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Moved, proud and happy I attend today with you on this special occasion, the ceremony of awarding the green beret to the new Commanders of the 2023 NSO.
I address the new blood of the Special Forces and officially welcome the new Loyalists to the National Guard Commando Forces.
I assure you that I am well aware of what is required to succeed in wearing the honorary green beret. I know the feelings you have. I feel particularly touched since several years ago I had the honor of receiving it in a similar ceremony and serving in the National Guard as a proud ranger.
The sacred symbol of every locket was not given away to you. You earned it with much toil and sweat and I know that, if required, you will honor it in the field to the utmost.
Mutual respect, discipline, bravery, determination, intense continuous and arduous training, adaptability, accuracy, efficiency, faith, patience and perseverance, mental and physical endurance, high morale, composure, self-control, love of country and fellow man.
All these characteristics and many more are prerequisites for the successful execution of the mission and purpose of the Commando Forces.
Young commandos,
You know that you are serving in a special Corps.
You know that you must be at the highest level of readiness.
Always, anywhere, under any circumstances, against anyone.
I remind you that our Spartan ancestors on the way to battle did not ask how many enemies there were, but where they were. "Not how many, but where."
Today you, the new blood of the Special Forces, from teenage students and rookie soldiers are now becoming elite fighters.
Members of the legendary heroic Commando Forces of the National Guard.
I warmly congratulate you and take pride in your decision to freely choose the long and difficult path of service and duty in the Special Forces.
For the rest of your lives you will be able to justly boast of your service in the Commando Forces.
Here only the mentally and physically courageous can respond successfully.
You must know that the course and service you are called upon to pass through will not be easy.
On the contrary, it will continue to be very demanding and arduous with constant and persistent training.
You are therefore to be congratulated because you have avoided the sirens of complacency of modern times, avoided the injunctions of apathy, indifference and detachment from timeless values and modern challenges.
You have chosen the path of service. Disdaining the easy and elusive, with determination and tenacity, you picked up the baton from your Ranger ancestors and resolved to boldly serve your service and the rest of your lives, putting into practice the Ranger motto "The Daredevil Wins".
Congratulations are also due to your parents and families, who raised you with principles and taught you what it means to give back to your country, supporting your choice and your arduous journey for all this time.
Respected families, honoured parents, thank you.
In difficult times, when everything around us is judged with great ease, in times when philanthropy and national consciousness are questioned and often discredited, you have raised children with principles, values and ideals. And today we need bright young people like your children.
We need exceptional young people who prove those who question the morals and philanthropy of our youth wrong.
We need defenders of the homeland, as the generation of the heroes of the Rallies did. The generation that in 1974, in Lavrovouno and Koutsoventis, in Agios Hilarion and White Muttis, in Petromoutokia, in 1023 Hill, in Panagra, in Nicosia Airport and wherever else required, signed the deltas of history with their blood.
Young Rangers,
Beginning today a new chapter in your service, I call upon you to serve with loyalty and devotion and to strengthen your character with military virtues, being a model of a responsible soldier.
Set high goals. Keep your head held high and your eyes fixed on the future.
Pursue development, progress and excellence.
Do not hesitate to toil and sweat.
"Persecute pains, by which great and glorious things are done to men", the ancient philosopher Democritus teaches us, stressing that great achievements are attained by those who pursue strenuous efforts.
So discover your mental, spiritual and physical strength, while respecting the procedures and safety measures.
Continue with the same zeal, the same will and the same dedication to train under the guidance of your superiors.
I would like at this point to express my congratulations to the Commander of the Commando Command, the Commander of the Training Centre and the instructors, who spared no effort and time and showed excellent professionalism and took care of the comprehensive training of the new commandos.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The National Guard, in the difficult situation we are going through, with challenges at local, regional and international level, remains fully committed to its mission and to the duty to which the state has assigned it, as the main defender of the security of the territorial integrity and freedom of our country.
In this context, in order to continue unhindered to carry out its mission as a modern, strong, effective and reliable force, we are steadily upgrading our capabilities by implementing in practice our armament programme.
Addressing the young commandos, I will reiterate what I recently stated to their fellow conscripts at their graduation ceremony.
Taking for granted that our personnel are the spearhead of our effort, I invite you to continue with the same optimism, the same strength and the same vigour to contribute to the troops and our country.
Be proud of the green beret you will wear from today.
Be proud to serve your military service in the Commando Forces.
I am confident that you will fully perform your duties and live up to our expectations.
I wish you all good health, a constructive remainder of your service and the success of your goals.
Thank you.
(AF/EP)
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