Second Lieutenant Stephanie Debono of the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) successfully completed a 44-week Commissioning Course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS), as an Overseas Officer Cadet with Commissioning Course number CC112.

Malta’s High Commissioner to the UK Joseph Zammit Tabona attended the Sovereign’s Parade upon the invitation of the Academy’s Commandant, Major-General Timothy Paul Evans MBE DSO.

Sandhurst has been “a centre of excellence for leadership” for the past 200 years. The Commissioning Course develops leadership in cadets by expanding their character, intellect and professional competences to a level demanded of an army officer on first appointment through military training and education.

Lieutenant Debono stated that it is “a great honour and privilege to represent Malta at this prestigious academy”. She thanked the Directing Staff at AFM’s Training School at Luqa Barracks, whose initial training prepared her to commission with flying colours at Sandhurst. Ms Debono said that the experience she has gained at the UK’s premier military institution will definitely assist her as her AFM career progresses.

High Commissioner Zammit Tabona congratulated Ms Debono on her Commissioning. The High Commissioner, in conversation with the Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, praised the commitment and merit of 2nd Lieut. Debono and her AFM predecessors. He remarked that in the last 25 years, since the AFM resumed their link with RMAS, many other Maltese officer cadets have excelled during their overseas training here.

AFM Headquarters spokesman, Major Ivan Consiglio, said that “2nd Lieut. Stephanie Debono’s good result continues to perpetuate the AFM officer cadets’ traditional high standard performance at this world-renowned military academy”. Some 34% of the AFM Officer Corps have been trained at RMAS.