(Phnom Penh): Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet reflected on his experience at the United States Military Academy West Point, saying the institution shaped his character through rigorous training in discipline, responsibility, integrity, and a lifelong commitment to excellence.

Speaking at the Royal University of Law and Economics (RULE) graduation ceremony on Thursday (Aug. 6), Samdech Thipadei said West Point's first-year programme focused not only on academics but also on discipline, conduct, and accountability.

He noted that cadets were taught to take full responsibility for both success and failure, rather than make excuses.

The prime minister also highlighted West Point's Honour Code, which strictly forbids lying, cheating, stealing, or tolerating those who do, emphasizing that higher education should cultivate not only knowledge and technical skills but also integrity, character, and professional ethics.

“The lessons I learnt there were not only from textbooks but also discipline and behaviour for life,” the premier said.

Samdech Thipadei enrolled at West Point in 1995 as the first Cambodian military cadet admitted to the academy. He graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in Economics.
=FRESH NEWS