DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

President Luis Abinader attended the graduation class for the 37th promotion of the Voluntary Military Service Values Training Program (Servicio Militar Voluntario – SMV). 5,536 graduated after receiving training in civic responsibility, ethics, military discipline, and community service. The graduation took place at the Sans Soucí Convention Center in Santo Domingo, was led by President Luis Abinader and Minister of Defense Lieutenant General Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre.

The graduates, who came from 24 provinces across the country. With this latest class, the SMV has now trained and graduated 89,337 participants over the course of its 23-year history, the Presidency reported on 25 June 2025.

During the ceremony, Minister Fernández Onofre emphasized the symbolic significance of the venue. “This is not a military barracks, nor a traditional classroom,” he...