Chairman of State Administration Council Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services Senior General Thadoe Maha Thray Sithu Thadoe Thiri Thudhamma Min Aung Hlaing addresses Passing-out Parade of the 25th Intake of Defense Services Technological Academy
Nay Pyi Taw December 11
The Passing-out Parade of the 25th Intake of Defense Services Technological Academy was held at the parade ground of DSTA in PyinOoLwin this morning addressed by Chairman of State Administration Council Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services Senior General Thadoe Maha Thray Sithu Thadoe Thiri Thudhamma Min Aung Hlaing.
Also present at the ceremony together with the Senior General were wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Admiral Zeya Kyawhtin Sithu Moe Aung and wife, Commander-in-Chief (Air) General Zeya Kyawhtin Sithu Tun Aung and wife, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and wives, union ministers, the chief minister of Mandalay Region and wife, the Central Command commander, the DSTA commandant, officials from PyinOoLwin Station, officer instructors and faculty members of the academic wing and training wing of DSTA, who are the guardians of the cadets, and guests.
The Senior General took the salute of the cadet companies and inspected the graduation company. The cadet companies saluted the Senior General with slow-march past and quickmarch past.
Afterwards, the Senior General presented Best Cadet Award to Cadet No. 8197 Cadet Kaung Khant Zaw, Excellent Award in Training to Cadet No. 8262 Cadet Phone Myint Kyaw, Excellent Award in Studies to Cadet No. 8224 Cadet Sai Min Thant.
In his address, the Senior General said engineering is a subject that develops the natural environment through practical actions based on mathematical and scientific studies. It is also a profession that is inventing and utilizing infrastructures, machines, other modern materials for social development.
The alma mater is disseminating area-wise engineering philosophical perspective and engineering ethics in addition to basic engineering knowledge in producing qualified engineers.
As the cadets have already possessed the ethical fundamentals such as precision, honesty, responsibility and accountability, they should strictly follow them in their work.
They would have to serve in the respective corps (Army, Navy and Air) based on their specialized engineering knowledge, and as the basic engineering taught by the DSTA have similarities, all the different commands of the corps should work in coordination.
In shouldering the national defense duties, the corps will have to join forces with infantry forces with military knowledge and awareness while applying their subject-wise professional skills in tandem. Tatmadaw members enter the military services of own volition, so, they should fight the battles with the spirit to march, attack and crush the enemy with valor.
They must apply their engineering technology at the battle fields and must also try to fight like the infantry forces by applying their knowledge of the military tactics. Training has also been given to promote their fighting spirit and courage, in addition to physical and spiritual fitness. Based on their engineering skills, military skills, mental strength and discipline, they must continuously study engineering and military knowledge in accord with the motto “study, practice, follow” to become courageous military engineers of excellent level.
It can be seen that engineers from the Tatmadaw played a major role in the construction of the world’s largest and highest marble Maravijaya Buddha image in Nay Pyi Taw.
The Buddha image was built by constructing and upgrading canals and road to convey the massive marble rock that would be carved into the Buddha image to Nay Pyi Taw and laying foundation for the plinth systematically from various points of view of engineering so that the Buddha image can withstand earthquakes, storms and thunderstorms. Tatmadaw engineers and experts from Myanmar Engineers Council managed to cooperate in carving the Buddha image with the use of high-tech CNC machines and constructing steel towers and steel winches to convey the Buddha image onto the plinth without any assistance from foreign experts. As such endeavors were recognized by international engineering societies, we must proudly appreciate capable Tatmadaw engineers.
Efforts must be made for development of three sectors which are essential in building a modern army including military equipment, human resources and expertise while consistently learning changing military concepts, features, new weapons and development of military technologies without losing sight of such developments. To upgrade the army, navy and air force and corps, engineering personnel are urged to exert efforts to make new innovation and upgrading necessary for the defense sector in accordance with the motto “Engineering capabilities are the strength of the army.”
With the rapid development of modern technologies and military science in today’s international political landscape, it is necessary for all to be well versed in aspects of modern wars which are triggered by military containment and political influence of powerful countries on developing smaller ones.
