Over 80 cadets took the oath to serve Lithuania at the military academy
On Friday, 82 cadets – boys and girls, starting their studies at the General Jonas Žemaitis Lithuanian Military Academy – took the oath to serve Lithuania.
The oath of the first year students of the Military Academy continues the traditions of interwar Lithuania, when volunteers, soldiers, and later partisans freely repeated almost the same words to their country – sparing no strength and life to defend the freedom and independence of Lithuania.
“I can say that you are special young people, worthy of all of our pride, because you chose this path after seeing the price of freedom that Ukraine is paying for, and we clearly understand that you are protecting the independence of our country,” Defense Minister Arvydas Anušauskas said at the cadets’ solemn ceremony.
Your task is to draw wisdom from senior cadets and officers, accumulate experience, develop courage.
According to him, the next four years will be the year of strengthening and development of the youth.
“Your task is to draw wisdom from senior cadets and officers, accumulate experience, develop courage and never forget why you chose this path,” said the minister.
The cadets were given symbolic shoulder badges, reminding of the historical contribution of one of the most prominent commanders and leaders of the occupation resistance – General Jonas Žemaičius-Vytautas. This tradition was taken over from the Military School that operated between the wars, whose pupils wore shoulder straps at the initiative of the then patron of the school, the President of Lithuania, Antanas Smetonas.
Continuing the traditions, the right to kiss the academy flag on behalf of all the cadets taking the oath was given to Lukus Lekavičiis, who was recognized as the best cadet who graduated from the Cadet Basic Military Course. On behalf of the academic community, he was presented with a named memorial gift – a dagger.
The Lithuanian Military Academy is the only higher education institution in Lithuania that provides university and military education.