His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II on Wednesday attended the graduation ceremony of the first cohort of the National Military Service programme for the year 2026.

During the ceremony, held at the National Military Service training centre, His Royal Highness delivered an address emphasising the importance of mobilising and investing in the potential of youth, highlighting the role of the National Military Service programme in building a stronger, self-reliant Jordan that keeps pace with change.

The Crown Prince underscored the importance of serving Jordan with honour across all fields of work, investing in technology, and committing to life-long education and development of skills, emphasising that Jordan’s strength and the unity of its people are integral to the strength of the wider Arab nation and its causes.

Following is the full English translation of His Royal Highness’s speech:

“In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful,

Prayers and peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad,

My dear brothers,

Peace, God’s mercy and blessings be upon you.

I stand among you today, filled with a deep sense of pride—the pride of a soldier, the son of a soldier of this nation, and a young man raised in a home where the military is deeply respected and the honour of service is held in the highest esteem.

I grew up seeing that love for the military in the eyes of His Majesty—whenever he spoke of his days in the army, reunited with those with whom he shared the honour of service, or stood among his brothers-in-arms. From them, we learned that the military is far more than a rank.

It is a spirit of belonging to something greater than oneself, and a legacy of pride passed down through deeds rather than words. A legacy forged by men who believed that this nation is worthy of their service and sacrifice, and who safeguarded it with utmost courage and devotion—“Men who are true to the covenant they made with God.”

We now stand in a procession of honour stretching back fifty years, to the moment when my grandfather King Hussein, may God bless his soul, stood before the first regiment of those who came before you and affirmed: “the National Military Service is a declaration of the utmost loyalty to the homeland,” emphasising that the spirit of military service is the foundation upon which nations are built and endure.

You will come to realise, in time, that these three months were neither a passing phase nor simply a period of training ending in a graduation. Rather, they were an experience that disciplines the self, reorders its priorities and reminds one of what matters most.

In military service, we learn that loyalty is not merely a slogan to be chanted, but a duty to be honoured in times of adversity. And on the army’s battlefields, we learn that Jordan is the land of free people—a compassionate people, bound by a sincere brotherhood, who stand together in hardship, and never retreat when the task grows difficult.

In military service, we learn respect and cooperation; we eat together, train together, and if one of us falls, we rise as one.

In these values lie the roots of our nation and the essence of the Jordanian character that never changes.

My dear brothers,

Today, we live in a volatile world and turbulent region where the balance of power and alliances are shifting, and the rules and values that have governed our global order for decades are fading. We live in a world defined by technological transformations that are driving us towards an unfamiliar future.

In our region, we are witnessing a period of escalation that demands of us awareness, responsibility, readiness, and a strong sense of national duty. A sense of national duty that places Jordan first; for when everyone unites behind one purpose—the national interest—and determination is matched by action, our flag continues to fly high, our unity endures, and our institutions remain strong. Jordan’s resolve and the solidarity of its people are a source of strength for our wider nation and its causes.

That is why it is more important than ever to harness the energy of our youth; it is what truly shapes the character of Jordanians, capitalises on their potential, and mobilises their national spirit.

This is how we serve Jordan with honour—by making every workplace a stronghold, every institution a frontline of achievement, and every citizen a soldier in the cause of progress and prosperity.

Today, in an era of rapid change, serving our nation requires a perspective that keeps pace with this change.

Yes, our values are firm and unwavering, but holding fast to the ways of the past is no longer an option. We must not fear change, for the real danger lies in stagnation, and fear has never been the mark of a Jordanian.

Having confidence in ourselves is not arrogance, but a right earned through the trials this nation has endured. Jordan has stood firm through difficult times and emerged from them more resolute and united.

My dear brothers,

Our assessment of our reality is shaped not only on facts, but on how we choose to see them. Many view our turbulent surroundings and limited resources as a heavy burden. I see them as a force that has forged our national character; a force that made our people the core of our strength, innovation our choice, and education our soundest investment. It drove us to achieve much with little, and to build a nation that has moved beyond mere resilience, to growth and progress.

And we have what it takes to realise our full potential. Our goal is a stronger Jordan; a Jordan that is self-reliant, that seizes the opportunities created by technology, and that renews its commitment to education and upskilling so that it can meet the demands and the unexpected turns of the future.

The values and discipline you have gained over the past period must become the foundation of our work in every field.

We must do what needs to be done with honesty and integrity. And we must make excellence our standard; there is no room today for cutting corners or half-measures.

This is how we achieve our goals. We may stumble at times, but there can be no room for retreat, backtracking, or straying from our goal. Nations are not held together by good intentions nor built on wishful thinking, but through action and achievement.

Yes, we will succeed. Not because it is easy, but because it is necessary, and because it is a decision from which we will not turn back. We are the ones who shape our present and future. We do not wait for ready-made solutions, nor do we look for shortcuts. We do not need a saviour; the saviour is you, and those to your right and left, those in front of you and behind you. Hand in hand, we will build our future together.

My brothers,

Glory belongs to those who make challenge their path, patience their weapon, and determination their unquenchable fuel.

This nation was not built in comfort, nor was it preserved through hesitation. It was carried on the shoulders of strong men, alongside women who believed in their role in building and giving.

You are the strength of this nation and its foundation. Through you, it stands firm; through you, it moves forward.

Know that today you are paving a path for those who will come after you.

May Jordan remain above all else, steadfast and proud, with its army and its people, defying all adversity.

I am proud of you. May God give you strength and determination.

Peace, God’s mercy and blessings be upon you.”

Upon arrival at the venue, the Crown Prince was received by a number of members of the Royal Family, heads of the three authorities, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Maj. Gen. Yousef Huneiti, Royal Hashemite Court Chief Yousef Issawi, and senior officers and officials.

The ceremony included a parade of the graduates marching in formation, a silent drill and hand-to-hand combat demonstrations, reflecting the high level of physical fitness, discipline, and combat skills achieved during training.

His Royal Highness presented awards to the top-performing graduates in infantry and combat readiness during the ceremony.

The National Military Service programme is conducted over a period of three months, during which trainees engage in an intensive and balanced training programme that includes a field military track focusing on discipline, physical skills, and the use of light weapons, in addition to a theoretical track covering topics such as active citizenship, national awareness, financial literacy, and the realities of the job market.