The Army Command - Director General of Guidance clarified the data related to the results of the entrance exam for the military academy. It stated: "On August 17, 2023, the Cabinet approved the Army Command's request for the recruiting and appointment of officer cadets in military and security agencies, after four years of halting recruitment, during which the military institution replaced this by enlisting officers from active duty for two consecutive batches.
On September 6, 2023, the Army Command sent a request to the Ministry of Defense to accept a statement regarding the recruitment of officer cadets for the army and security forces from among military personnel (males and females) and civilians (males). On September 12, 2023, the Army Command received a letter from the Ministry of Defense, signed by the Minister of National Defense, announcing its approval of the statement published on the army's official website on September 14, 2023.
On November 2, 2023, the Army Command submitted a letter to the Ministry of Defense, following the approval of the military council, which included a list of accepted candidates to participate in the entrance exam for the military academy based on candidate classification tables.
According to Decision No. 392 dated December 19, 2023, the military council approved the Army Commander's proposal to accept the successful candidates in the entrance exam for the military academy as officer cadets, totaling 118.
Through letter no. 2961 dated February 2, 2024, the Army Command sent a letter to the Ministry of Defense including a list of successful candidates for the military academy entrance exam as officer cadets, based on the Army Commander's proposal and following the military council's approval in accordance with Article 27 of the National Defense Law No. 102/83."
It added: "In terms of facts and dates, regarding those who submitted candidacy applications and underwent the exams, we present the following facts:
- The number of accepted candidates was 2511 within the specified conditions, including the requirement for candidates to achieve a score of 12/20 in official exams. They all underwent psychological, medical, and physical tests, starting from October 2, 2023. 773 qualified for the written test and to appear before the committee. After sorting the exam results and classifications, 118 of them deservedly and competently qualified to become officer cadets.
- The required number approved by the government was 173; however, the number of those who succeeded in classification and did not receive any disqualifying score was only 118, while maintaining sectarian balance (59 first category and 59 second category), and the military council approved the result.
- There is no doubt that the Army Command took into consideration the delay in approving recruitment, in addition to the general conditions in the country and the suffering of the Lebanese people, including students, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This applied only to psychological and physical tests. As for the other tests, including the written ones, they ranged from average to difficult, according to the level of official examinations. The success of the winners in the competition and classification was due to competence and merit. The leadership did not resort to lowering the average to complete the number, and it is not possible to open the door for an additional batch as that would require a new Cabinet decision and additional time, and the result would also be similar regarding the number and outcome.
- Upon announcing the acceptance of candidacy applications, a number of students submitted requests for clemency (due to age), which were submitted to the Ministry of Defense, but it has not made a decision on them.
- The fate of the 118 students who succeeded in the classification remains unknown, as they need the signature of the Minister of National Defense to allow them to join the military academy, knowing that many of them are enrolled in private universities and are unable to decide on their future. Additionally, this delay in joining leads to the closure of the military academy and has negative repercussions on the structure and hierarchy of the institution."
The leadership confirmed that "based on the above, there is no room for doubt concerning the results of the military academy," pointing out that "the examining committee, composed of qualified officers, adopted the highest standards of transparency, objectivity, and fairness, ensuring the rights of the students who passed the exam with competence and merit."
It called for "maintaining the military institution's privacy and not transforming its affairs into a matter of public debate under any pretext or objective, as the current challenges, risks, and circumstances require standing by the military institution and supporting it and maintaining the morale of its members who still believe in the sanctity of their mission and are steadfast in their positions, despite all the campaigns they are subjected to."
It indicated that "the military academy, as a stronghold of men, only accepts the competent and produces only the heroic leader officers."
