Photos: B. Satheesh Kumar, MoD
In an event marked by military splendor, 219 gentlemen and lady cadets were inducted into the officer cadre of the Indian Army at the passing out parade (POP) held at Officers Training Academy, Madras, on March 19. A noteworthy landmark is gender quality is that 60 lady cadets who have gone through the demanding training were commissioned with their male counterparts. The event marks the culmination of the initial part of the officers training, before they move on to join operational regiments across the length the breath of the country. Fourteen cadets from Afghanistan were also passed out from the academy on March 19. A total of 22,930 officers, including 1,684 women have passed out of OTA so far, including from countries like Sri Lanka, Uganda, Lesotho, Seychelles, Jamaica and Afghanistan.
The parade was reviewed by Lieutenant General Arvinder Singh Lamba, PVSM, AVSM who is the vice Chief of the Indian Army, while addressing the cadets during the POP the general officer said that soldiering is the most noble profession and it is neither a job nor profession alone but a commitment for which the soldier is respected and held in awe by the countrymen. The Indian Army has a formidable image at home and abroad for it professionalism, patriotism, discipline and dedication. Indeed our Army is admired for exemplary service it has rendered be it the external or internal challenges, peacekeeping operations or while providing relief and rehabilitation, he added. He has also called upon the cadets to constantly upgrade their knowledge base and hone their technical skills to embrace the most modern technology with ease. Be it a conventional war or proxy he said that the soldier has to learn fully and understand the complexities and challenges of modern warfare and come out with innovative and practical solutions.
Earlier, Lieutenant General Arvinder Singh Lamba, PVSM, AVSM was received by Lieutenant General Gautam Banerjee PVSM, AVSM, YSM, Commandant OTA assisted by his deputy Major General UM Rajavelu, SM. (Press Release)
