Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, on Monday assessed national service recruits at Liwa Training Centre.
He attended specialist demonstrations by the 22nd cohort of the country’s National Service Programme for the 2024-2025 training year. Demonstrations included combat and tactical exercises, as well as infantry and team co-ordination displays.
Sheikh Hamdan praised the recruits’ readiness and discipline as well as their military skills and knowledge, state news agency Wam reported. He also praised the outcomes of the intensive training during the programme, which covered military sciences, physical fitness, martial arts and discipline.
The event was attended by Sheikh Yas bin Hamdan bin Zayed, Lt Gen Engineer Issa Saif bin Ablan Al Mazrouei, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, along with a number of senior officers and officials.
Building a legacy
It follows an event in December, in which thousands of Emirati recruits and members of the reserve forces took part in a Stand of Loyalty parade before UAE leaders to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the National Service Programme.
The ceremony, held in Al Sameeh, between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, was attended by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence.
Leaders inspected the recruits and reserve forces, who were welcomed with a display of artillery. Military aircraft flew overhead in front of the dignitaries on the main stage, while the 23,000 recruits stood in formation alongside more than 2,000 armoured vehicles.
Compulsory military service for Emirati men aged 18 to 30 was introduced in 2014, involving rigorous training regimes, military drills and weapons training, a focus on physical fitness and the reinforcement of national values and patriotism.
Recruits are also trained in data literacy and artificial intelligence. The National Service and Reserve Authority signed an agreement with the National Programme for Artificial Intelligence in 2019 to train recruits in AI and robotics. Two years later, it was announced that recruits would also be given lessons in entrepreneurship.
