New army recruits complete basic training course

Sixty recruits of the Armed Forces of Malta proudly marched past the Prime Minister in a passing out parade yesterday after successfully completing their basic military training course. The recruits underwent a gruelling 18-week programme, which included physical fitness training, foot and weapons drill, skill-at-arms weapons training, basic battle skills, first aid, international humanitarian law, and instruction classes on the army's role, history and current organisation.

The training-cadre was made up of eight instructors from the Hal Far-based 1st Regiment's C (Special Duties) Company, under the leadership of Lieutenant Josef Mizzi, who was also the parade commander.

About 353 applications were initially received by the AFM for the intake: 330 males and 23 females. After the initial selection processes, 68 males and three females were enlisted. Three recycled recruits from a previous intake were aggregated, and a total of 60 soldiers passed the square at Luqa Barracks yesterday, 57 males and three females.