All India Nau Sainik Camp at INS Shivaji, Lonavala: 612 cadets compete at NCC camp, career in armed forces a dream for most

A total of 408 senior division (SD) boy cadets and 204 senior wing girl (SW) girl cadets from 17 NCC directorates across the country attended the camp and competed in boat pulling, ship-modelling, drill, whaler-boat rigging, semaphore, service subjects, seamanship practical’s and small arms firing. In addition to contests and cultural programmes, the cadets enjoyed the unique opportunity to visit the state-of-the-art marine engineering training facilities at INS Shivaji, a premier technical training institute of the Indian Navy.

On Monday, finals of the boat pulling competition were held at the lake in INS Shivaji. In the girls category, teams from Directorates of Delhi, Karnataka-Goa and Uttarakhand won the gold, silver and bronze medals, while in boys category, Maharashtra, Delhi and Karnataka-Goa teams won the gold, silver and bronze respectively. Karnataka-Goa team was adjudged the overall winner.

Himanshu Mishra, an SD cadet from Maharashtra, said, “I had joined NCC for fun. But in this exciting journey I have gotten to know what it means to wear the uniform and the sense of duty and discipline that comes with it. Now I want to be of service to the nation. I am preparing to join the Army.”

Pooja Mehta of Uttarakhand directorate says, “I come from a region of Uttarakhand where at least one person from every family is in the Armed forces. We are inspired to join Armed forces or uniformed services by our very own region. NCC provides an excellent platform to prepare ourselves towards that aim.”

Cadet Yashwan C from Karnataka Goa directorate said, “I am preparing for civil services and the Armed forces. I believe NCC toughens you to take up any challenge in life. It makes you, not only a disciplined student, but also a compassionate and strong person.”