On 1 October 2016 at 1000 hrs, Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy hosted a solemn ritual for the Class of 2021 to take their military oath of allegiance.
Seventeen newly recruited cadets, 14 boys and 3 girls, crossed the threshold of the Naval Academy on 19 August 2016 and have already started their five-year course of training in Organisation and management of military units on tactical level in three majors: Navigation for the Navy, Ship machinery for the Navy, and Naval communications and radio equipment systems for the Navy.
The official guests of the ceremony included: Vice Admiral Emil Eftimov – Deputy Chief of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria, Rear Admiral Mitko Petev – Commander of the Navy, Captain (N) Georgi Georgiev – Commander of Homeport Station Varna, the Very Rev. Georgi Velikov of the Eparchy of Varna and Veliki Preslav, Mr Andrey Angelov – Deputy Director of the Regional Directorate of MoI – Varna, Mr Nikolay Kostadinov – Mayor of Vladislav Varnenchik District, Ms Vanya Zheleva – Deputy mayor of Mladost District, Col. Ass. Prof. Ivaylo Vazharov – Director of Naval Hospital, Col. Ivan Georgiev of Human Resource Management Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria, Col. Georgi Petkov – Chief of Central Military District, Ms Maya Vaptsarova, representatives of the class of 1980 and the class of 1985, commanders of naval military units, parents, friends of the Academy, lecturers, employees, citizens of Varna.
The military oath taking ritual commenced with the solemn arrival of the regimental flag of Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy. After Vice Admiral Eftimov received the report, the cadets took their military oath of allegiance and one by one ritually passed under the flags. The cadet were then welcomed with speeches by Vice Admiral Eftimov and Rear Admiral Petev, wishing them to wear their naval uniforms with honour and dignity. The oath-takers were also greeted by the Rector of Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy, Commodore Prof. DSc Boyan Mednikarov, who pointed out in his speech that taking a military oath of allegiance is an ancient and hallowed tradition of loyalty to the country, duty and honour for the person who pronounces the pledge of avowal. He congratulated the newly recruited cadets on their right choice to study at the oldest technical education institution in the country and wished them good health, perseverance and successful realisation in life. Cadet Vasil Markov spoke on behalf of the first-year cadets. Ms Vanya Zhelyazkova, mother of a first-year cadet, presented the good wishes from the parents.
The ritual was attended by two classes of Naval Academy alumni, one of which marked 50 years from their graduation, and the other – 50 years from taking their military oath of allegiance at their Alma Mater.
After the ceremony they were met by the Rector of the Naval Academy, who briefed them about the novelties in the training facilities. He spoke to them about the prospects for the development of the Academy and the international contacts established over the recent years.
