68th Anniversary of FAR Creation: HM the King Addresses Order of the Day to Royal Armed Forces

Here follows the full translation of the Order of the Day:

« Praise be to God,

May peace and blessings be upon the Prophet, His Kith and Kin

Officers, non-commissioned officers and privates,

On this glorious day, we celebrate the sixty-eighth anniversary of the creation of the Royal Armed Forces, and our hearts, both of Our August Person and of all Moroccans, are filled with feelings of pride towards all the components of our valiant Army – land, air, naval and the Royal Gendarmerie. It is for Us, Supreme Commander and Chief of General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces, an opportunity to renew Our sympathy and satisfaction to you and to express Our gratitude to you for the sacrifices you are making with dedication and self-negation in the service of territorial integrity and the defense of national borders.

We also remember, with consideration and deference, the historic milestones achieved by our Royal Armed Forces, remembering with reverence the pioneering role of the two revered leaders, His Majesty King Mohammed V, may God bless him, and His worthy successor, His Majesty King Hassan II, may God bless His soul, so that this Institution continues to ensure its historic role as an impassable rampart of this peaceful country.

Officers, non-commissioned officers and privates,

The fulfillment of the great missions entrusted to you in defense of the Homeland and its territorial integrity, as well as your sustained efforts in the service of your country in the various military, security, humanitarian, social and educational fields, in addition to your firm commitment, with responsibility and seriousness, make you an example to follow in terms of loyalty and generosity.

Our objective is that the Royal Armed Forces remain attached to their authentic values and their centuries-old traditions, capable of fulfilling their noble missions of defense of the Homeland and citizens in the best conditions, and that our institutes, schools and educational centers continue to provide our Royal Armed Forces with promotions of national executives and military skills, including officers, non-commissioned officers and privates, able to assume their responsibilities with skill and professionalism.

In this regard, We praise the colossal work accomplished by Our Armed Forces for the defense of our territorial integrity with self-sacrifice, faithful to the oath of the Green March, as well as Our soldiers who ensure the security of the land, air and maritime borders of the Kingdom. We also commend the members of our military contingents deployed as part of the Peacekeeping Operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic, in line with the efforts of the United Nations to restore security and peace in these two brotherly countries.

Officers, non-commissioned officers and privates,

Today’s world is experiencing worrying tensions and accelerated and unprecedented transformations, embodied by polarization, the multiplicity of alliances and the increasing probability of war in different regions of the globe. This situation has imposed the inevitability of revising the concepts of security and defense and adapting programs and strategies in the face of the resurgence of threats and challenges, in order to deal with this situation and adapt to it.

To this end, Our Majesty constantly strives to develop the capabilities of the Royal Armed Forces, all components combined, and to provide them with all modern technical means and necessary equipment through training and qualification programs for the human element, while putting in place integrated plans guaranteeing permanent operational availability and strengthening their defensive capabilities in all circumstances.

Thus, We have given Our High Instructions to initiate a global assessement of training curricula and military training programs intended for all military personnel, all levels combined, with the aim of instilling a new dynamic into the systems and supports of teaching and adapting them to new changes, while adopting renewed thinking and innovative methods in the fields of science, technology and artificial intelligence.

With a view to developing the higher military training system, We have ordered the setting up of a new headquarters of the Royal College of Higher Military Education, as an integrated university center, which houses all of the higher military training schools of the officers from the various land, air, naval and Royal Gendarmerie components, and provides comprehensive education, in accordance with modern and developed curricula and techniques, and open to the continental and international space.

Officers, non-commissioned officers and privates,

 The unprecedented influx of our young people in response to the call of the Homeland within the framework of military service which has yielded, since its resumption, in very positive results, reflects the continued success of this operation, of which We have decided to make it an open national project according to a new vision in terms of training and professional qualification, combining the strengthening of the spirit of belonging to the Homeland and the taking of responsibilities with the opening of prospects for the future and integration to physically, scientifically and technically qualified Moroccan youth for an active contribution to the economic growth and development of the country.

Furthermore, We are pleased and satisfied with the willingness, determination, altruism and discipline shown by these young men and women, after their integration into the ranks of the Royal Armed Forces, the Royal Gendarmerie, the National Security, the Auxiliary Forces and other services, public administrations and civil establishments that they joined after completing their military training. In the light of these convincing results, we call on all those responsible to do their utmost to preserve the tangible achievements of military service, and to press ahead with their development.

Officers, non-commissioned officers and privates,

Our Royal Armed Forces continue, with loyalty and sacrifice, as they have done in the past, to carry out the missions We entrust to them, be they social or military, in the service of the Homeland and the security of its inhabitants. In this respect, We take this opportunity to laud the glorious epic written by members of the Royal Armed Forces, alongside those of the Royal Gendarmerie, National Security, Auxiliary Forces, Civil Protection and local authorities, as well as their fellow volunteers, following the tragic earthquake that struck the provinces of Al Haouz and Taroudant.

Immediately after giving Our High Instructions in the first hours of the tragedy, your instant reaction and rapid intervention on the ground, backed up by the deployment of field hospitals and land and air rescue and relief units, as well as the setting up of accommodation camps and the provision of food aid to disaster victims, contributed effectively to alleviating the suffering of the population and opening up the affected areas.

We are also proud of the great role played by the female military element during these painful events, contributing with the same determination, enthusiasm and sense of belonging to the Homeland, to the supervision of field hospitals and to social activities to mitigate the effects of the tragedy on women and children.

Officers, non-commissioned officers and privates,

As We commemorate this blessed occasion, We remember with reverence and deference the souls of all those who made precious sacrifices for the dignity and greatness of this Homeland, headed by the two late leaders, Our Grandfather, His Majesty King Mohammed V, and Our Father, His Majesty King Hassan II, may God have them in His holy mercy, imploring God to welcome them into His vast paradise among the prophets, saints, martyrs and the virtuous ones.

With the same faith, we pray to the Almighty to have in his holy mercy Our brave martyrs fallen in the field of honor for the defense of the Homeland, its territorial integrity and its national sovereignty.

We implore God to help you in the accomplishment of your missions and to grant you greater strength and perseverance to achieve your goals, and to keep you always as fervent defenders of the Homeland and loyal soldiers of the Throne, mobilized behind your Supreme Leader and faithful to your eternal motto: God – The Homeland – The King”.