Defence Correspondents Course begins in Kochi

Kochi, Aug 21 (UNI) The Defence Correspondents Course (DCC) 2006 commenced at the Southern Naval Command here today with the participation of 33 journalists from various states and representing different media.

The one-month course is being held under the aegis of the Directorate of Public Relations, Ministry of Defence, New Delhi.

The course aims to gives an insight to the media about the Armed Forces. The 10-day naval phase of the course is being hosted by the Southern Naval Command at the Maritime Warfare Centre, Kochi, a release by the Southern Naval Command here said.

Mr Sitanshu Kar, Addl PIO, MoD, in his opening address, highlighted the similarities between the Media and the Military, he also stressed upon the peculiarities of the Military to the participants.

Vice-Admiral J S Bedi, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, inaugurated the DCC '06 and and said that the Naval phase is only meant to give a birds eye-view of the functioning of one of the arms of the Armed Forces.

The participants will have the opportunity to sail on board one of the warships and visit various naval installations at Kochi.

Commodore S H Subramanian, Director Maritime Warfare Centre, welcomed the gathering. Chief of Staff RAdm Rajender Singh and other senior officers of the Navy were also present on the occasion.

UNI ARC RK/DK1933