This is his second experience in the field of communications, having held the same position in one of the most recent National Detachments in Romania. Learning and adaptation are constant in the life of a soldier, and Captain Alves highlights this: "although I already have some experience, the differences are significant. Both because it is a European Union Military Assistance Mission and not a NATO training mission, and because I am now on the African continent and was previously in Europe. I am learning a lot, and everything becomes easier when we work with people and for people, because collaboration creates unity, sharing of ideas and common strength to achieve goals."

Despite being more than 12,000 km away, he has not forgotten his roots and remains deeply connected to Gondiães - Cabeceiras de Basto, as he is a proud son of the land, even though this year he was unable to participate in the preparation of the local festivities, namely the Festivals of St. Sebastião, S. Martinho and Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, but as he says, ‘here too, at the mission, together with my Portuguese comrades and those of other nationalities, I have already talked about Cabeceiras de Basto and invited people to visit’.

EUMAM MOZ, 2025

This is his first mission in Africa, ‘I had never been to Mozambique. In addition to the excellent experience at EUMAM MOZ, I discovered a huge country of unparalleled beauty — not to mention the cuisine, which is simply sublime’.

The young Army officer is one of more than 80 military personnel from 11 nationalities currently on mission in Mozambique as part of the European Union Military Assistance Mission. The mission is currently commanded by Brigadier-General Luís Barroso and includes 47 Portuguese military personnel from the Navy, Army, Air Force and GNR.  

EUMAM MOZ, 2025

EUMAM MOZ is a non-executive mission with a mandate until June 2026. It focuses on operational training and maintenance, and also provides specialised training to enable the Mozambican Armed Defence Forces (FADM) to be self-sufficient in the fight against insurgency.