Mohamed honours female military grads

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces attended a graduation ceremony for the first military training course for female students, including his daughter, his grand daughter and a number of sheikhas.

Present were Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Zayed bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Brigadier Sheikh Ahmed bin Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the National and Reserve Service Authority, Sheikh Khalifa bin Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan, Sheikh Ahmed bin Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Sheikhs, senior armed forces officers and relatives of the graduates.

Also present were Sheikha Salama bint Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, wife of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Sheikha Shamsa bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Sheikha Shamma bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan, Sheikha Salama bint Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan and Sheikha Rawdha bint Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan.

Following the official ceremony and the graduates' military parade, Colonel Afra Al Falasi, Commander of Khawla bint Al Azwar Military School, delivered a speech in which she lauded the   trainees determination and perseverance.

"Despite their young age, the daughters of the UAE abandoned their comfort and opted to have the honour of training in military skills. They exhibited patience, determination and perseverance," she said.

Addressing the graduates, she went on; "You are the daughters of Zayed, the daughters of Khalifa and the soldiers of Mohamed. You have the right to be proud today of what you have learned."

Brigadier Sheikh Ahmed bin Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan honoured the graduates and distributed certificates to them.

Major Khawla Nasser, Director of Khawla bint Al Azwar School, said the the three-week course cobered basic military skills, including infantry, shooting and firearms handling.

The course instructor Salha Musa said the trainees mastered many skills, including shooting, using Caracal pistols and M16 rifles.

Sheikha Hasa bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, whose is 15 years old, said she was proud of the experience which enabled her to re-discover her potentials and energy in challenging situations.

Sheikha Hasa bint Mohammed bin Hamad Al Nahyan, 13, said she realised that the military life is totally different from the civilian life and that she learnt how to adapt to different situations.

Sheikha Hamda bint Khalifa bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, 12, said she found military life to be well-organised and driven by achievement and learnt news skills.

Other trainees also expressed pleasure at acquiring many skills, discipline and self-reliance.

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