Credit: Elza Osmane, Chronicle.lu
On Tuesday 28 July 2026, the Luxembourg Army held its 209th solemn oath ceremony for recruits at Useldange Castle, where 56 volunteer soldiers officially joined the ranks of the armed forces.
The ceremony, held in Luxembourgish, was attended by more than 200 spectators, including family members, friends, military personnel and dignitaries. Among those present were Yuriko Backes, Luxembourg's Minister of Defence, General Steve Thull, Chief of Staff of the Luxembourg Army, Colonel Alain Schoeben, Commander of the Forces, other members of the Luxembourg Army and local representatives.
Having successfully completed their basic military training, the recruits pledged to uphold Luxembourg's Constitution, obey the country's laws and military regulations, and faithfully serve the Crown and the national flag.
During the ceremony, each recruit also received the orange-and-blue fourragère, a braided ceremonial shoulder cord that symbolises their transition from recruit to fully qualified soldier.
Addressing the recruits, Colonel Alain Schoeben, Commander of the Forces, congratulated them on completing their initial training, describing it as only the beginning of their military careers. He stressed that becoming a soldier involves much more than mastering military skills. "You have to be honest and disciplined. You have to support the team," he told the new soldiers.
Colonel Schoeben also noted that the Army continues to make progress towards its long-term development objectives, highlighting improvements in recruitment, infrastructure and working conditions. He congratulated the 56 recruits for persevering through the demanding training programme and successfully completing it.
In her address, Minister Backes thanked the recruits for their commitment to serving Luxembourg, saying: "As a country, freedom, democracy and our values cannot defend themselves. We need people like you who are ready to defend them."
Referring to the current international security environment, Minister Backes said: "Peace will always be the goal of everything we do," adding that Luxembourg must continue strengthening its armed forces alongside its NATO and European Union (EU) partners.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of awards to outstanding recruits, followed by the national anthem and a reception at the Useldange Cultural Centre.
Photo Credit: Elza Osmane, Chronicle.lu
