One hundred and ninety-nine - that is the number of this year's graduates of the University of Defence, the only military university in the Czech Republic. Sixteen military pilots and thirteen cybersecurity specialists are leaving the university along with others. The spectrum of specializations covers the current needs of the Czech army. The graduation ceremony, by which the graduates say goodbye to their alma mater and start their professional careers after recently passing the state final exams, was traditionally held in front of the public on Brno's Svobody Square, in the centre of the school's headquarters.

This year, for the first time ever, the President of the Republic attended the ceremony. "You have chosen a profession that you are entering with responsibility for the future of this country, for the future and safe life of the people you love and the way of life you want to lead," President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Petr Pavel praised the new military professionals in his opening speech, in which he also recalled the significant contribution of the students of the University of Defence to dealing with crisis situations during the COVID-19 pandemic or in the liquidation of the consequences of the tornado.

This was followed by speeches by the Chief Director of the Industrial Cooperation Section of the MoD, Radka Konderlová, the First Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Miroslav Hlaváč, and the Rector-in-Chief of the University of Defence, Brigadier General Zuzana Kročová. Together with them, the ceremony was attended by the Governor of the South Moravian Region, Jan Grolich, the Chief of the Military Office of the President of the Republic, Major General Radek Hasala, the Rector of the Armed Forces Academy General Milan Rastislav Štefánik in Liptovská Mikuláš, Brigadier General Aurel Sabó, and other representatives of the state administration and local government, rectors of universities, representatives of cooperating organisations, partner associations, veterans' organisations and, of course, parents, relatives, and friends of the graduates.

By virtue of her position, the highest representative of the Defence University then symbolically eliminated all this year's graduates of the university through the best of them - Lt. General Kročová placed one of the insignia of the military school - the sword - on his shoulder and pronounced the elimination formula. Lieutenant Popelář, who had passed all the exams with the highest marks during his studies, then said goodbye to the school on behalf of all his colleagues: "We will take with us not only very valuable professional and life experience that we would not have gained anywhere else, but especially friendship and humility, which will be the pillars of our future careers."

The top-ranked graduates of this year's graduating class then received awards and prizes for their achievements. Among them was a member of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic, Lieutenant Engineer Andrea Šafáriková, who graduated from the University of Defence with a degree in Chemical Unit Commander.

For the current rector-commander of the University of Defence, the elimination was the last public appearance in her position. From August 1st, her place will be taken by the newly elected rector-commander, Colonel Jan Farlík, who during the ceremony took over the battle flag of the University of Defence and thus symbolically also the post of the Director General of the University of Defence from the hands of Chief Director Radka Konderlová, who represented the Minister of Defence.

The newly minted military professionals then presented their last ever ceremonial march at the University of Defence to a large audience in Brno's central square, and then nothing prevented them from throwing their caps high into the air and letting their colleagues, relatives, and acquaintances enjoy their success.