Winning the Sword of Honour: The pinnacle of a cadet’s journey at Sandhurst
The ultimate goal of every cadet officer at Sandhurst UK Royal Military Academy is to win the Sword of Honour.
Firstly, it is important to define and explain what a sword is and its uses. According to the Collins English Dictionary, a sword is “a thrusting, striking, or cutting weapon with a long blade having one or two cutting edges, a hilt, and usually a crosspiece or guard.” Additionally, such a weapon is often worn on ceremonial occasions as a symbol of authority.
Medieval swords were frequently used for ceremonial purposes, such as knighting ceremonies and formal events. These ceremonial swords were embellished with intricate engravings to showcase the owner’s status and wealth. Growing up as a barracks boy in the police officers’ quarters—now the National Police Training and Academy at Tesano Depot in Ghana—I observed senior Army officers, Police officers, and other security agencies using swords during parades, funeral services, state honours, the Presidential Guard ceremonies, the opening of Parliament, and Independence Day parades in sovereign countries.
Similarly, the Ashanti people of Ghana’s Ashanti Region swear oaths with the Akrafena (Twi sword), an Akan sword originally designed for warfare but also emblematic of Akan hierarchy. A notable example is the Mponponsuo (“responsibility”) sword, which belonged to the late King Opoku Ware II of the Ashanti Kingdom. It continues to be used ceremonially, such as at the Akwasidae Festival.
Ghana also holds a state sword, lodged at the Bank of Ghana, used to swear the oath of allegiance to the new government and the Head of State, who is the President of the Republic. In Britain, the Queen’s sceptre and state sword serve as regalia, used purposefully in ceremonies such as the opening of Parliament and coronations.
The commissioning course at Sandhurst lasts for 42 weeks. Army officers are ambitious individuals who, regardless of their background upon arrival, share one thing in common: receiving the best leadership and management training in the world.
A brief history of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Until the late 18th century, formal training was limited to British Army artillery and engineer officers, leaving most others as ‘gifted amateurs.’ In 1799, Colonel John Le Marchant identified this disparity relative to French officers and proposed a military academy for cavalry and infantry officers.
Accepted by the War Office, the first Gentleman Cadets began training in 1802 in a public house in Marlow. The Sandhurst estate was then chosen as the permanent site, and between 1801 and 1812, Old College was constructed. Sadly, Le Marchant was killed in action shortly before the college's completion. The first Sandhurst graduates were commissioned in time to fight at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
Training continued throughout the nineteenth century, with expansions including the Royal Memorial Chapel in 1879 and the gymnasium in 1911. The army’s expansion at the century’s end required more officers, resulting in New College’s construction between 1901 and 1911, which featured the longest continuous corridor in Europe at the time. Training carried on through both World Wars, although shortened to a few weeks, despite Sandhurst being bombed in 1941, killing five cadets.
In the late 1950s, officer training consolidated at Sandhurst with the closure of smaller establishments, leading to the building of the Victory Building between 1965 and 1970. Despite some criticism of its flat-roofed concrete design, it earned a design award. Women have trained full-time at Sandhurst since 1984, merging the formerly separate WRAC College at Camberley.
Training is now fully integrated; the first female officer cadet was assigned to a frontline unit, the Royal Tank Regiment, in April 2017.
Today, all officers—regular, reservists, professionally qualified personnel (doctors, dentists, lawyers), and senior soldiers commissioned from the ranks—graduate from Sandhurst. Its alumni include not only distinguished generals but also figures such as wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Oscar-winning actor David Niven, Formula 1 commentator Murray Walker, singer James Blunt, astronaut Tim Peake, England rugby captain Will Carling, and Blue Peter presenter Christopher Trace https://sandhursttrust.org/pages/heritage-of-the-RMAS.
One of Sandhurst’s mottos is “Serve to Lead.” A hallmark event is the ceremonial Passing Out Parade, also known as the Sovereign’s Parade, for commissioned officer cadets. The academy is led by a commandant—usually a Major General or above—supported by deputy commanders, directing staff, the Academy Sergeant Major, and NCOs training the cadets. An academic faculty comprising civilian experts in communication, applied behavioural science, defence, international affairs, and war studies supports the curriculum.
How does one win the prestigious Sword of Honour?
a. One must be a disciplined cadet officer, whether male or female.
b. The cadet must top the academic intake. Training encompasses soldiering skills, army organisational knowledge, survival and fieldcraft, first aid, and rifle use. Health and fitness levels are also rigorously developed.
c. Upon graduating from Sandhurst, one commissions as a Second Lieutenant, with a clear promotion path through Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Lieutenant Colonel, and higher ranks. Promotion to Major requires passing exams; thereafter, promotion depends on performance.
d. The Sword of Honour is awarded to the all-around best cadet.
Winning the Sword of Honour at Sandhurst is a formidable achievement, requiring enrollment either as a soldier or an expatriate cadet. General Schwarzkopf, of Desert Storm fame, once remarked during a Pentagon briefing that if a plane carrying all newly promoted officers crashed, the Army could easily replace them from among other capable colonels. His point emphasised humility and the high expectations for those in leadership.
Similarly, cadets at the National Defence Academy (NDA) start as “bent” first-termers, humbled to feel insignificant, only to grow confident by the sixth term, then face new humility when joining new units, climbing the ranks anew. Winning the Sword of Honour entails no special privileges beyond the “burden” of maintaining the highest standards ever achieved https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-privileges-given-for-an-officer-who-won.
