The Armed Forces of Malta probably does not get as much attention from the media as the Police Corps, and yet this group of people deserves credit for the important jobs that are carried out – mostly in silence and without the gratitude that should be forthcoming from all sectors of society.

A few weeks ago, it was announced that AFM officers will be benefiting from improved wages and conditions. No doubt, this will help to increase the motivation of the AFM members, whose duties often entail tackling difficult and sometimes even life-threatening situations.

Added to this, 81 new soldiers were recruited to beef up the force’s numbers, and more recruits will be joining next year. Again, this will go a long way to help spread out the work more and, with more people on board, the AFM will be able to carry out its work – on land, in the air and at sea – better and more efficiently.

As in anything else, changes to our way of life have led to changes in the tasks of the AFM over the past years. The demand for the services has increased, and with security becoming more and more important in the administration of the country, the probability is that their work will continue to expand.

For example, the AFM’s duties with regard to the irregular immigration phenomenon has added extra work to their normal tasks, particularly during the summer.

This is a two-pronged operation. The AFM is involved in rescue operations at sea, where its craft are deployed to save hundreds of immigrants who find themselves in difficulty while crossing over from Africa towards Europe. This at times is carried out with great risks to the personnel who go out in the rough seas.

Then, once the immigrants are brought to shore, AFM personnel are responsible for keeping order in the detention centres where they are kept. Parts of the AFM’s own barracks have been transformed to accommodate the immigrants, and many of the army’s officers and soldiers are then responsible for their safety.

Apart from these duties – which take up a lot of resources and energy – the AFM has to carry out other tasks linked with the overall safety of the population, particularly at a time of crisis such as when floods occur. It must be said that, generally speaking, these duties are carried out with dedication, discipline and commitment.

And therefore the AFM deserves all the support it can get – from the authorities and from society in general – to continue to fulfil its obligations in the best possible manner. For one thing, the equipment that the AFM uses needs to be continuously maintained and upgraded so that the army can do its job well. New equipment that will make the AFM’s jobs easier also needs to be provided from time to time to keep the army abreast with technological advances.

But investment in new equipment will mean nothing unless there is an investment in the human resources employed to use it. And this is why all the AFM members need to be encouraged and motivated to do their job in the best way possible. This takes the form of improved pay packages and conditions of work, as has been done, and promotions where these promotions are due.

The AFM – individually and collectively – deserves to be shown gratitude from society in general. Their work is many times not seen, but if it was not there we would all miss it.