For hundreds of young military cadets, summer vacation is the beginning of a new career as army officers, Amirah Ibrahim reports Early this week, young officers from military academies graduated with President Hosni Mubarak in attendance. On Sunday, President Mubarak and military brass, including Minister of Defence Field Marshall Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, and chief-of-staff of the armed forces Lieutenant General Sami Anan, watched as 59 officers graduated from the Naval Academy. The president and his accompanying delegation were welcomed by Naval Forces Commander Rear Admiral Muhab Mameesh and academy officials. During the 75-minute ceremony, the new graduates along with academy students, displayed their athletic and technical skills on board Zodiac boats. Another group of students showed how to use the latest equipment recently acquired by the navy, showing technical and maintenance readiness. Addressing the new cadets, academy director Admiral Kamaleddin Mohamed praised the Armed Forces commanders, led by the president, for their unqualified support in developing and modernising the navy academy and providing it with the most advanced educational programmes. Mameesh highlighted the vital role the navy plays to protect Egypt's national security. "In some form or other, our country's economic abilities are linked to the sea," Mameesh said. "Almost 95 per cent of Egypt's imports and exports are done on the sea, starting from the Suez Canal, an important stream for trade, to the harbours on the Mediterranean and Red Sea. In addition, a considerable portion of tourism is related to marine activities, all taking place in the sea. Thus, the fact that the navy is responsible for protecting the Egyptian coasts signifies its important impact on the economy," Mameesh said. He also pointed to the missions carried out by naval units to help fight illegal immigration to and through Egypt. A day earlier, the president, accompanied by Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi, along with top military and government officials, oversaw the graduation ceremony of 150 air defence cadets at their academy in Alexandria. Guests of honour included Air Defence Commander Lieutenant General Abdel-Aziz Seifeddin and academy officials. With much pomp and circumstance, the 36 graduates of what is called the class of Abdel-Moneim Wasel, named after a hero of the 1973 October War, held a parade and took the oath to serve and honour their country. The ceremony lasted for an hour during which the graduates showed off their skills acquired from special training programmes with commando units. The show included a display of air defence equipment and its progression starting from 1937. The new officers also performed a tactical exercise in a simulated battle. Top graduates were decorated by the president and his Libyan guest. Military graduations continue today in Cairo at the Technical Institute. The ceremony is due to be attended by top military commanders.
