role in various operational deployments, joint exercises and national security efforts. From coastal security operations to supporting other security agencies, the Marines have consistently demonstrated professionalism, adaptability and courage in the face of evolving threats.”
He said the past ten years had been a decade of operations for the Marines in safeguarding the country’s territorial waters and supporting national security.
Established in 2005 and officially commissioned on 22 July 2016, the Corps has, despite early challenges, grown from a small unit into a highly trained and disciplined force within the Namibian Defence Force and Navy.
The Corps is now more capable and ready to defend Namibia whenever called upon, said Keendjele, who credited the leadership of the Namibian Defence Force and Navy.
According to him, strategic guidance and investment in training have shaped the Marines into a modern fighting force.
Members of the Brazilian Marines Advisory Training team attended the event.
Brazil has, since 1994, trained Namibian sailors, marines and naval officers, making Namibia the largest group of foreign officers trained by the Brazilian Navy.
Photos: NDF
