Two Moroccan military cadets have begun training at two of the United States’ leading service academies, achieving historic firsts as defense ties between Morocco and the United States continue to deepen.
The U.S. Embassy in Morocco announced Thursday that one of the cadets has joined the U.S. Air Force Academy, becoming the first Moroccan Air Force cadet to attend the institution in 30 years.
The second has been admitted to the U.S. Naval Academy, becoming the first Moroccan Navy cadet ever to attend the prestigious institution.
“This June, two outstanding Moroccan cadets began an exciting new chapter at U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy,” the embassy said.
Their selection, it added, “marks a historic milestone.”
Both cadets will undergo four years of military training and higher education in the United States before returning to Morocco to serve as officers.
The U.S. Air Force Academy, based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, trains future commissioned officers for the U.S. Air Force and Space Force, while the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, is one of the country’s principal institutions for educating and training future naval and Marine Corps officers.
International cadets can attend U.S. service academies through programs designed to strengthen military cooperation with partner countries, combining academic education with intensive military, leadership, and physical training.
The Moroccan cadets’ admission adds an educational dimension to the longstanding defense relationship between Rabat and Washington, which encompasses joint exercises, training, and security cooperation.
