On Friday, July 4, Brigadier General Jan Farlík, Rector-Commander of the University of Defence, personally attended the graduation ceremony for master’s degree graduates of Armed Forces Academy of general Milan Rastislav Štefánik (AOS) in Liptovský Mikuláš. The significance of the event was further emphasized by the personal presence of the President of the Slovak Republic, Peter Pellegrini, who attended the ceremony in his capacity as the Commander-in-Chief of the Slovak Armed Forces.

In his emotional speech, President Pellegrini praised the courage and values of the young officers who chose to dedicate their lives to serving their homeland. He especially highlighted their decision to study at an exceptional and prestigious military university, which holds an irreplaceable role in shaping the Slovak Republic’s Armed Forces. He also drew attention to the growing global security threats and the need for well-prepared officers. He stressed that the true strength of the armed forces lies not only in technology, but above all in the people – the men and women in uniform whose professionalism and commitment safeguard the nation’s security.

This year, 92 students successfully completed their studies at AOS, including 22 women, across four academic programs: Security and Defence of the State, Electronic Weapons Systems, Military Communication and Information Systems, and Weapons Systems, Weapons and their Components. The graduation ceremony took place on the academy’s parade ground, where the academy’s rector, Brigadier General Aurel Sabó, formally commissioned the graduates as second lieutenants. The Rector’s Award was presented to Second Lieutenant Mgr. Terézia Lišková, a graduate of the Security and Defence of the State program, who received a replica of the military university insignia as a symbol of outstanding academic achievement.

The ceremony was attended by other prominent representatives of public, military, and academic life, including officials from the Slovak Ministry of Defence, the General Staff of the Slovak Armed Forces, local government, the chaplaincy of the Slovak Armed Forces, and the military diplomatic corps accredited in the Slovak Republic.

On the occasion of the ceremony, Brigadier General Jan Farlík expressed his respect and support for the new graduates of the allied academy. The University of Defence wishes the graduates of Armed Forces Academy of general Milan Rastislav Štefánik much success in their future careers as professional soldiers and looks forward to continued cooperation in the fields of science and education.

Photo: R-C
Author: Lucie Sedláková