The leader of the Cuban Revolution, Raúl Castro, and President Miguel Díaz-Canel on Thursday congratulated the Youth Labor Army (EJT) on its 50th anniversary.

Havana, Cuba.- The Granma newspaper published a letter from Raúl Castro, in which he congratulated the EJT and highlighted its essential work in society, contributing to Cuba’s economic and productive development.

The leader of the Revolution noted that it is possible to find the members of the youth army anywhere in Cuba, carrying out dissimilar tasks, even in internationalist missions, in which, in addition to participating in combats, they did works that were decisive for the subsequent outcome of the war.

“With the commitment to serve the people in the defense and economic development of the country, this command has been a training school,” he stressed.

Raúl Castro pointed out that the intense work regime, its organization, demand, and discipline have contributed to forging the will, character, and revolutionary convictions of thousands of young people.

The army general urged the youth army to continue to advance with greater determination from each front and workplace, without ever neglecting the defense of the homeland.

President Díaz-Canel, in turn, sent his congratulations to the EJT from his Twitter account and thanked the youth army for its decisive contributions to the country’s economy.

Producing you also defend the homeland, the president tweeted.

National People’s Power Assembly President Esteban Lazo, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero, and several Cuban officials also tweeted congratulatory messages to the EJT on its 50th anniversary.