HQ S/COMD (CAMP) WINS SOUTHERN COMMAND’S EX KULLUM SHIRRI ‘25 – Ghana Peace Journal

Introduction

The Headquarters Southern Command (S/COMD) Camp has been crowned champion of the 2025 Southern Command Exercise Kullum Shirri, a prestigious biennial competition designed to test the endurance, tactical prowess, and inter-unit cohesion of Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) personnel. Held over two days at Michel Camp, the event brought together elite units from across the GAF, including the 5th, 2nd, and 1st Infantry Battalions. This victory not only highlights the S/COMD’s strategic preparedness but also reinforces its role as a cornerstone of Ghana’s national defense strategy. In this article, we explore the significance of the event, its structure, outcomes, and implications for Ghana’s military readiness.

Analysis

Structure and Significance of Exercise Kullum Shirri

Exercise Kullum Shirri, first launched in 2023, serves as a critical benchmark for assessing the operational readiness of GAF’s combat units. The competition integrates physical, navigational, technical, and leadership challenges to simulate high-stress scenarios faced in real-world combat. By emphasizing teamwork, individual skill mastery, and adaptability, the event aligns with the GAF’s broader vision of fostering a “motivated, cohesive, and professional military,” as articulated by Chief of Army Staff targets. The inclusion of marksmanship assessments underscores the importance of precision weaponry in modern warfare.

Core Objectives of the Competition

At its core, Kullum Shirri aims to:

• Enhance Combat Readiness: By pushing troops through physically demanding obstacle courses and marksmanship drills.
• Identify Elite Talent: To select candidates for advanced training programs like Exercise Tiger’s Path, a jungle warfare competition involving GAF’s Arms of Service.
• Strengthen Unit Identity: Competitions like this boost morale and foster pride in military units through recognition of collective achievement.

Summary

From September 25 to 26, 2025, the Southern Command’s Exercise Kullum Shirri showcased the pinnacle of GAF’s inter-unit rivalry. Hosted at Michel Camp, the competition drew 225.7 aggregate points for HQ S/COMD (CAMP), leaving rival units like 5 Infantry Battalion and 2 Infantry Battalion trailing closely. Key highlights included a grueling navigation course near Zenu School and Teshie Gallery Range shooting competitions. Officials praised the event’s role in cultivating a battle-ready force, while results pointed to S/COMD’s dominance in tactical execution and endurance.

Key Points

Practical Advice for Military Training Programs

Emphasize Holistic Development

Modern military training must balance physical conditioning with cognitive skills like navigation and map reading. Kullum Shirri’s structure—a blend of obstacles, shooting, and competitive spirit—offers a blueprint for cultivating versatile troops. Includes to prioritize iterative testing, allowing units to refine weaknesses before high-stakes deployments.

Foster Leadership and Ethics

Competitions like Kullum Shirri inadvertently nurture leadership qualities through stress-induced decision-making. Commanders should leverage such events to identify and mentor emerging leaders, ensuring continuity in operational effectiveness.

Points of Caution

Avoid Over-Reliance on Competition-Based Training

While events like Kullum Shirri are invaluable, they should supplement—not replace—realistic field exercises. Overemphasis on competitive performance metrics could divert resources from long-term infrastructure development or conflict resolution training.

Ensure Inclusivity and Fairness

Smaller units or those with limited resources may struggle to compete with well-equipped battalions. The GAF should implement tiered evaluation systems to ensure fairness and encourage broader participation, particularly from reserve or regional commands.

Comparison with Regional Military Competitions

Exercise Kullum Shirri bears similarities to U.S. Army’s “Best of the Best” contests but distinguishes itself through integration of jungle warfare simulations. Unlike the multinational Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa exercises, Kullum Shirri focuses on internal cohesion within GAF, leveraging Ghana’s unique geography and cultural context. This regionalized approach allows for tailored training in bush survival, river crossings, and navigation through dense forests—skills critical to Ghana’s northern and eastern borders.

Legal Implications

While no direct legal issues arise from the competition itself, the event’s focus on ethical conduct and professionalism aligns with Ghana’s Military Ethics Code. The implied promotion of “decisive land vitality” complies with international humanitarian law principles, as the GAF exercises its right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter, provided engagements adhere to . Non-participation in such exercises could indirectly affect national sovereignty claims under customary international law.

Conclusion

HQ S/COMD (CAMP)’s victory at Exercise Kullum Shirri ‘25 underscores its strategic importance to Ghana’s defense architecture. By integrating rigorous physical, tactical, and leadership challenges, the competition not only identifies elite personnel but also galvanizes unit solidarity. As the GAF prepares for Exercise Tiger’s Path, lessons from Kullum Shirri—such as the value of adaptive training and inter-unit camaraderie—will be pivotal. Stakeholders must ensure these events remain tools for readiness enhancement, avoiding pitfalls that could undermine their pedagogical purpose.

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