Commander-in-Chief of Bahrain Defense Force (BDF) Field Marshal Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa received a delegation from the US National Defense University (NDU) led by Retired Admiral Henry Chiles.
The meeting was attended by Defense Minister Lt. General Yusef bin Ahmed Al Jalahma and Chief of Staff Lt. General Dhiab bin Saqr Al Nuaimi, Bahrain News Agency (BNA) reported.
The BDF Commander-in-Chief welcomed the US delegation and discussed with them bilateral cooperation and issued of common interest.
The delegation listened to a briefing on the history of BDF, its weaponries and achievements in the prosperous era of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
The meeting was attended by Defense Ministry Undersecretary Major General Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, General Command Court Director Major General Mohammed Sa’ad, Inspector General Major General Abdullah Hassan Al Nuaimi, senior BDF officers and US Military Attaché to Bahrain Colonel David C Wallin.
Field Marshal Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa separately received at the BDF’s General Command, a number of officers who graduated recently from military colleges and universities (photo).
Defense Affairs Minister, Lieutenant-General Yussef bin Ahmed Al-Jalahma and Chief of Staff, Lieutenant-General Dheyab bin Saqr Al-Nuaimi, also attended.
The graduate officers took the legal oath, and greeted the BDF Commander-in-Chief.
Then, the Commander-in-Chief delivered a statement in which he conveyed greetings from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Supreme Commander, to the graduate officers.
Addressing the graduates during the legal oath-taking ceremony, he said they would follow in the steps of the BDF officers regarding their dedication in serving the homeland under all circumstances, and during war and peace.
Field Marshal Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed stressed that the Commanders’ tasks are not easy, as they should be omnipresent, educated and fair, as well as a role model for those under their leadership through their discipline and relationship with their superiors, requesting them to transfer their knowledge to their brethren and subordinates at the BDF.
The Commander-in-Chief highlighted the BDF’s landmark achievements over the past 50 years. He asserted that the BDF has, over the past five decades, taken part in 10 operations similar to the Saudi-led Arab Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen.
The Commander-in-Chief urged the newly-graduated officers to be disciplined, and behave fairly and judiciously with their subordinates, stressing that military work is based on mutual respect.
He also congratulated the graduates, and wished everyone success.
He stressed that modern wars require a great deal of knowledge, especially in the military field, requesting the new officers to take advantage of the BDF’s training programs, and contribute to the development and modernization march witnessed by the kingdom, under the leadership of HM the King, the Supreme Commander.
Defense Ministry’s Undersecretary, Major-General Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Director of the BDF General Command, Major-General Hassan Mohammed Saad, Inspector-General Major-General Abdulla Hassan Al-Nuaimi, and a number of senior BDF officers attended the oath-taking ceremony.