The first cohort of the 2025 Gyalsung batch successfully completed their three-month National Service training today. Passing Out Parades (POP) were held simultaneously at the four Gyalsung Academies in Pemathang, Gyalpozhing, Khotokha, and Jamtsholing.
His Majesty The King graced the Passing Out Parade in Pemathang, Samdrup Jongkhar, and addressed Gyalsups across all four academies. His Royal Highness Gyaltshab Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, His Royal Highness Prince Ugyen Jigme Wangchuck, and Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay represented His Majesty at the ceremonies in Gyalpozhing, Jamtsholing, and Khotokha respectively.
His Majesty thanked the Gyalsups and their families for their unwavering support and enthusiasm for the programme, and the Armed Forces for their hard work and dedication to make the training a success.
His Majesty also thanked the Government of India, the Indian Army, and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, for their continued support, which has enabled Gyalsung to grow into the institution it was envisioned to be.
His Majesty spoke to the Gyalsups about the strategies we must employ as a small landlocked nation to achieve our aspirations.
“A single bee may be just an insect, but a hive, moving with discipline and purpose, is a force to be reckoned with. Bees that move together in a swarm cannot be taken for granted. They punch above their weight, and command respect,” His Majesty said. “Hives are adaptive, resilient, agile, and swift. They think together, act together, work together. The hive strategy will determine our success.”
His Majesty said that since we are 700,000 people in a world of 8 billion, we must be exceptionally unique.
“If the world around us is becoming less trusting, we must become trustworthy. If unkindness, selfishness and corruption are on the rise, we must embody kindness and integrity. If there’s a lack of collaboration, coordination, inertia— if there is red tape, bureaucracy, institutional paralysis, then we reverse-engineer it. We are a hardworking, pragmatic, sensible, and united people. The smartest thing to do is to leverage on who we are and who we want to become. That’s how you stand out,” His Majesty said.
His Majesty told the Gyalsups that everything that is being done—from the Gyalsung programme to national investments—is for the youth, so they are prepared, empowered, and able to succeed.
His Majesty reminded the Gyalsups that the road ahead would not be easy, but this is our only opportunity to shape the future our extraordinary country deserves.
“Our future generations deserve nothing but the best. We are going to offer them a secure home—one they can always feel proud of. That responsibility, for better or for worse, falls on our generation,” His Majesty said.
The event was attended by Lopons of the Zhung Dratshang, Cabinet Ministers, armed forces personnel, senior government officials, foreign dignitaries, and families of the Gyalsups.
A total of 2,639 young men and women completed the training, including 56 individuals who returned from overseas—Australia, India, Thailand, and the United States—to take part. With their completion, the total number of trained Gyalsups has reached 6,330, including the two cohorts of the 2024 batch.
The integrated training program included Basic Military Training—such as physical fitness, obstacle courses, and weapon handling—along with sessions on national education, Bhutanese history, domestic security, Choesay Layrim, and leadership development.
Gyalsung, Bhutan’s National Service, is a constitutional duty of every citizen, enshrined in Article 8.1. It was announced by His Majesty The King on Bhutan’s 112th National Day in 2019 as a visionary initiative to empower young Bhutanese to contribute meaningfully to the nation’s peace, unity, and progress.
With training now complete, the new Gyalsups will enter the National Duty Phase, during which they may be mobilized for various national programs. Many will also volunteer for initiatives such as Gyalsups for Gyalsung, the Skilling Program, and Border Duty. These programs provide further training and experience through involvement in national projects, including the development of Gelephu Mindfulness City and construction of Gyalsung Academies.
Gyalsups from earlier cohorts have already served in national projects and international relief efforts, including the humanitarian mission to assist earthquake-hit communities in Myanmar in March 2025.
The second cohort of the 2025 batch is scheduled to begin training on 1 August 2025.
His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck
