BDF�s Pamphlet No1 (not BNF)

This is the Company Commander’s course at Force Training Establishment (FTE) at Sir Seretse Khama Barracks. With his usual smile, he poses a question to the class and says; “who knows what Pamphlet No1 is?” Most hands went up, including mine. After the first student attempted to answer, all other hands went down except mine. The fellow had said Pamphlet No1 was a Botswana National Front political document and Col Galebotswe told the officer that he must bring the answer closer to home. He pointed at me and I told the class that it was the BDF’s code of conduct document.

The other entire sixty or so students were left in awe by the answer I gave. I had just been lucky to read the document a week earlier on a notice board outside of Col Galebotswe’s office. This document is certainly one of the oldest at BDF and yet it has escaped the attention of many officers and men.