Excerpt from Speech delivered by Chairman of State Administration Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Thadoe Maha Thray Sithu Thadoe Thiri Thudhamma Min Aung Hlaing at Passing-out Parade of 66th Intake of Defence Services Academy

Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Thadoe Maha Thray Sithu Thadoe Thiri Thudhamma Min Aung Hlaing delivered a speech at the Passing-out Parade of the 66th Intake of Defence Services Academy (DSA) which was held at the parade ground of DSA in PyinOoLwin on 6 December.

Excerpts from a speech delivered by the SAC Chairman Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Thadoe Maha Thray Sithu Thadoe Thiri Thudhamma Min Aung Hlaing are as follows:

• The nurture of comrades, driven by the unfeigned aspiration, “To produce well- rounded and calibred officers for Defence Services,” incarnates the resolute dedication to fostering the entrusted leaders of our Nation and the Tatmadaw.
• With great conviction, I affirm that comrades inspired by a commitment to leave no stone unturned and the intrinsic dedication of servicemen to safeguarding the Nation, stand ready to serve with concerted effort as commendable soldiers in the battlefield, ardently upholding the virtuous legacy and immense prestige of the Defence Services Academy.
• It is paramount that those entrusted with the mantle of junior leadership within their respective corps and units demonstrate integrity and righteousness in guiding their subordinates.
• In the noble pursuit of national defence, our military personnel remain steadfast in their commitment to safeguarding the Nation, embracing boundless sacrifices driven by indomitable will, regardless of time or place.
• To imbue the members of the cohesive forces with the virtues of morality, the framework is meticulously crafted to foster the imperatives of training, administration, and welfare. Yet, it is further forged in the crucible of patriotic fervor, nationalistic zeal, communal amenability and determination, time-honored tradition, and the thread of historical narrative that anchors it.
• Thus, comrades are charged with not only refining your own character but also strengthening the bonds of the cohesive forces through indomitable patriotic fervor, steadfast dedication to national defence, and abiding compassion for your fellow comrades and the Tatmadaw.
• Embrace the enduring ethos of 'Fighting tooth and nail’s relentless commitment to  duty and embody the ultimate sacrifice in preserving the virtuous traditions and legacy of the Tatmadaw. I would like to exhort all comrades to inscribe upon your hearts the sacred duty of upholding and magnifying the noble legacy of the Tatmadaw. Let your actions elevate its prestige through the embodiment of the highest dedication, fueled by patriotic fervor and nationalistic zeal.
• Just as it is essential to adhere to the promulgated sixty codes of conduct with full commitment, much like securing a Longyi around the waist, it is imperative to abide by battlefield discipline, workplace discipline, and civil law.
• Given the stringent disciplinary measures mandated by the Military Act, a thorough study and understanding of its provisions are imperative to ensure proactive compliance. Moreover, a profound grasp of and commitment to the ‘Rules of Engagement (RoE)’ observed worldwide are indispensable for maintaining operational integrity.
• Comrades as young leaders are charged not only with enforcing discipline among  the subordinates but also with exemplifying and upholding it themselves. Especially, one should embody exemplary discipline and avoid behaviors that could harm individuals or the organization.
• Given that comrades are pledged to serve at all times, in all places, and in all seasons without reservation, it is crucial to maintain optimal fitness.
• In the wake of the ruling party’s blatant perpetration of electoral fraud following the 2020 Multi-party General Election, a State of emergency was proclaimed, casting the nation into a grimand turbulent phase, rife with upheaval and scarred by disastrous debacles. In its role as the custodian of State sovereignty, the Tatmadaw, through the ultimate goal of the State Administration Council, undertook the formidable tasks of reinstating free and fair multiparty democratic general elections. This endeavor began with the launch of a nationwide population and household census in early October, marking a critical step in ensuring electoral integrity.
• This effort stands as a cornerstone of the preparatory framework designed to preserve the inviolable rights of all eligible voters, ensuring the forthcoming general election is executed with precision and integrity, as delineated in the Five-Point Road Map of the State Administration Council.
• Our Tatmadaw, in collaboration with the people, has successfully overcome both internal and external destructive elements in successive epochs. Similarly, there is to have the ability to encounter and overcome the potential threats to the country through the collective strength of the government, the military and the people.
• At present, internal and external subversives are using social media as a weapon to undermine solidarity and cohesion between the government  and the people, and between the people and the Tatmadaw.
• Especially, it can be observed that attemptsare being made to sow discord through  the dissemination of fake news and misinformation among military personnel who are faithfully carrying out their national defence duties to safeguard the territorial integrity and tranquility of our Nation.
• Comrades should not be deceived by such deliberate dissemination of fake news and misinformation aimed at the disintegration of Tatmadaw, and it is crucial to strengthen the cohesion of military personnel and their families within their respective units to ensure they remain steadfast in their determination and amenability, shielding them from the corrosive impact of fake news and misinformation while fostering unity within the unit.
• I would like to highlight that the dutiful execution of orders and duties assigned by superiors, along with the successful implementation of four major tasks on a daily basis, while leading subordinates with much exposure, plays a crucial role in strengthening unity within the unit.
• While it is necessary to strengthen unity within the unit, building external unity beyond the unit is equally important.
• At this juncture, it is irrefutable that opposing factions, in concert with certain individuals and destructive media outlets, haveconspired to underminepublic credibility and tarnish the Tatmadaw’s reputation through manipulative rhetoric. It is unquestionable that such concerns can inflict the detrimental impact upon Tatmadaw and national solidarity.
• Consequently, it is imperative to remain vigilant and discerning of the harmful activities instigated by opposing factions and destructive media outlets, while underscoring the critical need to cultivate external unity beyond the unit.
• I firmly assert that comrades must rigorously uphold the established codes of conduct with steadfast commitment to fostering external unity beyond the unit. They are also duty-bound to render public services, including making substantial contributions to regional development projects, providing swift and decisive aid in the aftermath of natural disasters, and ensuring the comprehensive provision of education, healthcare, and social welfare. These obligations must be fulfilled with sincerity and profound dedication, as they are integral to the Tatmadaw's paramount responsibilities.

