Following a nine-week advanced training course, 24 soldiers with the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) are now qualified to serve as Signal Support System Specialists, also known as "signal soldiers". This group of graduates will manage and maintain the army's communications and information systems.

The training, administered jointly by the United States and Liberian governments, was part of the Security Sector Reform program, which aims to rebuild the AFL after the nation's 15-year civil war.

At the graduation ceremony at Binyah Kesselly Barracks, Lieutenant Colonel William M. Wyatt, U.S. chief of security cooperation in Liberia, spoke to the soldiers about the important role played by military communications specialists in ensuring the overall operability of the army.

"Signal support encompasses aspects of designing, installing, maintaining, and managing information networks to include communications links, computers and other components of local and wide area networks," Wyatt said.

The signal soldiers support overall communications of the army by performing installation, operation, and maintenance of radio and data distribution systems, and also by providing training and technical assistance to signal equipment users.

According to Wyatt, the signal soldiers allow unit commanders to receive and transmit vital messages and information, which help them make the best decisions in relaying orders and leading their troops.