After initial military training, 178 new Soldiers and Officer Cadets swear Oath of Allegiance to Slovak Armed Forces at Martin base

On completion of initial military training (IMT), 178 new Soldiers and Officer Cadets (OCs) of the Armed Forces Academy, including 48 women, swore the Oath of Allegiance to the Slovak Armed Forces during a passing out parade at the Training and Mobilisation Force Generation Base Martin. They were congratulated on taking the pledge to hold themselves to the highest standards of responsibility and ethics by Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď, Deputy Chief of Defence Maj Gen Peter Babiar, Commander Slovak Army Maj Gen Ivan Pach, and other MOD and Armed Forces officials.

Speaking in front of the gathered military audience, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “Service in the Armed Forces is the only job where you must pledge to be ready to make the ultimate sacrifice still before joining the armed services. This is not an abstract act, but rather a huge commitment of responsibility. Most importantly, you must swear loyalty to your country, as do the soldiers in Ukraine. Similarly, you must pledge to defend the cause of freedom and the inviolability of your country’s borders. Sadly, Ukrainian soldiers are dying these days, every day. Nobody wishes to go through what they are now experiencing. Service to your country offers a lot of professions, but only one mission – to be loyal and ready to put your life on the line in defence of your country.”

In his remarks addressed to new Service men and women, Deputy Chief of Defence (DCHOD) Maj Gen Peter Babiar said: “The Oath of Allegiance must be fulfilled in all its aspects that one can think of. This is not just about ’business as usual’ while on duty. This is also about your relationship with your relatives and family and the people around you, and even about the manner you conduct yourselves in the public – these all must be aligned to the Oath of Allegiance, where you promise to remain loyalty to your country.”

After completing the IMT programme, the new soldiers will move on to branch-specialised training at Phase 2 training establishments before reporting to their respective Slovak Armed Forces units and bases, while the OCs will continue their Professionally Qualified Officers (PQO) Course at the Armed Forces Academy (AOS) Liptovský Mikuláš.