Kosovo Security Force Officer wins Overseas Award
A young officer from the Kosovo Security Force has been awarded the Overseas Award for the best overall results of his intake at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
Officer Cadet Xhevahir Hasanaj of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) has been awarded the Overseas Award for being the international cadet with the best overall results in military, academic and practical studies of his intake at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. On 13 April 2017, Hasanaj was presented with the trophy during the Sovereign’s Parade by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Rt Hon Theresa May MP, who was the Sovereign’s Representative. President of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi was present at the parade.
Officer Cadet Hasanaj graduated alongside another Kosovan cadet, Officer Cadet Arlind Bajrami. Fifteen young KSF officers have now graduated from the demanding 44 week long course at the internationally renowned academy. Education and leadership development is a key element of the UK’s bilateral support to the KSF.
The British Ambassador, Ruairí O’Connell, said:
Congratulations to Officer Cadet Xhevahir Hasanaj. This is a significant achievement of which he, and Kosovo, should be proud. It is also a sign not only of the UK’s deep-rooted and ongoing commitment to Kosovo and the Kosovo Security Force, but also of what the UK and Kosovo can accomplish when we work in partnership.
The UK’s Defence Attaché for Kosovo, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Parry said:
This is a tremendous achievement for both Xhevahir and the KSF and I am delighted for both. We are very impressed by the consistently high performance of the young KSF officers that are educated at Sandhurst and now also at the Royal Air Force College at Cranwell. They are a strong group and we look to them to use their knowledge and experience for the development and good of KSF and its successor. The education of young officers and leadership development is the mainstay of our bi-lateral support to KSF. Its success bodes well for the future of the Force and on these performances we look forward to continuing our support.
British Advisor to Commander KSF, Lieutenant Colonel Gregor Lindsay said:
I’m delighted by Xhevahir’s success. It’s a huge privilege to be in Kosovo working with young men and women from the Kosovo Security Force; their talent and enthusiasm is an inspiration to me and to other British personnel when they visit Kosovo. I’m sure Xhevahir, and indeed Arlind Bajrami, have bright futures ahead of them as the Kosovo Security Force grows from strength to strength - showing to their fellow Kosovars and to the wider world just what they can achieve.
Notes for editors
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) is the world-renowned officer training academy for the British Army. It is the Home of the Officer Corps of the British Army. The present Royal Military Academy Sandhurst was founded in 1947 with the merger of two institutions: the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst founded in 1741 and 1802 respectively.
Since 1947 over 5000 young people from 114 countries have trained alongside British Officer Cadets. There are typically 80 Overseas Officer Cadets from up to 40 different nations at RMAS at any time. To date 15 young KSF officers have graduated from Sandhurst including 3 females: another officer is in training there. Three others are under training at the Royal Air Force academy at RAF Cranwell: the first two will graduate in July 2017.
RMAS develops leadership in cadets by expanding their intellect, character and professional competences to a level demanded of an Army Officer on first appointment through military training and education. The course is accredited by various academic and professional institutions. The Commissioning Course lasts 44 weeks and must be successfully completed by all British regular army officers (with some exceptions) before they receive their commission. It is usually followed by further training courses specific to the Regiment or Corps in which the officer will serve.