Minister Kodheli:You will have all my support as Minister of Defence and of the General Staff... My final advice: our expectations of you are really high, thus do everything needed so that we all might feel proud of you.
For the first time, 26 Albanian cadets, candidates for commissioned officers, of whom eight are girls, will start training at the officers’ preparatory school in New Jersey, USA. On this occasion, the Ministry of Defence, in cooperation with the Office of Defence Cooperation (ODC) organized a special ceremony. In the ceremony attended, the Minister of Defence, Mrs. Mimi Kodheli, the Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces, Major General Jeronim Bazo, the Ambassador of the United States in Tirana, Mr. Alexander Arvizu, generals, directors and senior officers of the Ministry of Defence and General Staff, defence attachés accredited to our country, representatives of ODC, CUBIC, etc.
Defence Minister Kodheli, addressing the participants said that, I remember the day I signed the so-called Letter of Acceptance, which marked the beginning of a new and more ambitious program with the New Jersey National Guard, the preparation of young officers. It did not only mark the beginning of a new dimension in the Defence’ bilateral relations, but above all, it marked the setting of a new standard in the preparation of young officers, thus offering to you, present here today, the best opportunity to start and advance in your military career. I’m really happy, I see this wonderful, full with energy group, of 26 commissioned and non-commissioned officers, who have just completed the first training phase and are ready to leave for the USA. The uniqueness of this group is the presence of the girls, which is very encouraging. You must do your best in order to get the most from the program and knowledge you will get in the United States, and put them in the service of the country. “You will have all my support as Minister of Defence and of the General Staff. I am optimistic about your success. Once again, congratulations and I wish you success in this important step of your career. My final advice: our expectations of you are really high, so do everything needed so that we all might feel proud of you”, concluded Minister Kodheli.
While the U.S. Ambassador in Tirana, Mr. Alexander Arvizu in his address, after praising the program and preparations made by the cadets, who will start training in New Jersey, highlighted that, the vision of this program has served to inspire many people who serve in Armed Forces. The “Black Eagle 001” group has made the sacrifice of participation in this program, they are trying hard to prepare and deliver this contribution. Later, Ambassador Arvizu focused on the relations and cooperation, for more than 15 years, between New Jersey and Albania. New Jersey National Guard has successfully met all joint activities with the Albanian Armed Forces. Albanian soldiers and New Jersey Guard soldiers are currently deployed together in Afghanistan, emphasized Ambassador Arvizu.
The Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces, Major General Jeronim Bazo also greeted in the ceremony.
26 cadets, candidates for commissioned officers, part of the “Black Eagle 001” group, were selected from the Armed Forces structures and have completed a special training program. For 13 consecutive weeks, they will be trained at the Training Centre of the New Jersey National Guard, USA.
