Brasília (DF) – Army General Julio Cesar de Arruda handed over command of the Brazilian Army to Army General Tomás Miguel Miné Ribeiro Paiva in a ceremony at Army Headquarters, on Tuesday, February 7.
In his farewell speech, General Arruda recalled the pride of having worn the olive-green uniform, which he had worn for 48 years, and quoted General Octávio Costa’s well known speech, stating that the uniform is not a garment that is easily undressed and indifferent, but another skin, which adheres to one’s soul.
When greeting the new Army Commander, General Tomás, General Arruda stated that he is passing on to him a dedicated Army, committed to its constitutional mission, a respected, apolitical and non-partisan State institution, an Army worthy of the Brazilian homeland. He said that, under the leadership of the substitute Commander, the Army will always remain ready, united and cohesive, imposing the eternal values, traditions and principles.
The ceremony counted with the presence of civil and military authorities: Minister of Defense, former commanders and officers of the High Command from yesterday and today. In the opportunity, the curriculum of the new Commander was read and the sword of the undefeated Duke of Caxias was passed.
New Commander
Army General Tomás Miguel Miné Ribeiro Paiva was born on September 29, 1960, in São Paulo (SP), son of Clibas Ribeiro Paiva and Maria da Conceição Miné Ribeiro Paiva.
He joined the Army on March 3, 1975, at the Army Cadets Preparatory School, located in Campinas (SP), and was declared Junior Officer of the Infantry on December 12, 1981.
Besides the Formation, Improvement, Command and General Staff Courses, he took the Basic Parachute Course, Jump Master, Basic and Advanced Free Jump Course, Parachute Precursor, Social Communication Course, and Specialization Course in Project Management at Fundação Getúlio Vargas.
He was named Professor Honoris Causa of the Ecuadorian Army War Academy, having received the Command and General Staff Badge from that country. He has lectured at several civilian and military educational establishments, including the Rio Branco Institute, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Inter-American Defense College.
On July 31, 2019, he rose to the rank of army general, the highest rank in his career, and became a member of the Army High Command, a collegiate body in which matters concerning the Army are examined and equated.
He was awarded several national and foreign decorations, among which the following stand out Order of Military Merit (grand cross); Order of Defense Merit (grand officer); Order of Naval Merit (grand officer); Order of Aeronautical Merit (grand officer); Order of Judicial Merit (high distinction); and Order of Military Prosecution Merit (grand officer).
Source: Army Social Communication Center *** Translated by the DEFCONPress FYI Team ***