Al Ain: General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, yesterday attended the 41st graduation ceremony of cadet pilot officers and the 8th course of air faculty cadet officers at Khalifa Bin Zayed Air College in Al Ain.
Addressing the new cadets, Shaikh Mohammad stressed the keenness of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the importance of the armed forces maintaining the highest levels of operational readiness and efficiency through training, education and empowerment of staff with a view to develop and protect national resources.
He added that the UAE's concept of modernising its armed forces begins with the quest to create a national cadre of qualified and highly-trained staff in line with the development of science and military technology.
This modernisation also necessitates seeking advanced weaponry that suits the UAE's needs and to meet its plans and defence strategy, General Shaikh Mohammad said.
General Shaikh Mohammad also expressed happiness at the graduation of the new regiments and their induction into units of the UAE's armed forces to become the shield of the homeland and its achievements.
Dignitaries
The graduation ceremony was attended by Shaikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Adviser; Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior; Shaikh Hamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chief of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court; Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Adviser to the President; Shaikh Sultan Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, and other shaikhs and senior officials.
