11.09.2015.

Dress rehearsal held for the promotion of new SAF officers

At the plateau in front of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, a dress rehearsal was held tonight for the ceremony for the promotion of the youngest SAF officers. The last test parade before the tomorrow's official promotion of graduates of the Military Academy was attended by Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic and Chief of the General Staff General Ljubisa Dikovic.

A total of 157 male and female cadets of the 136th class of the Military Academy and 18 from the 1st class of the MMA Faculty of Medicine wore their cadet uniforms the last time tonight and to the drum of the Representative Orchestra of the Guard, they paraded at the plateau from which lieutenant caps will be thrown in the air traditionally tomorrow.

This will have been the tenth time that the youngest lieutenants have been promoted at the ceremony in front of the National Assembly. As in previous years, the three best in the rank will receive a sabre from President of the Republic - a symbol of officer's honour. This year, for the first time in history, all three sabres will be presented to female officers. The best among the medical officers, one female lieutenant and two male lieutenants will receive ceremonial daggers at tomorrow's ceremony.

Over the ceremonial line of young officers and cadets of the Military Academy, military aircraft will perform flypasts, and the Representative Orchestra of the Guard and the Art Ensemble of the Ministry of Defence "Stanislav Binicki" will also take part in the ceremony.

Promotion of the youngest lieutenant begins tomorrow, on September 12 at 17.30 and will be attended by Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic, Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic, Chief of General Staff General Ljubisa Dikovic, state and military leadership, as well as numerous guests from the country and abroad.