ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Friday, April 8th 2016 [ME NewsWire]

Major General Pilot Sheikh Ahmad bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman of the National and Reserve Service Authority attended the ceremony organized by the Khalifa Student Empowerment Program “Aqdar” to celebrate the graduation of students who took part in the second phase of the Adventures Students Camp in its 2nd edition. The ceremony was held under the patronage of Lt. General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, in partnership with the Armed Forces; the Ministry of Education; the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC); the Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai at the Abu Dhabi Vocational Education and Training Institute (ADVETI) in Al Shahama, Abu Dhabi.

The ceremony was attended by Amal Mohammed Al Kous, Assistant Undersecretary for the School Environment and Activities Sector at the Ministry of Education; Mohammed Salem Al Dhaheri, ADEC's Executive Director of School Operations; Colonel Dr. Ibrahim Al Dabal, General Coordinator of the Khalifa Student Empowerment Program; Dr. Abdulrahman Al Hammadi, Abu Dhabi Vocational Education and Training Institute (ADVETI)’ Managing Director; Ghanem Salem Zaabi, Vocational Education and Training Center Manager; Major Saqr Al Ahbabi from the Khalifa Student Empowerment Program; and a number of the Armed Forces officers and the Program coordinators and administrators, representatives from the Ministry of Education and a crowd of students’ parents.

The ceremony began with the national anthem, then, the attendees watched a ceremonial military field-line-up presented by the participating students, hailing the name of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. The military performances that were highly acclaimed by the attendees included dismantling and assembly of weapons, and first aid activities, to showcase their talents and level of qualification. The performances also reflected students’ high spirit and morals, and embody their loyalty, belonging, and love to serve and defend the UAE.

Following these performances, student Rashid Mohammed Al Naqbi recited verses from the Holy Quran. Student Hassan Ali Al Tunaiji delivered a speech on behalf of his fellow graduates, by which he expressed his heartfelt thanks to the Chairman of the National and Reserve Service Authority and the audience for attending the graduation ceremony. He also extended thanks to the Armed Forces General Headquarters, the Ministry of Interior, and the different participating, organizing, and supporting entities for their keenness to provide the necessary resources to ensure the success of the camp and boost their efficiency.

after that, Major General Pilot Sheikh Ahmad bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan and Colonel Dr. Ibrahim Al Dabal honored the participating entities, namely the Ministry of Education, the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), the Abu Dhabi Vocational Education and Training Institute (ADVETI), and Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center. The honoring also included a number of officers, non-commissioned officers from the Armed Forces, and the top achieving students in the field of archery, infantry, and dismantling and assembly of weapons who received prizes and certificates. Also honored was student Mohammed Al Shehhi, son of the martyr Tariq Mohammed Al Shehhi, who participated in the camp.

Towards the end of the ceremony, the graduates, the participating entities, the honorees and parents posed for commemorative photos with the sponsor of the event and with their families.

As many as 1000 students took part in the 12-day Adventures Students Camp in its second edition. The Camp is a strategic initiative that links students with National Service by empowering students and providing them with capabilities needed for developing their national awareness and love to their homeland. It also aims to strengthen national identity aspects within their personality, so as to understand the vital active role they will play in the future in serving their country and defending it.

This initiative is organized under the auspices of His Highness Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior and under the direct supervision of Major General Pilot Sheikh Ahmad bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman of the National and Reserve Service Authority, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, and the Khalifa Student Empowerment Program ‘Aqdar’. It aims to prepare students who will enlist in the national service in the future, qualify them physically and intellectually, and provide parents with the opportunity to see their children engage in military activities in a safe and competitive environment that boosts their self-confidence. Students underwent medical and physical tests to assess their physical fitness before joining the various activities and training, which included sports, cultural and patriotic programs. Upon conclusion of the camp’s activities, students’ physical and health performance will be assessed.

The Adventures Students Camp activities included sporting activities to increase participants’ physical fitness, mountain climbing and rowing exercises, as well as visits to heritage locations and lectures on the history of the UAE. The camp also included basic military training, which focused on field training, camouflage, guard patrols’ training, monitoring and night navigation.

The program also included courses to promote leadership and planning skills, decision making, via training scenarios set forth by specialized supervisors, as well as on shooting simulator training. Towards the end of the camp, the students underwent a final assessment test to determine their fitness and skills.

With parents and participating students

 The graduation ceremony was attended by parents of participating students, who expressed their happiness with this event. Salem Omar Hamed, one of the parents, said he was glad to attend the graduation of his son Muhammad from the Adventures Students Camp, which allowed his son to acquire self-defense, discipline and responsibility skills. “My son’s future enrollment in the National Service is an honor that we cherish to defend the homeland and strengthen the sense of belonging and loyalty to our wise leadership,” he added.

For his part, parent Obaid Saeed Al Ka’bi said that the graduation of his son Saeed represents an honor for him and the country. He pointed  out that the Adventures Students Camp provided an opportunity for parents to see their children engage in military activities in a safe and competitive environment  that increase their self-confidence, and prepare them to enlist in the national and reserve service in the future.

Antar Mubarak Mohamed, father if student Ahmad,  and Hamad Salem Al Ameri, father of student Salem confirmed that the military service makes real men: “What we offer is a mere act of gratitude to express our thanks to what our country has offered us,” they said. They noted that the enrollment of their sons in the Adventures Students Camp prepares them for the future, when they enlist in the national service to perform their national duty, which enhances their self-confidence. Moreover, they added that the higher leadership has taken the best decision to call the country’s youth to national service, to acquire the necessary military skills to defend their nation. They also pointed out that the skills, military training, self-defense, discipline and responsibility skills acquired by students in the Adventures Students Camp, are an introduction and preparation for future enrollment in the national service.

Advisor Abed bin Nasser bin Douman Al Ameri, father of students Salem and Hamad, expressed his pride with his sons’ participation in the camp, in preparation for the National Service in the future. “The Emirati people are known for their unrelenting readiness to respond to the directives of the higher leadership,” he said. He also noted that students are the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the good seeds planted by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE.

A number of graduate students who attended the camp expressed their happiness with the opportunity to participate in the wide variety of activities included in the program, which allowed them to acquire a number of self –reliance, discipline and responsibility skills. Student Ahmad Mohamed Al-Qayedi said that the camp had significant impact on his personality, taught him discipline and enhanced his physical fitness. He said that the camp increased his moral spirit and taught him discipline and how to balance things in life.

Student Hazza Salem Obeid Al Ka’bi expressed his love and loyalty to his country, praising the camps that enhance their skills, and shape their bodies and souls to prepare them to serve the country and protect its territories and gains.

Students Mohammed Juma’a Al Ka’bi and Saeed Obaid Al Ka’bi expressed their happiness and pride for participating in the camp, which provided them with the capabilities needed for developing their national awareness and love to their homeland. It also aims to strengthen national identity aspects within their personality, as these students will play an active role in the future in serving their country and defending it.

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The Arabic-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the Arabic-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect.

Contacts

The UAE Minister of Interior's General Secretariat, Tactical Affairs and Security Media Department

Abu Dhabi Police GHQ - Security Media

Chris Cron +971-(0)-50-666-4891

E-mail: cron.media@hotmail.com

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