In an unstable political situation, a fresh batch of military cadets graduates, reports Amirah Ibrahim Early this week, military academies marked the annual graduation of officers. The Mediterranean city of Alexandria was the site where military academies started their celebrations. On Saturday, both the naval and air defence academies began the festivities as is done every July. On Monday, the military's Technical Academy celebrated the graduation of new cadets in Cairo. This year and for the first time in decades, Hosni Mubarak was absent from the scene, having been ousted as president on 11 February following an unprecedented 18-day popular revolt. Instead, Defence Minister Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, head of the Higher Council of the Armed Forces (HCAF), headed a delegation of military brass, including chief-of- staff of the Armed Forces Lieutenant General Sami Anan. The political instability caused by the revolution was mirrored in the fact that the cadets are pledging allegiance to a president who has not yet been elected. The military is currently ruling the country in the transitional phase. A few cabinet members were invited to accompany Tantawi, including the ministers of transportation and military production. The governors of Alexandria and Beheira as well as ambassadors of a number of friendly governments were invited. The Naval Academy jettisoned its 62-member class with a short and simple celebration, not in keeping with the usual glittering pomp. Tantawi and his entourage were welcomed by Naval Forces Commander Rear Admiral Mohab Mamish and academy officials. During the 31- minute ceremony, the new graduates along with academy students displayed their athletic prowess and technical skills in a live show divided in two sections. The first part introduced a live assault by frogmen and commandos to destroy an enemy radar point and capture its troops. The second part displayed live tracing of a hostile submarine, from its early discovery, allocating its position and blowing it up using in-depth missiles. Another group of students displayed the use of cutting edge equipment recently acquired by the navy, showing technical and maintenance readiness as well. Academy director Admiral Osama Helmi El-Yamani addressed the new cadets praising the HCAF for "taking over tough responsibilities" in the current political conditions and determined to guide the country on a "healthy constitutional and legal path". He also praised the Armed Forces command for the "infinite support given to develop and modernise the Navy Academy and provide it with the most progressed educational programmes and tools." Mamish highlighted the vital role the navy played to protect Egypt's national security during the 25 January unrest. He said naval units had foiled dozens of sabotage plans which targeted Egypt's main gas and oil harbours. He also highlighted the role his men played to protect the safety of transport through Egyptian harbours. "Almost 95 per cent of Egypt's imports and exports come by sea, starting from the Suez Canal, an important route for trade, to the harbours on the Mediterranean and Red Sea," stated Mamish. "Our troops managed to secure 23 harbours and 96 oil diggers at the Suez Gulf and Red Sea zones." Mamish also highlighted the missions carried out by naval units to secure election points during the 19 March constitutional poll at many coastal cities where naval units are based along the Mediterranean and Red Sea coasts. Tantawi, along with top military and government officials, later went to the nearby Air Defence Academy where they oversaw the graduation ceremony of air defence cadets at Abu Qeer district. Guests were welcomed by Air Defence Commander Lieutenant General Abdel-Aziz Seifeddin and academy officials. The class of 39, called Lieutenant General Mahmoud Abdel-Moneim Shaker Class, named after an ex-air force commander, showed off their skills gained from special training programmes with commandos during a 30-minute show in which they performed a military marching tour. Director of the Air Defence Academy General Mohamed Abu Bakr El-Shafei called on the new graduates to seek better training and update their knowledge during the upcoming phase of their career. Military graduations will continue during the next two weeks.
