Another historic chapter in Bhutan’s journey unfolds today, June 28, 2025. A new cohort of 2,639 young men and women step forward to join the ranks of 3,691 who have already completed the transformative Gyalsung National Service. This moment marks far more than a milestone. It is a resounding affirmation of Bhutan’s commitment to shaping a resilient, united, and empowered future.
The Gyalsung National Service is not merely a program. It is the embodiment of a transformative vision conceived by His Majesty the King and stands at the very heart of Bhutan’s journey toward progress and enduring national strength.
History teaches us that during the great turning points of nations, there have always been defining institutions, pillars that shaped destinies and carried the weight of collective hopes. Every nation has its guardians: institutions forged with purpose, and individuals trained to rise at the call of duty. And it is here that the Gyalsung NS fits in.
We have people saying we are “ready” to serve our nation. But the deeper question is – are we “prepared”?
Readiness is not enough. And preparation demands more. It requires clarity of purpose, a deep understanding of the King’s vision and the Kingdom’s destiny. It calls for an unwavering awareness of the challenges we face, and the wisdom to turn them into opportunities for greatness. A Nation requires citizens prepared for war. Not the conventional wars of bombs and drones, but the invisible battles fought daily, in our homes, in our minds, and in our society. These are wars of distraction, division, despair. And equally, to rise and serve in the pursuit of a nation’s highest aspirations is, in itself, an act of war, a noble struggle for peace, prosperity, and progress.
Gyalsung is the crucible in which this preparation begins. It forges not only skill and discipline but also vision, unity, and purpose. Through it, Bhutan does not merely train youth. It is an exercise to awaken a generation, armed not with weapons, but with conviction, courage, and a sacred duty to serve.
It is a bold and sacred endeavour to rekindle the fading flames of love, unity, belonging, volunteerism, and compassion. These are not mere virtues; they are the rare minerals of the human spirit, the essential elements that sustain civilization. And yet, in the relentless tide of the 21st century – with its isolating technologies, growing individualism, and fragile moral compass – these treasures have been steadily eroded, left buried beneath the weight of modern life.
It is a call to restore what we are at risk of losing, not only as a society, but as a people. In every sense, it is an effort to draw the scattered fingers of our nation into a single, unbreakable fist. For only in unity can we strike with purpose, build with strength, and rise with shared conviction.
At its core, this movement is about forging clarity in the hearts of citizens, clarity of duty, of destiny, and of direction. It reminds us that we are not a collection of individuals walking separate paths, but one people, bound by a common purpose, bound to each other by the soul of a Kingdom that has always placed compassion above conquest, service above self, and unity above all else.
We are preparing a generation not just to live in a world of chaos and complexity, but to lead it, with the heart of a volunteer, the strength of a citizen, and the vision of a nation determined to endure.