Significance of the Sword of Honour
In the Indian Armed Forces, the ceremonial sword symbolises excellence and inspires future cadets. It recognises a cadet’s outstanding performance across academics, physical endurance, and leadership [dzmlia18, 2024, https://www.pw.live/defence/exams/sword-of-honour-in-the-indian-armed-forces].
Engineering graduate Junior Under Officer Angela Laycock received the Sword of Honour at Sandhurst, awarded to the most outstanding student of each course. She is the third woman to win this honour and was presented the sword by the late Queen Elizabeth II at the Sovereign's Parade after completing a gruelling 44-week course. Angela, from Bedford, has no military family background; her father is a printer, her mother a teaching assistant.
She dreamed of joining the Army from childhood and pursued cycling, rowing, and running clubs while at Cambridge. She said, “It was all quite overwhelming. I didn't expect to win this. I'm so pleased to have received this honour, especially as we have to compete equally with the boys. It's been a lifelong goal of mine to join the Army. Ever since I was 15 or 16 at school, I decided Sandhurst was for me. I love putting into practice all that they teach.”
During the award ceremony, she recalled, “The commandant started to call out the winners of the 'big three'—the Overseas Sword of Honour, The Queen's Medal, and finally the Sword of Honour. I was so nervous I instinctively sprang to attention.”
Angela attended Hastingsbury Upper School in Bedford before joining Welbeck College, the military’s sixth-form college specialising in engineering in Leicestershire. She achieved five grade A A-levels, including one of the top five marks nationally in mathematics, then studied engineering at Cambridge. She was a rowing finalist at Henley and represented England in the Home Countries rowing championship in 2003.
A Sandhurst spokesman noted, "Female officer cadets at Sandhurst do the same course as their male counterparts and compete on the same terms. Angela, with no Service family background, has proved to be a truly exceptional officer cadet." Commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant Laycock, she began specialist training with the Royal Engineers https://www.eng.cam.ac.uk/news/engineering-graduate-receives-sword-honour-prize-sandhurst.
During the Sovereign’s Parade, the review officer is officially received by the commandant of the Royal Academy, the Sergeant Major, the Adjutant (who commands on horseback), and ceremonial ADCs who inspect the guard of honour at the academy entrance, then proceed to the parade ground where graduands wear ceremonial attire. In case of rainfall, the parade and all associated ceremonies proceed according to tradition and precedent.
As a student of EUCLID University from Ghana—a country formerly colonised by Britain—it is a personal privilege to witness senior officers’ parade rehearsals. My late father, Alhaji Nuhhu Billa, former Police Chief and commanding officer of the National Police Training Academy, and a retired judge, oversaw such events. The President of Ghana, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, formally endorses commissioning ceremonies through the Inspector General of Police.
Leadership is the ability to influence and guide others toward achieving goals. It is a skill that can be learned, not an innate trait. Research and practice show that political leadership plays a vital role in sustainable socio-economic development, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.
One cannot discuss leadership without referencing Stephen R. Covey’s Principle-Centred Leadership (1992), where he states in paragraph 19, “Leadership by compass—correct principles are like compasses: they are always pointing the way. And if we know how to read them, we won’t get lost, confused, or fooled by conflicting voices and values. Principles are self-evident, self-validating natural laws. They don’t change or shift.”
As a PhD candidate at EUCLID University, my ascent to executive management at Virgin Investment Consult reflects discipline, decisiveness, and action (DDA). Similarly, leadership expert Robert P. Vecchio noted in his 2006 review of over 5,000 studies that leadership is an interpersonal influence process whereby a leader motivates organisational members to accomplish desired goals.
This insight is drawn from works like Roles of Peace and Security, Political Leadership and Entrepreneurship in the Socio-Economic Development of Emerging Countries by Ambassador Major-General Adu-Amamfoh (Ret.) (2014) [Author House UK].
Leadership thus involves additional influence beyond formal authority. As Robbins (2007) asserts on his personal website, leadership is the ability to influence a group towards achieving a vision or goals.
Global leaders, such as His Majesty King Charles III, have made profound impacts through social initiatives. As Head of the Commonwealth, King Charles exemplifies integrity and honesty. Notably, upon his prostate cancer diagnosis in early 2024, he publicly disclosed his condition to raise awareness worldwide, a move which contrasts with the typical confidentiality practiced by many African leaders. This openness reflects exemplary leadership qualities of sincerity and transparency.
Leadership responsibility entails serving one’s people as a servant leader, fostering accountability, sustainable decision-making, economic growth, and cultural values within organisations and states.
To conclude, the motto of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, “Serve to Lead,” encapsulates these leadership principles. The Sovereign’s Parade commissions outstanding officers, including expatriates from sovereign countries granted this honour. Ghana proudly counts among its decorated alumni the late Lieutenant General Joshua Mahamadu Hamidu (1936–2021), former Chief of Defence Staff and member of Ghana’s Supreme Military Council, who also served as presidential advisor to former President John Agyekum Kufour.
Another esteemed figure is the late Lieutenant General Emmanuel Alexander Erskine (1935–2021), Ghanaian Army Chief of Staff and commander of UN peacekeeping missions, commissioned at Sandhurst in 1960.
Also notable is Brigadier Joseph Nunoo-Mensah (b. 1939), a Ghanaian soldier and politician, twice Chief of Defence Staff, who played a pivotal role in Ghana’s military governance https://sandhursttrust.org/pages/heritage-of-the-RMAS.
The writer, Farouk Nuhhu Billa, is a licensed Security Risk Consultant and Arbitrator, Lead Principal and Managing Consultant at Virgin Investment Consult Limited, and a PhD candidate at EUCLID University, Central African Republic.
