AFM officer wins Sword of Honour at Sandhurst

The much-coveted Sandhurst Overseas Sword of Honour has once again been won by an officer of the Armed Forces of Malta. The sword is awarded to the overseas cadet considered by the Commandant of the Military College to be the best in his course. Second...

The much-coveted Sandhurst Overseas Sword of Honour has once again been won by an officer of the Armed Forces of Malta. The sword is awarded to the overseas cadet considered by the Commandant of the Military College to be the best in his course.

Second Lieutenant Jonathan Cutajar was presented with the sword by the Queen's Representative, Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar, himself a former Sandhurst cadet.

The presentation of awards took place during the 144th Sovereign's Parade on April 8, at the end of the standard 11-month course, at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, England. Founded in 1799, Sandhurst is the oldest military academy of any major army in the world.

Second Lieutenant Cutajar, of Fgura, enlisted in the AFM as an officer cadet on October 1, 2002. After successfully completing his basic course in Malta, Second Lieutenant Cutajar, aged 23, began his commissioning course at Sandhurst on May 5, 2003.

In 2002, Lieutenant Jason Ebejer also won the award. The present sword replaces the Overseas Cane of Honour previously awarded to overseas cadets. Major Ian Ruggier was the first Maltese officer to win the cane in 1992, followed by Captain Jeffrey Curmi in 1996.

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