RCAF Commander-in-Chief Vong Pisen told 101 graduate soldiers that they must be role models in respecting and enforcing the law. royal cambodian armed forces
Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) Commander-in-Chief General Vong Pisen told 101 graduate soldiers that they have to be role models in respecting and enforcing the law and that they need to uphold their duties of protecting the country’s independence and sovereignty.
Pisen said this when presiding over the invocation (oath) ceremony for 101 soldiers on Tuesday at the Win-Win Monument in the capital’s Chroy Changvar district.
“Soldiers must understand clearly the duties of the RCAF which is the core force in protecting independence and sovereignty.
“Soldiers must be role models in respecting and enforcing the law, and in doing so, you have to respect the discipline, command, and regulations of the RCAF,” Pisen said.
He said soldiers had to strengthen internal unity and be of good behaviour in society and while carrying out their duties. They must also maintain good relations with the people because RCAF members were made up of the people’s children, he said.
All soldiers, Pisen said, had to keep abreast with the current situation in regards to national security so that they are ready to act on command. They must always be aware of the trickery of foes and cooperate with friends of Cambodia around the globe.
“[You] have to learn new skills and foreign languages, keep your moral standing high and your body fit. Stay away from drugs,” he said.
Cadet Officer School director Buth Sopheap told The Post on Wednesday that the 101 soldiers were the 20th generation to graduate from his school.
They had completed their four-year programme and took the oath on Tuesday before starting work at different units across the country.
He said 20 to 25 per cent of the coursework in his military school programmes focused on psychological education which built trainees conscience and patriotism towards the Kingdom and as citizens.
“Most important is that soldiers have to respect the law. They also have to support each other as colleagues and care for the people in general. This helps to maintain solidarity and national unity in our country,” Sopheap said.
He said the trainee soldiers have to take at least two oaths before starting their jobs, with the first swearing-in taking place at the beginning of the course and the second when they graduated.
Kin Phea, the director of the International Relations Institute at the Royal Academy of Cambodia said soldiers and their commanders have to be role models for society and servants to the people.
He said in general, soldiers had behaved well, but still, there were some who had committed misconduct.
“Soldiers and armed forces have to be the role model in society. During the Sangkum Reastr Niyum (of King Father Norodom Sihanouk) soldiers were called the subordinates of the people.
“They respected and helped people. They did not regard themselves as the boss of the people. They must maintain their positions as role models, otherwise, their value as national and territorial protectors will be lost,” Phea said.
