The Sword Presentation Ceremony for the new Permanent Army Officers was held on Wednesday at the Military Academy in Lisbon. A total of 74 new officers received the sword, a “symbol of military authority and a life of service to the country.”
The Army detailed that “the Sword presentation embodies the values cultivated throughout the career and exalts the highest principles of honor, demonstrating availability, authority, loyalty, zeal, responsibility, correctness, neatness, respect, and love for Portugal,” in a statement sent to Notícias ao Minuto.
During the ceremony, which was attended by the Minister of Defense, Nuno Melo, the Chief of the Army Staff, General Eduardo Mendes Ferrão, addressed the new officers, “emphasizing the importance of this moment as a starting point for a military career that demands continuous dedication, study, adaptability, and leadership in complex and challenging environments.”
According to the communiqué, General Eduardo Mendes Ferrão also noted that “the Army projects itself into the future through modernization, technological integration, and human force development, balancing tradition and innovation, with the true strength of the Institution residing in its people.”
“He reinforced the need for new Officers to combine character, competence, and vision, becoming leaders capable of promoting innovation, critical thinking, and adaptability, ensuring that the Army remains a cohesive, capable, and ready force to serve Portugal,” the statement reads.
See the images of the ceremony in the gallery above.
