The cadets of the Military Academy of Lithuania took an oath to serve Lithuania

On September 28, General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania (MAL) held an oath ceremony of the first-year cadets. Some of them, i.e. 21, had already taken their oath for service in the Lithuanian Armed Forces, therefore, a total of 47 youth swore an oath to Lithuania. This year marks a record number of applicants (68) who have become cadets.

 

The ceremony was honoured by the presence of Mr. Raimundas Karoblis, Minister of National Defence, Brigadier General Raimundas Vaikšnoras, Commander of the Lithuanian Land Force, Colonel Juozas Kačergius, Commandant of the MAL, Lieutenant Colonel Rimas Venckus, Chief Chaplain of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, junior riflemen, military and academic staff of the MAL, relatives and friends.

 

In his address to the cadets, Minister Karoblis highlighted the military oath as one of the most important ones in life: “Even the ancient Greek Aeschylus said that it is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath. Therefore, I wish you that every word of the oath would come true and you would be worthy of it.”

 

Commandant Colonel Kačergius congratulated the cadets and thanked their parents and relatives for raising the generation by saying: “We are happy together with you. It is a special day for us all. Today your children have sworn to loyally serve Lithuania. Our future officers are determined to defend Lithuania, its freedom and independence, complete their studies and acquire higher education at the Military Academy of Lithuania.”

 

This year, the MAL accepted 56 males and 12 females, including 34 junior riflemen, who have successfully completed the Basic Cadet Course at the Lithuanian Grand Hetman Jonušas Radvila Training Regiment. All of them intend to achieve their aim to become officers. Following the tradition, the best cadet Mantas Kairys had an honour to kiss the MAL flag on behalf of all the cadets during the oath ceremony.

 

Afterwards, the cadets’ relatives were invited to the Academy Club to meet the MAL authorities and learn more about the studies.