Amman, May 5 (Petra) -- The first phase of the national military service program was crowned with the graduation of its inaugural cohort in a celebratory national ceremony, as military experts and officials stressed that the major national project has gone beyond its traditional military framework to become a strategic pillar for empowering Jordanian youth and preparing them to serve the country.

Speakers highlighted the key messages conveyed in a speech by HRH Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II during the graduation ceremony, saying they reflect a firm commitment to equipping young Jordanians with the tools needed to build their future and that of their country.

The messages centered on describing Jordanian youth as "knights of change" and the main driver of development, urging them to strive for excellence and mastery in all fields and to keep pace with global technological advances so that they can compete in international markets.

Commenting to the Jordan News Agency (Petra), speakers said the reinstatement of national service "is not merely a return to a military tradition, but a revival of national spirit and a reshaping of the Jordanian youth character to be more resilient and capable of meeting the challenges of the modern era," in line with royal directives aimed at making every young Jordanian the first line of defense for the nation’s achievements and future.

Retired Major General Hilal Al-Khawaldeh, former Assistant Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for Planning, Organisation and Defense Resources, described the decision to reactivate national service as a "strategic vision aimed at investing in the younger generation," noting that the program seeks to achieve several national and social goals, foremost among them strengthening national identity and instilling values of loyalty, belonging and public service.

Al-Khawaldeh said the program is built on four main pillars, starting with shaping character by reinforcing discipline, commitment, responsibility and teamwork. The second pillar focuses on tackling unemployment by equipping young people with practical technical and vocational skills that facilitate their integration into the labour market, in addition to building a solid youth base capable of supporting the armed forces and security agencies when needed.

In his assessment of the first cohort, Al-Khawaldeh said the program had effectively brought about a fundamental transformation in participants’ lifestyles, helping instill military discipline, improve time management, enhance physical fitness and health, and develop the ability to work under pressure and face challenges.

He added that the program's success was the result of genuine integration between the military and civilian sectors. The Jordan Armed Forces oversaw the military training, national education and the promotion of a sense of belonging, while the Ministry of Labor and the Vocational Training Corporation provided specialized training programs aligned with labor market needs, particularly in the private sector.

For his part, Abdel Rahim Al-Zawahreh, Director of the All Jordan Youth Commission (AJYC), described the graduation of the first cohort as "a success story we are proud of," noting that the transformation observed among graduates was profound and tangible, including the acquisition of advanced life and physical skills, responsibility, teamwork, self-confidence and sound decision-making under pressure.

Al-Zawahreh said the military discipline and professional skills gained by graduates would have a direct and positive impact on the labor market by supplying it with candidates who demonstrate strong work ethics, strict time discipline and a spirit of initiative and contribution qualities highly sought after by the private sector.

Regarding future plans, Al-Zawahreh said efforts are under way to further develop the national project to better align with the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the digital and technological needs of youth, with a focus on life and professional skills required for the next phase. He stressed the importance of drawing lessons from the first phase and addressing all observations arising from it.

The Jordan Armed Forces has begun conducting medical examinations for the second cohort of national service recruits at the start of this month as part of the program's ongoing implementation.

The Mobilization and People’s Army Directorate has set a structured timetable taking into account geographical distribution and recruits’ places of residence, covering military hospitals across all governorates, with a unified medical committee rotating between them to ensure the highest standards of accuracy, fairness and transparency.

In a step reflecting the military’s consideration of youth circumstances, the armed forces decided to postpone the enlistment date for the second cohort to June 20, instead of June 1, to accommodate university final exams, while affirming that the program will continue to be implemented according to well-studied plans that ensure its national objectives are achieved.

//Petra// AF