On behalf of His Royal Highness Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Defense, His Highness Prince Abdulrahman bin Mohammed bin Ayyaf, Deputy Minister of Defense, today presided over the graduation ceremony for the new class of university graduates from the Armed Forces officer training courses for the academic year 1447 AH. The ceremony was held at King Abdulaziz Military College in Al-Uyaynah, one of the Kingdom's most prestigious military educational institutions.
Upon his arrival at the ceremony venue, His Highness was received by a group of military leaders, headed by His Excellency the Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Fahd bin Abdullah Al-Ghafeeli, His Excellency the Chief of Staff of the Land Forces, Lieutenant General Fahd bin Saud Al-Juhani, and the Commander of King Abdulaziz Military College, Major General Fahd bin Saad Al-Qahiz.
Strategic importance and a boost to military capabilities
The graduation of this cohort of university-educated officers comes within the framework of the Ministry of Defense's strategy to strengthen the armed forces with highly qualified national personnel possessing both academic and military expertise. University-educated officer training courses are of particular importance, as they combine specialized scientific disciplines with military discipline, contributing to meeting the technical, administrative, and leadership needs across the various branches of the armed forces. This aligns with the Ministry of Defense's development program and the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 in localizing military industries and enhancing combat readiness.
Ceremony and speeches by leaders
The ceremony began with the playing of the Royal Anthem upon the arrival of the patron, followed by a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran. Afterwards, the Commandant of King Abdulaziz Military College delivered a welcoming address, expressing his appreciation for the patronage of His Royal Highness the Deputy Minister of Defense for this event. He noted that the graduates had successfully completed all the requirements of their military training, moving between classrooms and practical training fields, acquiring the leadership skills and military values that qualify them to be a strong shield for the nation.
In the graduates’ speech, delivered on their behalf by graduate Saleh bin Jamal Al-Fayez, he expressed the class’s pride and honor in the leadership’s sponsorship of their graduation ceremony, stressing their complete readiness to defend the homeland and its resources, and to apply what they learned of sciences and knowledge in the fields of honor and heroism.
Military parade and honoring of outstanding students
The ceremony featured an impressive military parade that reflected the high level of discipline and training achieved by the students, followed by the oath of allegiance, obedience, and sacrifice. After the announcement of the final results, His Highness the Deputy Minister of Defense honored the top-performing students who achieved honors, recognizing their efforts and excellence throughout their training. At the conclusion of the ceremony, His Highness received a commemorative gift from the Commandant of the College, before the graduates received their new military ranks and commemorative photographs were taken to mark this national occasion.
High-level attendance
The ceremony was attended by a number of senior leaders and officials, including His Excellency Lieutenant General Jarallah bin Mohammed Al-Alawit, Commander of the Strategic Missile Force; His Royal Highness Lieutenant General Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force; and His Excellency Lieutenant General Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Gharibi, Chief of Staff of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces. Also present were Ibrahim bin Ahmed Al-Suwaid, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defense for Procurement and Armament; Engineer Mohammed bin Faisal bin Muammar, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defense for Excellence Services; and several other senior civilian and military officials, as well as the graduates' parents who shared in their children's joy at their graduation.
