Staff Reporter
GENERALS, as well as senior officers, who have served in the Namibian Defence Force (NDF), were today conferred with honorary medallions for their servitude and discipline. The medals were awarded to NDF soldiers who have been in the force for 10, 20, and 30 years, in recognition of their long service, dedication, bravery, and heroic sacrifice in the service of the Namibian Defence Force.
Speaking at the occasion, the Chief of the NDF, Air Marshal Martin Pinehas, said that military medals are an important part of military life and are presented to those who have excelled in their assigned duties and functions. “To this end, I want to highlight that honouring and awarding of medals is a military tradition that has come over the years, dating back to many decades and centuries. Furthermore, medals represent accomplishment and acknowledgement. This custom is one of the cornerstones around which military pride and morale are built. It is also a way to pay tribute and homage to the individuals who have dedicated their lives to serving the country and the nation at large,” Air Marshal Pinehas said.
He added that since the inception of the NDF in 1990, the NDF has carried out its mandate with professional competence and dedication.
“Therefore, today’s medal ceremony is meant to reward you as a means of acknowledging and appreciating your selfless efforts in contributing to the growth of the Force, having distinguished yourselves. Distinguished Recipients, your long service reflects a great contribution that cannot be easily forgotten in the history of the Namibian Defence Force. While celebrating, we should not forget that the NDF first participated in Cambodia in 1992 as part of a peacekeeping contingent in that country to maintain international peace and security. Since then, you have collectively contributed immensely to the positive growth of the Force from the humble beginnings by participating in numerous missions and exercises,” Pinehas concluded.
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