Navy graduates 125th class of captains; Chief of Staff and Navy Commander address graduation ceremony
Date: 06/09/2012, 8:06 PM
Author: IDF Website
Last night (Wednesday, September 5), the graduation ceremony for the 125th class of Navy captains took place at the Naval Instructional Base in Haifa. The ceremony was attended by Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz, Commander in Chief of the Navy Vice Adm. Ram Rothberg, senior naval officers, and the family and friends of the graduates.
Graduates were awarded the Navy officer’s pin and given the rank of lieutenant. They will be joining the prestigious ranks of the Israeli Navy, operating various vessels such as missile boats and submarines.
Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz addressed the ceremony. “The shifting strategic fabric, coupled with the growth of the maritime sector, has transformed the Navy into a decisive force in all scenarios – peacetime, wartime, and emergencies. The Navy may be the smallest corps, but they take on some of the largest missions. They are a small corps with an enormous impact on every issue in the Middle East. We are not battle-hungry. But if you push us, you will find a force that has the means, knowledge, and operational capability to protect the safety of Israel’s citizens.”
Vice Adm. Ram Rothberg also spoke, noting, “For the citizens of Israel, a powerful military is a necessary backbone in today’s world, and the Navy is a major force in any scenario – as a deterrent force, as a strike force, and as a strategic arm. Our impressive flexibility and ability to adapt are essential, especially in these uncertain times.”