02.08.2025.

Cadets commissioned as new officers of Serbian Armed Forces

The President of the Republic and Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces, Aleksandar Vučić, along with the Minister of Defence, Bratislav Gašić, and the Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff, General Milan Mojsilović, attended the commissioning ceremony held today at the General Jovan Mišković Barracks in Belgrade, where 186 cadets of the Military Academy and the Medical Faculty of the Military Medical Academy were commissioned as second lieutenants.

The ceremony was also attended by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ana Brnabić, along with government ministers.

Addressing the newly commissioned officers, President Vučić recalled the words of the ancient Greek historian Thucydides, who said more than 2,500 years ago that “the secret to happiness is freedom, and the secret to freedom is courage”.

- Today, you – our beautiful young people, become officers of the Serbian Armed Forces, stepping into one of the most courageous professions in the world - one that protects our freedom, safeguards our lives, and secures our happiness. But courage does not only imply your willingness to give everything for freedom and happiness. It is more than that – a journey of continuous learning, of gaining knowledge and skills, of becoming better every day, all with a single purpose: to defend this country from war, to preserve peace, and to make life possible. The true strength lies in courage that deters, in wisdom that prevents, and in determination that protects. That will be the mission of our new officers, President Vučić added, and the solemn duty that this country entrusts to them as their most sacred obligation.

The President remarked that, listening to the address delivered by the top-performing cadet of the Army, Second Lieutenant Mitar Simović, he realized that the journey through years of training and education had been anything but easy.

- To spend a large part of one’s life separated from parents, from loved ones – to take on more, to learn different things and often more intensely than your peers – that is no small burden. And for all of that, I want to first thank your mothers and fathers – those who have given the most to this country – their children, who now stand ready to defend and protect our homeland, Serbia. I want to thank the parents who missed countless tender and joyful moments with their children, yet never doubting that they would become responsible, dedicated individuals – first at the Military Grammar School, and now at the Military Academy. Thank you, dear parents, for the love you have shown for your homeland, Serbia. There is no greater love than the one you have demonstrated, the President said and added, addressing the newly commissioned second lieutenants, that we are living in difficult times and that easier days are not on the horizon.

He remarked that we are living in a world without rules or order – a world in which, even in our region, our modesty is too often met with arrogance and disdain.

- We live in a world – and in a region – where every tear we shed is often met with celebration, and every joy we experience is answered with ridicule and scorn. It is a world where few care for others, where many are driven solely by the desire to claim new territories, to seize what is not rightfully theirs. In such a world – one without charters, rules, principles, or order – we must safeguard and protect our country. We are too small to threaten anyone, but we are brave and strong enough – and with you, our officers, we are ready enough – to say clearly – you will not take our Serbia from us. You have taken much from us before – often the very best we had: our people. In the Second World War, both here, in Serbia, and in the areas to the west of the Drina and the Danube, we lost hundreds of thousands of lives, simply because others wished we did not exist, President Vučić said, adding that, even today, there are still those who harbour the same intentions – though now they are more subtle, seeking to achieve by different means what was once attempted with force.

President Vučić stated that we must be prepared for all such challenges, and that we possess the necessary knowledge.

- You will need to keep learning every single day – because your education is not over, it is just beginning. You have formally received your diplomas and ranks as second lieutenants, but that only marks the start of a lifelong path of learning and work. I learned that lesson from Shimon Peres, a great leader, who once said: “Whenever you think your education is finished – whether you’re fifty, sixty or seventy – it isn’t. You must keep learning. And for you, in this era of rapid technological change, the demands will be even greater. You will need to give more, work harder, and strive further than we ever had to. That is why I’m proud of your knowledge and your love for your homeland. We will never touch what belongs to others, I give you my word, as a Supreme Commander of our armed forces, but what is ours – Serbia – we will never surrender to anyone – the President said, and thanked the youngest officers for their love, commitment and “everything they give to Serbia, for there is no price for that”.

- We will do everything in our power to make your lives easier – to support you with higher incomes, to provide you with the best equipment. Your parents, loved ones, sisters, brothers, husbands and wives will have the opportunity to see you in 45 days’ time, when we will demonstrate not only our capabilities, but our unity. While others may celebrate the expulsion and death of the Serbian people, we will celebrate only our unity, and not the misfortune of a people. We will also show how much better equipped and better prepared we are today to defend our homeland than we were 26 years ago – President Vučić said.

He once again expressed his gratitude to the newly commissioned officers for their hard work and commitment.

- No one can take away your knowledge. Keep learning, keep working, and continue to love your country as you always have. Long live the Serbian Armed Forces, long live Serbia! – the President of the Republic said, concluding his speech.

