AFM officers win top awards in overseas military training
2nd Lieuts Pasquale Papa (left) Bernardette Cachia and Matthew Sant.
Three junior officers of the Armed Forces of Malta achieved top awards during military training in the United Kingdom and the USA, the AFM said today.
At the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the UK, 2nd Lieut. Pasquale Papa (aged 26, from B'Bugia and a B. Educ graduate) followed a 44-week long Commissioning Course as an overseas officer cadet. He completed his course with flying colours, and was awarded the prestigious ‘Overseas Sword' award together with a number of other prizes during the Sovereign's Parade.
2nd Lieut. Papa received his award from General Sir Peter Wall, Commander-in-Chief UK Land Forces, representing the Queen. The Overseas Sword is awarded to the Overseas Cadet considered by the Academy's Commandant, to be the best of his course. It is presented by the Kuwaiti Ministry of Defence in memory of Sheikh Ali Al Sabah, the former Defence Minister of Kuwait.
2nd Lieut. Papa, who enlisted as an AFM officer-cadet in 2007, also won three other awards for outstanding cadets: the HRH Prince Saud Abdullah Prize - awarded to the Overseas Cadet who has obtained the best aggregate mark in academic subjects; the Communications and Applied Behavioural Science Prize - awarded to the overseas officer cadet who has produced the best performance in Communication and Applied Behavioural Science; and The Nigeria Prize - awarded to the overseas cadet who has maintained the best Journal of the course.
In the United States, 2nd Lieut. Bernardette Cachia (aged 25, from Mosta) attended the four-month long Military Intelligence Officers Leadership Course at Fort Huachuca, in Sierra Vista, Arizona.
2nd Lieut. Cachia became the first International Officer to have attained the prestigious US Army Achievement Medal. She also became the only student out of 48 other US and international students to attain ‘excellent and exceptional' passes in all the requirements dictated by this intensive course.
Also in the United States, 2nd Lieut. Matthew Sant (aged 26, from Naxxar) attended the Infantry Officer Basic Leader Course at the US Army's Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia. He achieved the Platoon International Honour Graduate award, as the best non-US student of his graduating class, and placed in the top 25% of his platoon's American peers.
2nd Lieuts. Pasquale Papa and Bernardette Cachia serve as platoon commanders at 1st Regiment's ‘A' (Airport Security) Company at the Malta international Airport, whilst 2nd Lieut. Matthew Sant serves as a subaltern with 3rd Regiment's Ammunition and Explosives Company at Fort Mosta.
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Krystal Sant
May 20th 2010, 16:50
Well Done to our Jr.Officers ! You all deserve your awards and have not only made the AFM proud but also your families , friends and the nation.
Lexy Bezzina
May 21st 2010, 08:30
Would to say a big well done to the three officers !! Especially our 2nd Lieut. Matthew Sant we are so so proud of you Matt !!!
loads of love
Mark Anthony Scicluna
May 19th 2010, 21:04
A very clear example of Maltese Military fortitude, honour , selfless service and loyalty. Well done to these three Armed Forces of Malta junior Officers who went abroad facing great challenges and came back 'with flying colours' .
It is an honour to serve in our professional Army.
A much deserved........ Well Done !
Valentina Lupo
May 19th 2010, 20:33
Well Done Bernardette!!! We are so proud of you!!!
Congratulations from Mosta Girl Guides Association
Patrick Apap
May 19th 2010, 18:14
First of all well done to the 3 officers concerned
@ Clinton Bezzina I think that fighting and killing people does not make anyone proud.. and try to keep in mind that this problem has been going on for years and no one managed to find a solution.. let alone us.. if we send people to Afghanistan we'll be giving them an indirect message that for us their lives is not important anymore.. it's useless the breaking news afterwards that a Maltese soldier got injured while on duty in Afghanistan, because then it's too late..
duncan Tanti
May 19th 2010, 17:18
well done sirs and maam.you did us proud.btw mr c bezzina,what do you do to make us proud we are maltese???
Alexander Morana
May 19th 2010, 16:16
Mr. Clinton Bezzina get your head straighten out. Sending Maltese AFM personnel to Afghanistan, please! Other European countries with a contingent with NATO are trying to get out not send more troops to a helpless situation.
Clayton Tanti
May 19th 2010, 16:01
Good job Bernardette after a whole summer workig with you on Zero91 you showed how dedicated you are in the army. you deserve
lzammit
May 19th 2010, 15:46
Congratulations to the AFM officers for their achievements. This is what "il-pajjiz tal-makku" can produce.
J. Said
May 19th 2010, 15:38
Well done, all 3 of you!
George Said
May 19th 2010, 15:33
Very well done to all of you! Maltese Officer Cadets have always done exceedingly well overseas and it would seem that this tradition is being maintained to this very day. Hats off to all of you and to the AFM for the preparatory training given to you before you attended these courses. Well done!
Clinton Bezzina
May 19th 2010, 15:13
Inkun kburi li jien Malti u Ghawdxi meta l-membri tal-Forzi Armati jibdew jaghmlu x-xoghol li jixtiequ jaghmlu. Hemm gwerra fl-Afghanistan. Meta se nibaghtu kontingent?
camilleri sandra
May 19th 2010, 17:50
Qed jistennew lilek tidhol fl-armata l-ewwel, halli tkun tista tmur maghhom.
Joseph Borg
May 19th 2010, 22:14
Sur Bezzina,
Hawn Malta ghandna Armata zghira. Pero qed nghatu shemna.
Hemm kontingent suldati maltin il grecja fuq missjoni tal frontex
Hemm kontingent suldati maltin is somalia iharsu l bastimenti mil pirati
Hemm kontingent suldati maltin l Uganda fejn qed jghalmu suldati sudanizi.
Hemm suldati maltin il georgia fuq missjoni ghaz zamma tal paci
Jigiefieri nahseb li qed nghatu sakhemm nifilhu.
Proset lil ufficjali l godda
ryan said
May 21st 2010, 21:53
messek tisthi sur bezzina!!! l armata maltija xogholha taghmlu u tghamlu sew memx ghalfejn tmur l afganistan biex nuru kemm ahna tajbin!! issa meta tkun tajjeb biex tahdem fl armata int nibatuk ha naraw biex tohrog
Damian Agius
May 19th 2010, 14:59
Its good to know that we have some very well trained individuals in the AFM.
Lilian Fiedler
May 19th 2010, 14:30
Well done and keep it up!
A. Vassallo
May 19th 2010, 14:19
Din hija s-serjeta tal-pajjiz, izda fuq kollox din hija l-KAPACITA` tal-Haddiema Maltin u Ghawdxin
Prosit lill-Lieut. Pasquale Papa, 2nd Lieut. Bernardette Cachia u 2nd Lieut. Matthew Sant talli ghamiltuna kburin li ahna Maltin u Ghawdxin.