News and Information

BDF adopts TAQ principle to assess senior officers
August 12, 2004
GABORONE - Botswana Defence Force (BDF) has adopted the Total Army Quality (TAQ) principle, from the United States to assess senior officers.

United States Ambassador Joseph Huggins said, at the start of the course in Gaborone Tuesday that the training would provide the BDF with the military version of the Performance Management System (PMS that the government of Botswana has introduced.

He said TAQ would provide leaders with the vision of the future. But cautioned that the concept would not work unless everyone in the BDF is "empowered to make the changes to ensure that the army is able to adapt to the ever-changing world and mission that the people of Botswana expect from one of the best militaries in Africa." Huggins applauded the BDF leadership for its vision in realising the necessity of organising the training, which he believed, would have a positive effect on the continued development and professionalism of the force.

The BDF he said stands at the crossroads of change as highlighted by their involvement in the African Contingency Operations and peacekeeping missions.

BDF Logistics Commander, Major General Gobuamang Tlhokwane said they deemed it fit to benchmark with the best defence force organisations to introduce a tool that will manage change in their institution." "This initiative is the army's international strategic management to change, and I think this is the only initiative relevant to the defence force.

This will be an advantage to us as we have gone through PMS seminars therefore we need to compare and contrast the two principles," Tlhokwane said.

Though there is not much difference between the two principles, he said TAQ "is the most appropriate for the army." Tlhokwane encouraged participants to learn the principle fully as the concept is ultimately to be applied to real life situations.

The training, which begun on Tuesday will continue through to September 3 and is conducted by Patricia Ellis, from the US Army Logistics Management College (USALMC). BOPA


Source: Dailynews@gov.bw


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