At the start of today’s ceremony, the Rector of the Defence University, Brigadier General Professor Dr Boban Đorović, delivered a formal report to the President of the Republic. Following the reading of the commissioning decree, the President presented inscribed officer’s sabres to the top-ranking officer cadets in recognition of their outstanding achievements.

The top cadets of the Military Academy were formally recognized for their exceptional performance: Mitar Simović – the top-ranked cadet in the Army branch, Lazar Todorović - ranked first among the Air Force and Air Defence cadets, Mina Ćorović, ranked first across services, and the top-ranked cadet of the Medical Faculty, Military Medical Academy, Marija Aleksić.

Congratulating the newly commissioned officers of the Serbian Armed Forces on successfully completing their studies and beginning their military careers, General Đorović noted that the Defence University holds a unique mission – uniting education, training and character development. He expressed his gratitude to the state and military leadership for their continued support in fulfilling that mission.

- With pride, we hand over to the Serbian Armed Forces a valuable new generation of young officers – both in terms of their numbers and their quality – convinced that we have fulfilled our mission with honour. Esteemed officers of the Serbian Armed Forces, Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Ministry of the Interior of Republika Srpska, it has been a privilege to work with you over the past several years. You, and your families, deserve recognition, not only for your choice of study and profession, but also for the dedication, effort and results you have achieved throughout your education. Your youth, courage, curiosity, discipline, abilities, and self-sacrifice, your determination to surpass yourselves and mature into true officers of the Serbian Armed Forces – have made us proud on many occasions, the Rector emphasized.

A total of 186 cadets were commissioned as second lieutenants at the ceremony. This included 166 cadets from the 145th and 146th classes of the Military Academy, along with 20 cadets from the 11th class of the Medical Faculty of the Military Medical Academy. In addition, two cadets from the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina graduated from the Military Academy, along with four cadets from the Ministry of the Interior of Republika Srpska.

Addressing the audience on behalf of the newly commissioned cadets, Second Lieutenant Mitar Simović stated that the youngest officers, standing in formation with pride, courage, heads held high, and eyes fixed on the future, represent a generation that has chosen knowledge as its weapon.

- No one can take this weapon from us. Knowledge cannot be bought – it must be earned. And the path to it is paved with challenges. The class standing before you today represents loyalty, unity, discipline and a deep love for the homeland. We are not here because we are better than others, but because we have chosen to be better each day. Our professors, commanding officers, and mentors taught us many things, but the most valuable lessons were not found in textbooks. They were found in the unwavering gaze that does not falter before a challenge, in the posture that does not yield under the weight of responsibility and in the quiet confidence of those who know their worth but feel no need to boast, Second Lieutenant Simović emphasized.

The parade of the youngest second lieutenants and cadets of the Defence University was graced by a flypast featuring MiG-29 fighter jets, Lasta training aircraft, and multi-purpose H-145M helicopters. A message of congratulations was delivered to the youngest officers.

- We extend our congratulations to our youngest colleagues on receiving their first officer ranks. May you walk proudly along the path of honour and stand as a steadfast shield to your homeland. Long live the Serbian Armed Forces! Long live Serbia! – Major Goran Vidić, pilot of the MiG-29 jet, delivered a message of congratulations to the newly commissioned officers.

The ceremony was further enriched by a programme featuring performances by “Stanislav Binički”, the Art Ensemble of the Ministry of Defence, and the Representative Orchestra of the Serbian Armed Forces Guard.

Today’s commissioning ceremony was attended by members of the Collegium of the Minister of Defence and Collegium of the Chief of the General Staff, along with the families and friends of the newly commissioned officers. The event was also graced by representatives of the diplomatic corps, delegations from foreign and partner countries’ armed forces, as well as representatives of religious communities.

As in previous years, family members, relatives, and friends of the youngest officers waited with anticipation for the moment when the officer caps would be proudly tossed into the air.

Nataša Nešković from Ivanjica, mother of Aleksandra Perišić, congratulated all cadets on successfully completing their education.

- I am a very proud mother. I have three children, and my daughter made a decision – one that has been her lifelong dream – to become an officer. Her education was quite challenging. There were ups and downs along the way, but the goal justified the effort. As a mother, I am deeply satisfied with everything she has experienced and achieved here, and especially with all that she has learned. It is an honour to serve your country and your homeland, said Nataša Nešković from Ivanjica.

Milan Pavlović from Šabac, father of Dragana Pavlović, said that it is a unique feeling to see his daughter, after eight years of education, becoming an officer of the Serbian Armed Forces and that he is proud of her success.

The mother of Mihajlo Sladojević, Maja Sladojević, said that the four years of her son’s education at the Military Academy passed quickly, and that she feels proud and happy at the same time, which is, according to her, an indescribable feeling.