A military ceremony was held today at the “General Mihailo Apostolski” Military Academy in Skopje to mark the promotion to officer rank of the cadets from the 26th class and participants in the Officers Course for Army Services, all graduates of civilian universities.
The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Defence Vlado Misajlovski, the Chief of the Army General Staff, Major General Sashko Lafchiski, the Minister of Sport, Borko Ristovski, the Minister of Digital Transformation, Stefan Andonovski, representatives of the military-diplomatic corps, senior representatives from the Ministry of Defence and the Army, as well as parents, relatives and friends of the newly promoted officers.
A total of 36 cadets from the 26th class were promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant, 29 of whom will serve in the Army, while seven cadets are from the Armed Forces of Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, once again confirming the successful regional cooperation in the field of military education.
In addition, 16 participants, all graduates of civilian universities, who successfully completed the Officers Course for Army Services were promoted to the rank Lieutenant.
In his address, Minister Misajlovski emphasized that the promotion is the result of four years of dedication, discipline, and perseverance demonstrated by the 36 cadets of the “General Mihailo Apostolski” Military Academy, as well as by the cadet who completed his education at the prestigious United States Military Academy West Point. He highlighted that, in addition to acquiring knowledge and skills, they developed mutual trust, respect, and friendship – values that will guide them throughout their officer careers. The Minister expressed satisfaction that the Army’s officer corps is further strengthened by 16 new officers who successfully completed the Officers Course for Army Services.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Dean of the Military Academy, Colonel Nenad Taneski, emphasized that in an era of rapid technological advancement, the information revolution, artificial intelligence, and evolving security challenges, knowledge, leadership, and sound decision-making represent the most important capabilities of a modern officer. Therefore, the development of the Military Academy, the enhancement of education, scientific research, international cooperation, and the establishment of modern learning conditions are not only necessary but also a strategic investment in the future of the Army.
The top-ranked cadet of the 26th class, Marija Nedeva, stated that the four-year education at the Military Academy, in addition to providing knowledge and skills, enabled them to develop as leaders. She emphasized that success is the result of teamwork, discipline, and dedication, adding that the newly promoted officers are ready to responsibly assume their duties and serve their homeland with professionalism.
With today’s promotion, the Army receives a new generation of officers prepared to professionally, responsibly, and devotedly perform their duties in the service of the state, contributing to the development of the Army and the strengthening of national and collective security.
