Under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Supreme Commander of Bahrain’s Armed Forces, the graduation ceremony of the 16th batch of officer cadets, the Ahmed Al Fateh Brigade, was held on 25 December at the Isa Royal Military College.
HM the King deputised the Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF), Field Marshal Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, to attend the ceremony on his behalf.
His Highness Lieutenant General Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, National Security Advisor and Royal Guard Commander, and His Highness Colonel Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Commander of the Royal Guard Special Force, were present.
The event was also attended by senior officials, including Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of the Royal Court; Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister; Lieutenant General Dr. Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Health; and General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior.
Upon arrival, the Commander-in-Chief was welcomed by Lieutenant General Abdullah bin Hassan Al Nuaimi, Minister of Defence Affairs, and Lieutenant General Theyab bin Saqr Al Nuaimi, Chief of Staff, Bahrain News Agency (BNA) reported.
The ceremony began with the national anthem, followed by an inspection of the graduating cadets and a Quran recitation.
The event featured a military parade and a speech by Major General Abdulrahman Khalifa Al Nuaimi, Commandant of Isa Royal Military College.
Major General Al Nuaimi expressed gratitude to HM the King, the Commander of the Armed Forces, for his continued support and patronage of the ceremony.
He highlighted the College’s role in shaping future leaders and its accordance with the Kingdom of Bahrain’s celebration of its National Day to commemorate the establishment of the modern Bahraini state as a Muslim Arab state by its founder Ahmed Al Fateh in 1783, and the anniversary of the Accession of His Majesty the King to the Throne.
Major General Al Nuaimi commended the College’s achievements over 25 years, attributing its success to HM the King’s vision, and the continuous support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and Prime Minister, and the follow-up of the BDF Commander-in-Chief, the Defence Affairs Minister, and the Chief of Staff.
A graduate then delivered a speech on behalf of the class, welcoming the Commander-in-Chief and highlighting the College’s efforts in offering a comprehensive range of military sciences, diverse academic lessons, and advanced knowledge provided by this educational institution. Thereafter, Officer Cadet Faisal Nasser Khalid Al Khalifa delivered a poem on this occasion.
The Commander-in-Chief was briefed on the 16th cadet officers’ session, and then honoured the top-achieving graduates. He was then presented with a commemorative gift by the Commander of the Isa Royal Military College.
The ceremony included the handing over of the Isa Royal Military College banner from the graduating cohort, Ahmed Al Fateh Brigade, to the incoming 17th cohort, Al Qadisiya Brigade, followed by the graduates taking the legal oath. Then, the Chief of Staff awarded military science diplomas to the graduates.
The Commander-in-Chief expressed gratitude to HM the King for his patronage and unwavering support for the advancement of the military. He then congratulated the graduates, urging them to remain dedicated and loyal in their service to the Kingdom.
The Commander-in-Chief also welcomed graduates from Yemen and Palestine, commending their achievements and wishing them success in their future endeavours.
Field Marshal Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed also commended the Isa Royal Military College personnel for their efforts in upholding the institution’s excellence. He emphasised the importance of military education under HM the King’s vision and HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister’s support. He further highlighted the BDF’s focus on human development, ensuring military and academic excellence.
