NAY PYI TAW December 23
In order to reinforce the role of servicewomen of the Tatmadaw, the Passing-out Parade of the 11th Intake of Graduate Female Cadet Course was held at the parade ground of Myanmar Army Officer Training School- OTS (Hmawbi) in Yangon this morning, addressed by Chairman of State Administration Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Thadoe Maha Thray Sithu Thadoe Thiri Thudhamma Min Aung Hlaing.
Also present at the ceremony together with the Senior General were wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Admiral Zeya Kyawhtin Htein Win and wife, Commander-in-Chief (Air) General Zeya Kyawhtin Sithu Tun Aung and wife, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and wives, union level officials and wives, the Yangon Region Chief Minister and wife, the Yangon Command commander, the commandant of OTS (Hmawbi), officials of Hmawbi Station, parents and relatives of cadets and invited guests.
First, the Senior General took the salute of the cadet company and inspected it. Then the cadet company saluted the Senior General with slow-march past and quick-march past.
Afterwards, the Senior General presented the Best Cadet Award to Cadet La Pyae Win. In his graduation address, the Senior General said the Tatmadaw is conducting the Graduate Female Cadet Course with the aim of turning out female military officers to enable service women to take part in the national defence duty of the Republic of Union of Myanmar.
Now, the course has reached its 11th Intake. The national defence is not only the duty of Tatmadaw, but also the inborn duty of all citizens of every gender and age all along the history till now. In this regard, the nation is bringing about servicewomen.
Throughout the course of history, women played a role in the history of independence struggle, the history of struggle for national cause and the history of political movement, making sacrifices and bold actions hand in hand with their male counterparts. In the accelerated endeavors for all-round development of the Union, the force of the daughters of all nationalities of the Union is clearly visible.
The efforts to assign female officers in Tatmadaw began in 2014. Now, female officers are serving duties in the Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) and all the corps. Servicewomen are also assigned in other ranks, and they are reliable and trustworthy for the nation and Tatmadaw.
As the country is continuously generating servicewomen, they are also brilliantly partaking in rough and hard missions of special forces (women), friendship visits abroad the naval ships to countries miles and miles away, joint maritime security drills, aerial flights as pilots and parachuting missions, alongside duties of the relevant troops.
Servicewomen of the Tatmadaw are taking part and showing their prowess in the ASEAN joint counterterrorism drills, while standing shoulder to shoulder with their international counterparts. At the 32nd ASEAN Armies Rifle Meet host ed by the Philippines recently, female officers and other ranks won five gold medals, four silver medals and seven bronze medals and raised the country’s image.
This achievement stands as the proof of the level of their ability and performance. Hence, the fine traditions of servicewomen must be maintained, and in addition, better historical milestones must be erected through ongoing efforts. Regarding the training conducted at the Army Officers Training School, Hmawbi, which you have successfully completed, the institution has provided training aimed at preparing both individual and team-based operations. As graduates from various universities who have chosen to join the military by your own decision, your beliefs are well-founded.
During the training, the trainees underwent a structured program aligned with the “Be Healthy and Strong, Be Skilled, Be Brave” training principles, ensuring the development of both physical and mental strength. Therefore, I would like to emphasize that the skills acquired during training should not be forgotten. We should continue to uphold the three principles of “always practice, maintain a military mindset, and always be ready to fight.” These principles should be applied not only in training but also throughout our service, ensuring their effective implementation in real situations.
The role of leaders within any organization is essential. It is crucial to become trustworthy leaders whom the organization can depend on, while continuously working to enhance your own qualities. To provide genuine leadership, one must acquire knowledge and skills that evolve with the changing times, along with possessing strong moral values such as honesty and integrity. Leaders must demonstrate bold and decisive decision-making, take full responsibility, and manage their subordinates with fairness and impartiality, free from any form of corruption. I encourage those who are about to begin their service as junior officers to work hard in improving the organizations they lead.
To effectively fulfill its national defence duties and the historical political responsibilities entrusted to it, the Tatmadaw must ensure a strong sense of unity both within and beyond the military. As the motto, “We will always be united, no matter who divides us,” it is essential for military personnel and their families to remain united.
Thus, leaders at all levels must prioritize fostering unity within the military. This requires the equitable delegation of orders and responsibilities, supported by genuine leadership and management that understand human nature. The military’s strength lies in its unity, and as long as unity is maintained, no one can disrupt it.
While we must strengthen the fundamental unity within the military, it is also necessary to enhance practical coordination outside the military. Protecting the lives and property of the people, ensuring their health, and delivering assistance and rescue services during natural disasters are all practical efforts aimed at coordinating support for the public. Since these external military coordination efforts are carried out for the benefit of the state and its ethnic people, I urge all female military officers also to take this matter seriously.
The foundation of victory in war lies in good morale and obedience to orders of every soldier. Just as good morale is the backbone of the military, obedience is also the dignity of a good soldier.
The sustainability and longevity of an institution rely on the establishment of the right policies, solid rules, regulations, and laws, as well as systematic training. Since Tatmadaw is a military organization, discipline and strict obedience to orders must be deeply ingrained, akin to the secure fit of a belt.
Therefore, military personnel are required to adhere strictly to the 60 Rules of Soldier’s Code of Conduct and must comply not only with military and civilian laws but also with the rules of engagement, including the Geneva Conventions, which are recognized internationally.
There are two primary categories of rules: those that encourage action and those that prohibit it. It is essential to conscientiously adopt and implement good habits that promote good citizenship by adhering to established rules and fulfilling assigned responsibilities.
It is important to consistently prioritize Our Three Main National Causes “non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of the national solidarity; and perpetuation of sovereignty” and make every effort to serve the interests of the nation and its people with all our strength and intelligence. It is essential to uphold the esteemed historical traditions of female military personnel and to continue efforts in building and preserving significant historical milestones.
It is also important to adhere strictly to the (16) leadership characteristics and aim to become outstanding leaders, trusted by their superiors and respected by their subordinates, while striving to be reliable female officers for the country and the military. It is essential to enhance coordination both within and outside the military by establishing a balanced administrative system, making sound decisions, and ensuring effective execution of coordination efforts.
Then, the Senior General received the salute of the graduating cadet company and left the parade. After the parade, the Senior General met and delivered an address to outstanding cadets including Cadet La Pyae Win, who won the best cadet award, Cadet Aye Thida, who won the best shooting award, Cadet Nandar Kyaw, who won the best drill award, and Cadet Ei Phyu Maung, who won the best fitness award.
In his address, the Senior General said he was proud of the outstanding cadets as much as their parents were and urged them to keep up efforts and the sound foundation of self- restraints during the training course in the entire career. As the cadets received the graduate and postgraduate degrees before the training course, they had learnt ways of thinking and life styles and had experience and qualifications.
They became outstanding female officers as a result of their efforts to pass matriculation exams,under-and post graduate courses as well as during the officer training course.
Then, the Senior General urged them not to forget the gratitude of parents and teachers who had taken care of them since childhood, to try to be good Tatmadaw officers whom their families were proud of and the Tatmadaw and the country can rely on, to continue to exert efforts not to derail from their aims and progress of life by keeping up their sound foundations and to be ones who can serve the interests of the country in any field they were assigned to.
