MILITARY ACADEMY ACADEMIC OPENINGThe evening of 26 January, saw first year students and staff of the Military Academy attending the Academic Opening for 2017.  The unit were privileged to have Counselor Andre Kruger representing the mayor of Saldanha Bay Municipality present as well as Lt Gen Norman Yengeni, Chief Human Resources and several high-ranking DOD officials. Professor Eugene Cloete, Vice Rector: Research, Innovation and Post-graduate Studies from Stellenbosch University, were the guest speaker for the event.Prof Cloete started his address to the members by highlighting the four most important attributes of a good leader of which the number one attribute is trust. He emphasized that, irrespective of other factors being present, people do not follow people that they do not trust.  He continued to say: “A good leader must also have empathy to care for their people, they must serve the people that they lead by giving up some of their privileges and lastly have respect.  In this university, part of what we do is we train thought leaders with the emphasis on thought.”He also encouraged them to ask the question “why” about everything in the world – not only to gain info, but in order to raise their intelligence levels and most importantly improve their emotional intelligence. Prof Cloete concluded by saying: “There is more to life than achieving your goals – if you help other people achieving their goals it will make you a significant person.”The Military Academy wish the intake of 2017 a prosperous three years at the unit and success in their studies.Photos and Article:  Maj Engela MeintjesPhoto Captions:26 & 33– Procession entering the hall40 – Procession on the stage:  (From L to R) Prof Wikus Jansen van Rensburg (Vice-Dean Faculty of Military Science), Prof Samuel Tshehla (Dean Faculty of Military Science), Brig Gen Lawrence Mbatha (Commandant Military Academy), Prof Eugene Cloete (Vice Rector: Research, Innovation and Post-graduate studies at Stellenbosch University)62 – Prof Eugene Cloete delivering his speech.