113 cadets passed out of Naval Command

Kochi, Dec 2 (UNI) As many as 113 cadets, both from the National Defence Academy, Pune and the Naval Academy at Goa along with ten cadets of the Coast Guard, today successfully completed their basic afloat training on board Indian Naval ships.

The Passing out Parade of the 72nd Integrated Cadets Course, held on board the INS Tir and the INS Sujata, was reviewed by Adm J S Bedi, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command.

This was the last Passing out parade for the Coast Guard cadets on board Naval Ships. The next batch of Coast Guard cadets will be trained on board the CGS Varuna.

During the 24-week strenuous sea training, which commenced on June 16, the cadets were exposed to various facets of seafaring and survival training. Some of the cadets had an opportunity of sailing on a submarine off the East coast.

The course also interacted with the personnel of the Sri Lankan Navy during the Squadron's visit to Colombo. During the sea experience on board, the cadets have sailed in the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian sea, the Andaman sea, the Malacca Straits and the Singapore straits.

During the Passing out Parade, Cadet Nitin Sharma received the coveted 'Chief of the Naval Staff trophy' and 'Binoculars' for standing 'First in overall Order of Merit' and Cadet V S Perumal received the trophy for standing 'Second in the Order of Merit.' Cadet P K Mishra received the 'Telescope' for the 'Best All-Round Cadet' and Cadet C Pradeep Raja was awarded the 'FOC-in-C East rolling trophy' for the most promising cadet. The cadets will now join frontline warships of Western and Eastern Fleet as 'Midshipmen' for next six months before they finally get commissioned as Officers in the Indian Navy.

Complimenting the Cadets on crossing one more milestone towards becoming a Naval Officer, Adm Bedi stated that ''The Indian Navy is not only technologically advanced with challenging opportunities but also has an increasing role in the destiny of our nation.'' ''You are all going to inherit a very potent Navy centred around two aircraft carriers with modern MIG 29 aircraft,'' said Adm Bedi.

''Potent frigates, Destroyers and Submarines are slated for commissioning in the near future'', he added. He reminded the Cadets that the Sea is an alien medium and an extremely hard task master, the elements of which have to be respected.

Senior Naval Officers and parents of the cadets witnessed the parade. At the stripe-shipping ceremony, the parents and close relatives who had arrived in Kochi from various parts of the country, had the proud privilege of shipping the 'Midshipmen epaulettes' and Sub-Lieutenant Stripes on their valiant sons, who have pledged to devoting their lives in the service of the nation.

UNI CR HS VV1716