Al Ain: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Monday attended the graduation ceremony of the 46th batch of cadet pilot officers from Khalifa Bin Zayed Air College.
Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince, was present.
Shaikh Mohammad honoured the top ten graduates, who included officers from Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar.
Video: @HHShkMohd attends Khalifa Air College graduationhttps://t.co/clv6Kso8Qw #UAE
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Shaikh Mohammad took a commemorative photo with all the graduates, whom he congratulated and urged to continue striving towards more academic and military knowledge.
Shaikh Mohammad said that graduation is the first step to many other endeavours through which the graduates can prove their capabilities upon joining the Armed Forces. He pointed out that graduates can take over leadership positions left by their fellow officers that provided their expertise and knowledge for the development and progress of the Armed Forces.
Shaikh Mohammad also praised the efforts of college’s commander and officers.
The graduates performed the oath of allegiance, which was followed by a keynote address by Brigadier General Pilot Khalaf Nasser Al Qubaisi, Commander of the college, who pointed out that the graduates have acquired academic and military knowledge during the three years they spent in the college. He said that the graduates relied on various advanced educational methods until they became qualified in the field of aviation sciences and its numerous specialisations.
Al Qubaisi noted the graduates’ participation in Operation Decisive Storm in Yemen to assist their Yemeni brothers and support legitimacy in the country.
Al Qubaisi hailed the UAE leadership for the attention and care they have given to wounded Armed Forces officers and martyrs. Al Qubaisi called on the graduates to be ready to defend their nation and perform their national responsibilities placed upon them by God, their leadership and people. Also present during the ceremony were Mohammad Ahmad Al Bawardi, Minister of State for Defence Affairs, Lieutenant General Hamad Mohammad Thani Al Rumaithi, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Shaikh Tahnoun Bin Mohammad Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Eastern Region, and other officials.
Later, Shaikh Mohammad received at the college a number of Armed Forces commanders and officers who congratulated the Vice-President on the graduation.