The Armed Forces of Malta currently has nine full colonels, compared to five on January 1, 2013, while the number of lieutenant colonels remains un­changed at 17.

Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia gave the figures in reply to a number of parliamentary questions by the shadow minister for home affairs, Jason Azzopardi.

He said that since Malta joined the European Union in 2004 to date, the AFM have had three Brigadiers: Carmel Vassallo, Martin G. Xuereb and the present Jeffrey Curmi. On the days when they assumed command the former two were graduates of the Royal College of Defence Studies in London.

Before becoming brigadier Mr Curmi had applied several times to take the same course but the previous administration had always turned down his applications.

He successfully completed a “large number” of courses, including one at the Sandhurst Royal Military Academy, where he was accorded the highest accolade, the Cane of Honour.

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