President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has stated that every soldier's top priority should be to protect citizens in any situation. He made the statement while speaking at the oath-taking ceremony of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF)’s 68th Basic Training Course.
Addressing the graduates, President Solih highlighted the civic duties of soldiers, saying that their duty is to remain steadfast in order to relieve any burden that citizens may face. The president said that the skills of soldiers and the fraternal bond formed during their training would be best utilised for national progress by working toward a unified goal in this manner.
Furthermore, President Solih said that science and technology helped the armed forces gain an advantage and advised graduating soldiers to take advantage of these opportunities. He said that there are opportunities for young people to advance their careers within the ranks of the armed services and that the army needs more young people with a variety of educational backgrounds.
Additionally, President Solih said that in modern-day democratic societies, armed forces are used for peacekeeping rather than war and that regional military forces are actively engaged in maintaining regional stability. He said that the primary responsibility of the Maldivian armed forces is to uphold peace and harmony within the country and that any action taken by the soldiers to defend the country contributes to the greater goal of regional stability and peace.
The oath-taking ceremony of the MNDF's 68th Basic Training Course was held at the Composite Training Centre in Maafilaafushi, Lhaviyani Atoll. The ceremony saw the highest number of graduates in MNDF history, with 195 soldiers having graduated from the course, including 177 men and 18 women.
President Solih, the Commander in Chief of the armed forces, ceremonially presented firearms to the 68th Basic Training Course's graduating class. The MNDF oath was administered by Chief Magistrate at the Lhaviyani Magistrate Court Sulaiman Mohamed. Minister of Defence Mariya Ahmed Didi, Chief of Defence Force Major General Abdulla Shamaal and other senior military officers were in attendance.