AMMAN — HRH Crown Prince Hussein on Wednesday patronised the graduation ceremony of the first batch of national service conscripts for 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, according to a Royal Court statement.

 

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.

 

He highlighted that the values instilled during service, including discipline, cooperation and commitment, form the foundation of Jordanian national identity, noting that “loyalty is not merely a slogan, but a duty fulfilled in times of adversity.”

 

The Crown Prince stressed that the region is undergoing a period of heightened tensions and transformation, requiring “awareness, responsibility, preparedness, and a sense of national duty that places Jordan first.”

 

Addressing graduates, the Crown Prince urged them to carry forward the discipline and values they acquired during service and apply them in all fields of life.

 

Following is the full text 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 who is the son of a soldier of this nation, and of a young man raised in a home that deeply respects the military and holds the honour of service in the highest regard.

 

I grew up witnessing love for the military in the eyes of His Majesty; whenever he speaks of his days in the army, meets those with whom he shared the honour of service, or stands amongst his brothers-in-arms; those from whom we have learnt that the military is not merely a rank.

 

It is a spirit of belonging to something greater than the self, and a legacy of pride passed down through deeds, not words. A legacy built by men who believed that this nation deserves to be served and defended with their lives, and who safeguarded it with utmost valour and devotion—“Men who are true to the covenant they made with God.”

 

We now stand in a line of glory fifty years in the making, dating back to that moment when my grandfather King Hussein, may God bless his soul, stood before the first regiment of those who came before you, saying: “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 later that these three months were neither a passing phase nor simply a training period culminating in a graduation. They were an experience that refined the soul, reordering its priorities and reminding it of what truly matters.

 

In military service, we learn that loyalty is not merely a slogan to be chanted, but a duty to be fulfilled in times of adversity. And in the army’s battlefields, we learn that Jordan is the land of freedom, whose people are compassionate and share a sense of sincere brotherhood that stands firm when the going gets tough, and knows no retreat when the task becomes arduous.

 

In military service, we learn respect and cooperation; we eat together, train together, and if one of us falls, we help each other up.

 

It is in these values that the foundations of our nation and the essence of the authentic and enduring Jordanian character lie.

 

My dear brothers,

 

We live today in a turbulent world and regional environment; the balance of power and alliances are shifting, and the rules and values that have governed our global order for decades are fading away. We live in a world defined by technological transformations, which will propel us towards an unfamiliar future.

 

In our region, we are witnessing a period of escalation that requires us all to demonstrate awareness, responsibility, preparedness, and a sense of national duty. A sense of national duty that puts Jordan first; for when everyone rallies around a single goal, the national interest, and the determination to move forward is combined with action, our flag continues to fly high, our unity is preserved, and our institutions remain strong. Jordan’s might and the solidarity of its people are a source of strength for our wider nation and its causes.

 

This is why it is more important than ever to harness the energy of youth; for this 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, so that every workplace becomes a stronghold, every institution a frontline of achievement, and every citizen a soldier on the battlefields of progress and prosperity.

 

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

 

Yes, our values are firm and unwavering, but clinging 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 a trait of the Jordanian people.

 

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

 

My dear brothers,

 

Our judgment of our own reality is based not merely on facts, but also on our perspective of them. Many people view our turbulent situation and our limited resources as a heavy burden. But I see them as a driving force that has shaped our national character; a motivation that has made people the core of our strength, innovation our choice, and education our most feasible investment. We are determined to achieve much with little, and to build a nation that has gone beyond mere resilience, to grow and advance.

 

We also have the ability to realise our full potential. Our goal is a stronger Jordan; a Jordan that is self-reliant, that capitalises on the opportunities offered by technology, and renews its commitment to education and upskilling, in order to meet the demands and surprises of the future.

 

The values and discipline you have learnt over the past period must form the basis of all 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 objectives. We may stumble, but there is no room for retreat, backtracking, or straying from our goal. For nations are not safeguarded by 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 our irreversible decision. We are the ones who shape our present and future. We do not wait for ready-made solutions, nor 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 are shaping 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 preserved through hesitation. It was carried on the shoulders of strong men, alongside women who believed in their role in progress and dedication.

 

You are the strength and the foundation of this nation. Because of you, it stands firm and it moves forward.

 

Rest assured that today you are setting a precedent that will be passed on to future generations.

 

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 three-month National Service Programme provided conscripts with intensive, well-rounded training, combining a field-based military track focused on discipline, physical fitness and the use of light weapons, with a theoretical component covering active citizenship, national awareness, financial literacy and labour market readiness.

 

Each year, 6,000 young men would be selected, divided into three phases of 2,000 conscripts each, according to the Military Media Directorate.

 

The initiative builds on HRH Crown Prince Hussein’s August announcement to reactivate the National Service Programme, describing the effort as a national step to prepare and qualify young people through military training and a structured theoretical curriculum within the National Service and Reserve Service framework.