'Armed forces unbreakable shield that protects Kuwait'

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah yesterday patronized and attended Kuwait army's annual graduation ceremony for the 21st batch of officers and 45th group of cadet officers at Ali Al-Sabah Military College.

His Highness the Amir, also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, arrived in his motorcade at the ceremony venue where he was welcomed by First Deputy Prime and Defense Minister Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant Mohammad Al-Khuder, Defense Undersecretary Sheikh Ahmad Mansour Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah,

Commander of Ali Al-Sabah Military College, Major General Badr Al-Awadhi and college chiefs.

The ceremony was attended by Their Highnesses the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, respectively Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, senior state officials, graduates' families and common citizens. After it kicked off with the National Anthem, the college commander, Maj Gen Awadhi, addressed the attending top leaders, namely His Highness the Amir, noting that the recently feted national days coincided with the 50th anniversary of establishing the military college.

Maj Gen Awadhi expressed gratitude for the college progress to the minister of defense, the chief of staff and other ranking officials who have contributed to developing it. He urged the graduates to maintain allegiance to His Highness the Amir, the homeland, Kuwait, and the military establishment.

The major general pledged to His Highness the Amir that the armed forces would remain the unbreakable shield for protecting dear Kuwait and His Highness. After the speech conclusion, the activity proceeded with the graduation procedures, followed by a military anthem, then officer Mezaal Al-Shemmari recited poetry of praise for His Highness the Amir, saying in part, "O Sabah the sagacious, we are your men... death for us is something ordinary and we are ready to sacrifice our souls for the homeland.." In the end, His Highness the Amir distributed awards to the graduates before the National Anthem was played again. Memorial gifts were also granted to Their Highnesses the Amir and the Crown Prince. - KUNA