Egypt's Defence Minister Lieutenant General Ashraf Salem Zaher attended the graduation ceremony of the 163rd cohort of the Non-Commissioned Officers Institute for Teachers on Sunday, 27 September 2026. The ceremony was also attended by Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Ahmed Khalifa and Minister of Education and Technical Education Mohamed Abdel-Latif. The cohort was named after martyred Warrant Officer Hani Beltagy Rady Atta.
The graduation ceremony began with a physical training display by the cadets, demonstrating their fitness and cycling skills. They then showcased their skills in primary and advanced weapons training and the use of Delta equipment, followed by a freefall parachute display. The cadets also demonstrated close-quarters combat, self-defence, vertical assault, rapid descent, and crossing different obstacles.
The Armed Forces said the displays showed their ability to carry out assigned tasks under varying conditions. Military bands performed coordinated marching formations, while institute cadets took part in a parade carrying the flag. The displays concluded with a military parade featuring groups of cadets, and the bands played Salute to the Martyr in tribute to fallen Armed Forces personnel.
The family of Warrant Officer Hani Beltagy Rady Atta, after whom the graduating cohort was named, was also honoured during the ceremony. The institute's senior instructor announced the final results, and cadets from the 163rd cohort then handed over command of the institute to the 164th cohort. The graduates recited their oath of allegiance, and Zaher awarded decorations to the top graduates.
Institute director Major General Staff Ayman Amin El-Gendy said the Armed Forces' General Command continued to support the institute in developing its training and qualification system. The changes aimed to keep pace with modern education and training methods and prepare graduates to deal competently with different challenges.
Zaher conveyed President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi's greetings and congratulations to the graduates and their families. He said the new cohort represented another generation of young Egyptians entrusted with responsibilities beyond military training, including building awareness and character. He added that preparing non-commissioned officer teachers received particular attention because of their role within the Armed Forces.
Minister Zaher emphasized that non-commissioned officer teachers were a key pillar of the Armed Forces and that the new graduates would help protect Egypt's national security. With this, the 163rd cohort of the Non-Commissioned Officers Institute for Teachers officially graduated, marking a significant milestone in their training and development.
Key points
- Egypt's Defence Minister attends graduation ceremony of 163rd non-commissioned officer teachers cohort.
- The cohort was named after martyred Warrant Officer Hani Beltagy Rady Atta.
- The graduates will play a crucial role in protecting Egypt's national security.
