68 new lieutenants receive diplomas and commission during the Armed Forces Academy Class of 2023 Graduation and Commissioning Ceremony

Officer Cadets of the Magister (Mgr) and Master of Engineering (MEng) degree programmes in military sciences successfully completed their studies and took part in the General M. R. Štefánik Armed Forces Academy Class of 2023 Graduation and Commissioning Ceremony on 7 July 2023. In the presence of Secretary General of the MOD Service Office Peter Kozák, 68 graduating Officer Cadets, of whom 19 were women, received their diplomas and commission as Lieutenant – the most junior officer rank in the Slovak Armed Forces.

In a keynote speech to the graduating class on the parade square at the Military Academy, Secretary General of the MOD Service Office Peter Kozák said: “The military profession brings with it lots of duties and responsibilities that bind those involved and give their work special meaning. Not only are Soldiers called to execute orders, but they are called to do something extra – being a soldier also means being a good citizen and leading by example – in families, neighbourhoods, communities and social life.” He concluded his message by wishing them every success and lots of strength for the future as they embarked on their service to the homeland.

In his speech, Assoc Prof Jozef Puttera, Commandant Armed Forces Academy Liptovský Mikuláš, said: “Todayʼs Graduation and Commissioning Ceremony is all the more important given that this year the Armed Forces Academy is celebrating its 50th birthday – for half a century of its existence, the Academy has delivered quality military education & training, not just to countless numbers of officers.”

In addition to educating and training Officer Cadets, the Academy's mission is to lead each and every one of them to uphold the Slovak Armed Forces' Values & Standards, instilling in them moral and ethical principles as well as a sense of civic and social responsibility, he argued. In closing, Assoc Prof Jozef Puttera thanked the Staff of the Military Academy, the Ministry of Defence, the Defence Staff, and all those supporting the military education & training programmes at the highest standards.

The newly commissioned lieutenants will now make the transition to their new workplaces in respective Slovak Armed Forces units to start their careers in a variety of military roles.