Studying the conflicts between countries today, it can be seen that powerful countries are waging multifaceted wars through political, military, economic, social, propaganda and diplomatic means behind the scene. Therefore, efforts must be made to be able to expose the root causes behind the scene rather than understanding the superficiality of an incident.
Due to rapid development of military science and technologies, strategies have changed from human command and control to AI command and control in modern wars. Therefore, it is necessary to consistently study the role of technologies that revolutionize military affairs and AI.
It can also be seen that most developed and developing countries in the world have invested in AI technology as well as other defense research in building modern armies for modern wars. It is necessary to be well aware that technologies have advanced fiercely due to rapid flow of information and the global landscape has been changing very fast while they are building modern armies in competition. To catch up with advancing technologies, it is necessary to study changing military science and technology in the world and to make best use of them.
As the Tatmadaw is mainly responsible for safeguarding the sovereignty of the country, it must be a consolidated army instilled with war capability and it must possess three capabilities including military capability, administrative capability and organizational capability. To possess the three capabilities, every unit and personnel are required to be instilled with five basic qualities such as morale, discipline, loyalty, unity and the three capabilities.
The three capabilities are interconnected and high administrative capability will enhance military capability while strengthening organizational capability.
While assuming the responsibility of the State, the Tatmadaw is required to carry out tasks for the stability of the socio-economic lives of the people, unity and development of the country to the best of its ability. In doing so, organizational tasks inside and outside the Tatmadaw must be carried out effectively and successfully.
In building unity within the army, it is necessary to command your units in accordance with the qualities of a good leader and precisely follow the 60-point Code of Conduct for soldiers. Therefore, it is to have a balanced attitude towards your subordinates, correct attitude, responsibility and accountability.
In addition to the professional skills appropriate to your rank, you must command your unit with a sense of comradeship and always arrange for the happiness and well-being of the troops.
In carrying out organizational activities outside military units, you must behave and act according to the ethics to be exercised towards the public and help the public’s interests as much as we can. As the Tatmadaw is born among the people and made up of a variety of ethnic people, it must help the people’s daily life security from all sides as much as it can.
Therefore, in addition to carrying out development tasks on a basis of the assigned unit and region, it is to energetically contribute to the measures to assist education, health and social activities. As it is said, "the nation’s strength lies within", the Tatmadaw needs to be united and agreed with the people in order to safeguard Our Three Main National Causes through standing together with all the national ethnic brethren across the country in unity and friendship. As the support of the people is an important basic factor in national defense activities, when you arrive at the assigned regions, you should diligently carry out community service tasks to achieve success in organizational activities outside military units.
After that, the Senior General received the salute from the cadet columns and left the military parade.
After the military parade, the Senior General met three cadets who won the outstanding award and gave a congratulatory speech.
In his speech, the Senior General said because of their hard work with perseverance, diligence and effort during the 6-year training period, they have received such outstanding awards. It is happy and proud of it as the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services and on behalf of their parents as well. As they performed by setting goals, they could finish with the training period brightly.
While continuing to discharge duties and taking targets as officers, it is necessary for them to keep maintaining adherence to discipline and efforts as did in the days of training. As the cadets who have graduated from the academy, they need to make efforts so that they can worthily take over the responsibilities of the Tatmadaw in the future.
Everyone has the right to be the first, but everyone cannot be the first. They won the first place because of their hard work and efforts, and therefore, the graduated cadets should behave themselves and continue to work hard to improve their lives. They are to make efforts to be recognized by many. Acting honestly and faithfully towards the State, the Tatmadaw, his superiors and subordinates will be much helpful to the improvement of their lives. Similarly,
it is necessary not to forget the gratitude of parents and teachers who guided and taught them. As engineers, it is to apply engineering philosophy. In carrying out technical matters, they need to consult with the senior engineers. It is also necessary to keep working hard to become engineers and technicians having more technical knowledge and skills. It is necessary to make efforts to become great scholars who are helpful to the nation, the Tatmadaw and the people and avoid drinking and enjoying sensual pleasure as much as possible, which can affect their lives. Everyone cannot be perfect in all aspects, but behaving by doing the best, the benefit of the progress of life will be enjoyed.