Do not for a single moment forget the noble thoughts enshrined in your oath, Defence Minister Tibor Benkő said at the oath-taking ceremony of military officers held on 20 August, on St. Stephen’s Day, outside the Parliament Building in Budapest.

Some one hundred and forty persons – military officer candidates graduating in the summer of 2019 from the Military Science and Officer Training Faculty of the National University of Public Service, career and contract officers newly joining the defence forces from civilian walks of life, and voluntary reservist officers – took their military oaths in the main square of the nation on Tuesday, on the holiday of King St. Stephen.

The Minister drew attention to the special sentences of the military oath that cannot be compared with any other. “This is a unique oath in which a person offers the thing most valuable, most precious to him – his life – for the service of the nation,” Mr Benkő said, adding that the term ‘defence officer’ in Hungarian is also unique in the world, a term, the use of which one has to earn.

“Be proud of it, and be worthy of its service at all times. Set an example in courage, in loyalty to and love for your country, and in comradeship, and should the situation require, follow the example of your predecessors, fight bravely for Hungary, for the peace and freedom of the Hungarian people.”

The Defence Minister stressed that peace is a fragile thing which must be protected and defended at all times. In order to preserve it, Hungary needs a strong and well-equipped army. The government has launched the Defence Force and Military Development Programme so that the Hungarian Defence Forces can fully rise to the challenges of the 21st century. He pointed out that the Programme focuses on the human being – the soldier – who must never forget the noble thoughts enshrined in his or her oath. “On the occasion of 20 August, our state holiday, Happy Birthday, Hungary, and God bless the defenders of the country,” Mr Benkő said in conclusion.

The Minister’s welcome speech was followed by the officer candidates’ oathtaking which they confirmed – in accordance with the traditions of the Ludovika Military Academy – with the drawing of their swords. The text of the oath was recited for the candidates by President of the Republic János Áder.

In his celebratory address, the head of state described the year of the events that took place in Hungary thirty years ago – the March celebration, the dismantling of the Iron Curtain, the reburial of Imre Nagy and his fellow martyrs, and the first 20 August which was again referred to as the holiday of St. Stephen – as a momentous year. “1989 taught us that freedom is not a gift falling into our laps, that freedom is the fruit of joint efforts, a common creation, a common sacrifice,” Mr Áder said. The President of the Republic pointed out that the loyalty undertaken in the military oath is the pledge of the preservation of freedom, and ultimate proof of one’s affection for one’s country. “It is your duty, too, to ensure that our country can remain the way it was envisaged by St. Stephen, the way it was preserved by the Hungarians of more than a thousand years, that it can be a free, strong and independent European country,” Mr Áder told the soldiers who had just taken their oaths.

In addition to the President of the Republic and the Defence Minister, the event was also attended by Brigadier General Ferenc Korom, Commander of the Hungarian Defence Forces. After the inauguration of officers, visitors were invited to view an air parade over the Danube in the company of senior officials of the Defence Ministry and other military leaders.

(MTI)