The Senior General concluded his message that comarades have to continually uphold the virtuous traditions  andlegacy of the Defence Services Academy, to strive for the enhancement of leadership qualities in alignment with the sixteen characteristics of leadership, to elevate the prestige of the  Tatmadaw in pursuit of patriotic and nationalistic fervor, by steadfastly upholding its virtuous traditions, and to consistently undergo training, ensuring combat readiness for national defence in alignment with the Tatmadaw's training policy: ‘Be Fit, Be Competent, Be Bold’.

          Source: MWD (7-12-2024)

• With great conviction, I affirm that comrades inspired by a commitment to leave no stone unturned and the intrinsic dedication of servicemen to safeguarding the Nation, stand ready to serve with concerted effort as commendable soldiers in the battlefield, ardently upholding the virtuous legacy and immense prestige of the Defence Services Academy.
• In the noble pursuit of national defence, our military personnel remain steadfast in their commitment to safeguarding the Nation, embracing boundless sacrifices driven by indomitable will, regardless of time or place.
• Embrace the enduring ethos of 'Fighting tooth and nail’s relentless commitment to  duty and embody the ultimate sacrifice in preserving the virtuous traditions and legacy of the Tatmadaw. I would like to exhort all comrades to inscribe upon your hearts the sacred duty of upholding and magnifying the noble legacy of the Tatmadaw.
• At present, internal and external subversives are using social media as a weapon to undermine solidarity and cohesion between the government  and the people, and between the people and the Tatmadaw.
• It can be observed that attemptsare being made to sow discord through  the dissemination of fake news and misinformation among military personnel who are faithfully carrying out their national defence duties to safeguard the territorial integrity and tranquility of our Nation. Comrades should not be deceived by such deliberate dissemination of fake news and misinformation aimed at the disintegration of Tatmadaw.
• It is crucial to strengthen the cohesion of military personnel and their families within their respective units to ensure they remain steadfast in their determination and amenability, shielding them from the corrosive impact of fake news and misinformation while fostering unity within the unit.
• At this juncture, it is irrefutable that opposing factions, in concert with certain individuals and destructive media outlets, haveconspired to underminepublic credibility and tarnish the Tatmadaw’s reputation through manipulative rhetoric. It is unquestionable that such concerns can inflict the detrimental impact upon Tatmadaw and national solidarity.
• It is imperative to remain vigilant and discerning of the harmful activities instigated by opposing factions and destructive media outlets, while underscoring the critical need to cultivate external unity beyond the unit.