On Friday, February 21, 1959, His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I received in audience six cadets of the Ethiopian Air Force before their leaving for a six-month training course in the United States. Below is His Imperial Majestys speech addressed to the cadets: Our purpose for sending you to the United States is so that you may become jet aircraft pilot trainers on your return which we have been informed by your ins- tructors will take an estimated period of six months. Our aim and hope when the airforce centre was instituted were to see that the aircraft flying in our air space be totally operated by the youth of Ethiopia. We never imagined that in such a short space of time the Ethiopian Air Force would have reached the state of producing its own jet pilot trainers. Moreover, we never thought that jets would have been introduced in this part of the world in such a rapid space of time. In the short period that has elapsed since the incep- tion of our aircraft training centre the march of time, which has been faster than we had imagined, has made it possible for us to utilise jet aircraft. We feel particularly happy, from the bottom of our heart, to witness your progress in aviation and your stage of achievement in flying jets that have made it possible for us to utilise jet for further studies in a friendly country with the objective of becoming instructors, which is an indication that the fruits of our efforts in expanding our air force are already ripening. Many sacrifices have been made to reach this stage; moreover, money and the sacrifice of the lives of our youth with tempting careers before them. In comparing these sacrifices with our limitations we find that the former far outweighs the latter; even more, when we realise that these sacrifices are responsible for our ad- vance to the jet-age, our sorrows have been alleviated. The capabilities which you have shown in mastering jet aircraft within the past months have proved beyond doubt that with the proper instruction our people could cope with any type of technical and scientific studies. By so doing you have made us happy and inspired our faith that you will study with vigour and enthusiasm when you reach your destination, that you will not be ensnared by the lack of industry and that you will achieve excellent results by which you will reach your proper station and afford us the maximum satisfaction. Because your behaviour, diligence and eea your love of work will not only be for yourselves but will also serve to maintain the dignity of our Air Force and people you must strive to be praise-worthy while in training abroad. Beware that if you stop to look you will cast a shadow upon your fair name. That your flying allowance may match your added responsibilities we have raised it, and this is because we have realised that flying even in peace time, is hazardous and also because we have noted occasional progress in your training. From the earliest times up to the present, soldiers have always sacrificed their lives for love of freedom, country and sovereign. No gift will gratify the man, who, untrue to this noble cause, serves for riches alone. The love of money can determine a mans price. So beware of this trap.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 23:42:17 +0000
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