Passing out parade of NDA’s 145th course: 353 cadets conferred degrees, now march towards their training

The passing out cadets included 77 cadets in science stream, 87 cadets in computer science and 55 cadets in arts stream.

As many as 137 cadets of Navy and Air Force from the BTech stream received their three years’ course completion certificates. The Naval and Air Force cadets will be conferred their degree after completion of one year training at their respective pre-commissioning training academies i.e. the Indian Naval Academy and the Air Force Academy (AFA) respectively.

The passing out course comprised 21 cadets from friendly foreign countries. Vice Chancellor of Savitribai Phule Pune University, Dr Suresh Gosavi was the chief guest and delivered the convocation address to the passing out cadets.

The Chief of Army Staff’s trophy and Commandant’s silver medal for the cadet standing first in order of merit in academics in Science stream were awarded to cadet Ram Prasad Gurjar, who hails from Sanganer in Jaipur. Son of a farmer, Gurjar topped his course in third, fourth and fifth term and will be joining the Air Force after one year of pre-commissioning training.

When asked about initial days at the academy when his batch joined in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, cadet Gurjar said, “During that period, distant learning played a key role, which the academy was already fully equipped with. All the study material was available on the Local Area Network of the academy.”

The Chief of Naval Staff’s trophy and Commandant’s silver medal for the cadet standing first in order of merit in academics in computer science were awarded to Battalion Cadet Captain (BCC) Pratham Singh, who hails from Pathankot in Punjab. Pratham will be the fourth generation Army officer when he is commissioned one year later.

An alumnus of the prestigious Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC), Dehrudun, Pratham said the friendships made during the academy days will last forever. “My great grandfather Lt Col Randheer Singh Salaria was the first Army officer in our family. My grandfather Colonel Teerath Singh is a Vir Chakra awardee from the 1971 war and my mother Colonel Anuvandana Jaggi is serving with the Corps of Signals. I feel lucky that I get to continue this legacy,” said BCC Pratham. When asked about the training, he says, “In addition to building physical stamina, the training here is centred on building mental stamina and agility.”

His mother Colonel Anuvandana Jaggi, who is currently commanding Signals Intelligence unit in Rajasthan, has the distinction of having served as the leader of the United Nations Military Observers Team in the UN mission in Burundi. She was awarded the United Nations Force Commander’s Commendation for this tenure. “I have no words to describe what I am feeling. This is a dream come true,” she said on her son’s achievement.

The Chief of Air Staff’s Trophy and Commandant’s Silver Medal for the cadet standing first in order of merit in academics in arts were awarded to Division Cadet Captain Vikram Singh, who belongs to Bathinda in Punjab.

“The journey was more of a marathon rather than a 100 metre sprint. There were moments where we slowed down…there were moments where we caught pace. But the aim was to reach the end in stipulated time. And that is where we stand today, at the finish line. The journey gave us many life lessons which will be with us as we serve the nation,” said Singh.

The Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee, Headquarter Integrated Defence Staff Trophy and Commandant’s Silver Medal for the cadet standing first in order of merit in academics in BTech Stream were awarded to Division Cadet Captain Kunal Panghal.