The Lebanese Army Commander in Chief delivers the graduation certificates to the officers of the Martyr Captain Maroun Al Litani Course in the Military Academy.

The Lebanese Army Commander in Chief General Joseph Aoun delivered graduation certificates to the officers of the Martyr Captain Maroun Al Litani Course, after completing their 3 year studies in the military academy. The course included 107 officers, 54 males and 53 females from the Army, the General Directorate of General Security, and the General Directorate of State Security. The graduation ceremony was held at the Military Academy in the presence of the Director General of State Security, Major General Tony Saliba, and the Director General of General Security Major General Elias Al Baysari, a number of officers and the graduates’ parents.

At the beginning, a film was shown about the course that the graduating officers went through over the three years. The promotion ceremonies were then read, and General Aoun delivered the certificates to the graduates, who are distributed among various military specialties. He also presented an honorary shield to the family of the Martyr Captain Maroun Al Litani, who was martyred on the line of duty.

The Army Commander delivered a speech in which he emphasized the importance of this occasion for the Army Leadership, despite the absence of an official celebration in the presence of the President of the Republic, due to political circumstances. He also congratulated the graduates’ families and considered their children outstanding for their success, despite the difficult conditions.

General Aoun congratulated as well the graduating officers for overcoming the difficulties of training over the three years, including the physical and psychological pressure as well as the living conditions, which demonstrates their strong will. The Army Commander emphasized that the Military Academy is the foundation, but the structure is built and elevated through the experience of military life, which is a long journey full of difficulties.

He said, "You are exceptional individuals because you have succeeded with your competence. Today, you will bear the responsibility of your country and your subordinates, so be prepared for the decisions you will make. Do not let politics or sectarianism infiltrate among you. Make Lebanon your party and the military uniform your sect. It is not the sects that protect the nation, but the Military Institution, which is the rock of Lebanon, and you are the rock of the Institution.”

He added, "Your course has the name of Captain Maroun Al Litani, who preceded you on the path of martyrdom in the Battle of Nahr Al-Bared. Thanks to his blood and the blood of our martyrs, we and our country are safe.

Our martyrs do not die, but they live the day they die, as the motto of the Military Academy says, and they remain in our thoughts forever."

General Aoun considered that the Army is still continuing and standing strong thanks to the determination, faith, and steadfastness of its members. He urged the graduates to preserve the Military Institution, for preserving Lebanon and prevent it from falling for drugs and crimes.

And he concluded, "I understand the difficulty of the current stage, but the military trains to face similar circumstances, and armies are built to face major challenges. If another army had gone through the experience of the Lebanese Army in recent years, it would not have been able to continue. The command is doing everything it can to help and support you, so be patient and let us overcome this crisis. You are the foundation of the nation, the future is in your hands, and the army will be in good hands thanks to you because it is built on strong basis."

The valedictorian of the course delivered a speech in which she expressed her gratitude to the Army Command for providing all the available resources during the training years, and to the training officers for their efforts.