Colonel Jeffrey Curmi has been promoted to the rank of brigadier and appointed Commander of the Armed Forces of Malta, as touted since the end of September.
Colonel Mark Mallia has been appointed Deputy Commander.
The Nationalist Party criticised the appointments, saying they marked the completion of the Labour take-over of the army. (see below)
The two officers were at the heart of controversy for months after their rapid promotion from the rank of Major.
The appointments were made by the Minister of Home Affairs and National Security Manuel Mallia.
Jeffrey Curmi joined the Armed forces of Malta (AFM) in 1994. Following a local cadetship course, he attended the Allievi Ufficiali di Complemento course at the "Scuola di Fanteria" in Cesano di Roma, Italy.
In 1996 he followed the Commissioning Course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and was awarded the best overseas student prize - The Cane of Honour - which was presented by The Duchess of Gloucester. He was also awarded the “Nigeria Prize” for the Best Journal, the “Brunei Medal” for extra-curricular activities and the “Whitbread Cup” at the Academy’s Skill at Arms Meeting for being the best marksman.
As a Lieutenant, in 1997 he was employed as a Platoon Commander at the 1st Regiment (Infantry) Airport Security Company. In 1998 he was appointed as Officer in-Charge of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Troop of the Ammunition and Explosives Company, 3rd Regiment. Upon successful completion of the Advanced EOD Course at the Defence EOD School in the United Kingdom, he specialized in conventional munition disposal. Curmi then specialized in Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (IEDD) at the Army School of Ammunition, in the United Kingdom.
As a Captain, in 2003 he successfully completed the Diving Officer Course at the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Centre (U.S. Navy), Florida, United States of America. Upon successful completion, he was awarded the prestigious “Honor Man” award for qualifying once again as the top student in the course, amongst US and international candidates.
He extended his training at the same Training Centre to qualify as ‘Salvage Diving Officer’. In 2006 Curmi successfully completed a CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) Defence Diploma at the Scuola Interforze in Rieti, Italy. During the same year, he also completed the United Nations Staff Officers Course in Hamburg, Germany. A year later, Brig Curmi furthered his studies and qualified as an Advanced Operational CBRN Instructor at the Italian Scuola Interforze.
As a Major, in 2007, he was appointed as Officer Commanding of the Ammunition and Explosives Company, where, apart from the operational EOD Troop he was also in-charge of the AFM’s Ammunition Depot. During his tour of duty he advanced his EOD, IEDD, Advanced Explosives Disposal Techniques and Post-Blast Investigation specializations in the United States of America, Spain, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland and Denmark, together with military and police forces.
Jeffrey Curmi delivered a number of specialized EOD, IEDD and diving courses for AFM personnel and also delivered lectures in security related courses to governmental/private entities and local fireworks manufacture licence courses. He represented Malta at European Union level on numerous occasions, including the Explosives Security Task Force, the Standing Committee of Explosives Precursors and the European Explosive Ordnance Disposal Network.
In 2011, Curmi was posted to the AFM Headquarters and was appointed Staff Officer in the Training Branch. In 2012, he attended the Combined Strategic Intelligence Training Programme with the Defence Intelligence Agency in Washington D.C.
Brig Curmi led an EOD clearance operation of the Maltese Embassy and Consulate in Libya during the Libyan crisis in 2011. The following year he was deployed for a six-month anti-piracy mission as Chief Intelligence Analyst at EUNAVFOR (European Union Naval Forces) Operational Headquarters, Northwood Headquarters, United Kingdom (2012 – 2013).
PN REACTION
In a statement, the PN said the government announcement was the last act of Labour's take-over of the AFM.
The party criticised the fast promotions process for the two officers and said this was the first time since Malta joined the EU that the two top appointments in the AFM were handed to officers who had not followed junior or advanced staff training in overseas colleges of repute.
The promotions were illegal. They undermined the people's respect in the AFM and harmed the the professionalism of the army, the party added.
It said Jeffrey Curmi's appointment was the result of his personal friendship with the prime minister's family, and the fact that both he and his deputy were staunch labourites.