As February 27, Independence Day, approaches, traditionally the date for military and police promotions, Armed Forces Minister Admiral Sigfrido Pared Perez declared that he would not be promoting anyone on the say so of politicians.
Pared Perez recalled that the last time he headed the ministry (2004-2006), he received recommendations for promotion from politicians, and not only did he reject them, he also ordered the proposed beneficiary to be detained for five days. He said that he would do the same thing this time around.
Talking over breakfast with Listin Diario, Pared Perez said that the rigorous selection process to enter the Armed Forces could not be violated.
He said that the Dominican military currently has 52,000 members but only 30,000 are actually working in military units, the rest being underused.
He said that privates and colonels needed to be with their units, not doing other jobs and that if anyone saw a colonel in the street they had to know that person would act like a colonel. He ended by saying that he would ensure that people in higher ranks were the right ones for the job.
www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2013/1/24/263343/Las-FFAA-no-aceptaran-cunas-para-los-ascensos