10 October 2009, Saturday, the General Jonas Zemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania first year cadets’ oath taking ceremony was held in Lithuanian National Museum. It was the first time when the oath taking ceremony has been organized outside the Academy area.
Preparations for the oath taking ceremony started just after the cadets had accomplished   their Basic Military Course in Rukla.
Only during the general rehearsal, a day before the ceremony, while marching from Military Academy of Lithuania to Lithuanian National Museum, I understood that this day was really important to me. Not only because my parents and relatives will be proud of me when they will be watching this ceremony, or because all attention will be paid to me or my class friends, but also because of the fact that after taking the oath we will not be the same as before – from then we will be “real” first-course-cadets.
I gave the promise not only to myself, my parents but also to my birthplace Lithuania.
       As far as I had never watched the ceremony before, it would be difficult to describe how it looked visually, but as a participant I will never forget that sense of excitement which I was feeling while uttering the words of oath. I would undoubtedly pronounce all of them at once even awoken from my dreams. When entering the area of the ceremony, my heart started beating vigorously, but after several minutes I calmed myself down. I think that excitement is inevitable for people before doing anything important, but if you are a soldier you cannot show it. It is like an officer’s smile which cannot be traced on your face. While I was standing in formation and listening to the chaplain’s words, heaps of warm feelings were flooding my soul, and I realised that I was a very happy person for I had the honour to serve for Lithuania. I know that this day will remain in my memories all my life long because it had left indelible impressions.

Cad. Laura Gudeleviciute