24 young Albanian officers were commissioned after successfully completing a pilot program at the Officer Candidate School (OCS) of New Jersey Guard in the USA.
At the ceremony organized on this occasion attended Deputy Minister of Defence, Mr. Dritan Hila, Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces, Major General Jeronim Bazo, the US Ambassador in Tirana, Mr. Alexander Arvizu, Commander of the New Jersey National Guard, Brigadier General Michael Cunniff, generals and directors of the Ministry of Defence and General Staff, defence attachés accredited in Tirana, representatives of the office of ODC and CUBIC, family members and relatives of the commissioned officers, etc.
Deputy Defence Minister, Mr. Dritan Hila, addressing the graduated officers said: “Few months ago, when you left to study in the pilot program of the New Jersey National Guard, Defence Minister Kodheli said two important things to you: Firstly, she gave you the confidence that you will have all her support as Minister of Defence and of the General Staff, and I assure you once again that this support will continue by us. Secondly, she advised you that our expectation is really high, so do whatever it takes, to make us all feel proud of you. Today, we all feel really proud that you successfully completed this program.”
The US Ambassador in Tirana, Mr. Alexander Arvizu said, “the first public action of Minister Kodheli, newly appointed at the office of the Minister of Defence, was the signing of the letters of offer and acceptance for the training of the Albanians for military service at the OCS in New Jersey and at Fort Benning, Georgia. A year after the signing of the agreement, we graduated from this school in New Jersey these officers, as well as two NCOs, who are currently completing the training programs at the Federal Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning. All these officers should be examples of successful efforts and modernization of Albania. They will serve as proof that the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces are deeply committed not only in improving English language skills, but also in providing a training of American and Western orientation.
The newly commissioned officers were also addressed by the Commander of the New Jersey National Guard, Brigadier General Michael Cunniff.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, 2nd LT Anita Gruda handed to Deputy Defence Minister, Mr. Dritan Hila the flag of “Black Eagle 001”.
