Who doesn't remember the beginnings of a military career? When you enter a new, totally different world where everything seems foreign, difficult, sometimes even impossible. You often reach the human limit of patience and effort.

You think about giving up, you feel that this world is not for you. The nights are too short, the training days endless. But just when you think you've reached the end of your strength, that's when you realize how strong you really are. And you see it in the eyes of your teammates. That's when you know that together you will succeed!

You could see it in the eyes of the cadets today at Camp Kassai during their training at the National Non-Commissioned Officers School, where instructors from FACA and EUTM RCA are working together to teach these young militaries.

Lieutenant Anca Călin, EUTM instructor at Camp Kassai, has been among the students since the beginning of the courses, at the end of December. She believes that her mission is not only to convey information, but also essential values for a military, such as discipline and team spirit. "It is encouraging to see their progress and to know that you can contribute to the stability and security of a region. Although the beginnings are full of hardship, each step contributes to turning them into leaders capable to cope with any situation and inspiring confidence to those they will lead," says Lieutenant Anca Călin.

A new computer lab set up by the EUTM will make much more accessible the themes they are about to study.

Also, in training at Camp Kassai, we spotted the students of the medical module "The Technical Certificate of First Level in Health (CT1 Santé)", who are undergoing a 28-week training program, learning the most important techniques and procedures of medical intervention in emergency situations.

Soon, these young people, now at the beginning of a difficult and challenging journey, will remember the instructors from different European countries who with enthusiasm, passion and humanity are now helping to form them into professional servicemen.

EUTM RCA

In a letter dated 8 October 2015, the Chef de l'État de la Transition of the Central African Republic (CAR), Mrs Catherine Samba-Panza, invited the European Union to further support the Central African Armed Forces (FACA) through a reinforced operational training structure in full collaboration with the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).

EUTM CAR started on 16 July 2016 at the request of the CAR Government, under the framework of the EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). The mission’s mandate runs until 19 September 2025. The main objective of the mission is to support the build-up of a modernised, effective, credible, ethnically balanced and democratically accountable FACA (Central African armed forces).

The mission contributes to the reform of the defence sector within a wider Security Sector Reform (SSR), in close coordination with the EU Delegation, the EU civilian advisory mission (EUAM CAR), as well as other international support missions, especially the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).

On 6 September 2024, the Council decided to extend the mandate of EUTM by one year, until 19 September 2025. The mission will continue its advisory function and refocus its activities on leadership development of young military leaders and strategic advice. EUTM RCA stands ready to resume training activities when the the necessary conditions are in place