A 27-year-old Maltese soldier has won the top student award in the Junior Commanders Leadership Course at the Vyskov Military Training Academy in the Czech Republic.
Johann Cachia, of Mosta, serves in the Armed Forces of Malta as a lance bombardier with the 1st Regiment's 'C' (Special Duties) Company.
He attended the course on the invitation of the British High Commision in Malta.
Run by the British Army Military Advisory and Training Team for Central and Eastern Europe, the aim of the course is to develop the command and leadership skills of junior commanders and non-commissioned officers.
Besides Malta, students from another 13 countries, namely Ukraine, Georgia, the Czeck Republic, Serbia, Slovakia, Bosnia, Armenia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Uzbekistan, Moldova, Algeria, and Poland, attended this course.
Lance Bombardier Cachia has served in the AFM for seven years. He was awarded a distinction for his demonstration of professionalism and leadership efforts.