Cancun, Quintana Roo — In a ceremony marking the 164th anniversary of the Battle of Puebla, 355 soldiers of the National Military Service (SMN) — including conscripts from the class of 2007 and those who had previously evaded service — along with nine female volunteers, swore allegiance to the Mexican flag on Tuesday.
The oath ceremony took place at the Military City facilities in Cancun, presided over by Lieutenant Colonel of Infantry Luis Enrique Vázquez Bernal, second commander and head of the command group of the 64th Infantry Battalion and SMN Training Center. During his speech, Vázquez Bernal emphasized the importance of strengthening values such as discipline, respect, and a sense of belonging, noting that the training not only forms citizens but also builds collective consciousness.
The new soldiers joined the ranks of 30,000 SMN members nationwide who simultaneously swore loyalty, both in person and remotely. The national event was led by President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo from the Mausoleum of General Ignacio Zaragoza in Puebla, via a live broadcast.
Vázquez Bernal stated that the conscripts will be called upon when needed for social and community work. As an example, he mentioned sargassum collection in the Mexican Caribbean, a task they have performed in previous seasons under the supervision of the Defense Department.
“Young people are provided with the training and necessary equipment to carry out tasks under the supervision of mid-level commanders. These tasks help them learn and contribute to the community,” he said.
Volunteer Keren Díaz Díaz highlighted that the soldiers gather under the call of the national flag and loyalty to the homeland, without accepting ideals foreign to sovereignty.
The ceremony was attended by the commander of the Cancun Military Garrison, Brigadier General Adolfo Ríos Gómez; Colonel Julio César Tenta Estrella of the National Guard; and Navy Captain Juan Francisco Ríos Gómez, representing the Fifth Naval Region. Also present were Héctor Gerardo Bladimir Vallejo Molina, director of Government of the Municipality; Manuel Alejandro Nava García, secretary of General Services of Puerto Morelos; and Gaspar Kumul Hoy, representative of the municipal presidency of Isla de las Golondrinas.
