INDIA: Mumbai: On Tuesday, a total of 356 cadets, including cadets from friendly foreign countries, completed the 144th-course ceremonial parade at Khetarpal Parade Ground of the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Khadakwasla, Pune, Maharashtra. The parade was reviewed by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan.
Out of the 1175 cadets who participated in the parade, 356 belonged to the passing out course. This included 214 Army cadets, 36 Naval cadets, and 106 Air Force cadets. Among these cadets, 19 were from friendly countries such as Bhutan, Tajikistan, the Maldives, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Bangladesh.
The NDA, which is commemorating its 75th year of excellence, has received recognition from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, since 1973 for the awarding of B.A./B.Sc./B.Sc. (Computer Science) degrees to Army cadets and B.Tech degrees to Navy and Air Force cadets. These cadets will now proceed to their respective Pre-Commissioning Training Academies.
The 144th course commenced in June 2020, and after three years of rigorous military training, the cadets successfully passed out on Tuesday. The ceremony showcased the highest standards of military excellence, highlighting the cadets’ readiness to serve their nation.
BCC Afrid Afroz was awarded the President’s Gold Medal for achieving the first position in the overall order of merit. ACC Anshu Kumar received the President’s Silver Medal for securing the second position, and BCA Praveen Singh was awarded the President’s Bronze Medal for standing third. Romeo Squadron was honoured with the prestigious “Chiefs of Staff Banner” for being the Champion Squadron, presented during the parade.
Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan extended his congratulations to the passing out course cadets, medal winners, and the Champion Squadron for their exceptional hard work and outstanding performances. He expressed gratitude to the proud parents of the passing students for entrusting their motivated children to join the Armed Forces.
The Indian Military Academy, located in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, was renamed the “Armed Forces Academy” and divided into two wings, the “Inter-Services Wing” (later known as the Joint Services Wing) and the “Military Wing,” based on a report submitted in 1946 by a high-powered committee set up by the Union Government.
The Inter-Services Wing, where joint training for the three services commenced in January 1949, was subsequently relocated from Dehradun to Khadakwasla and became known as the NDA.
The NDA holds the unique distinction of being the world’s first institution to provide joint training to officer cadets of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The concept and establishment of the NDA trace back to the pre-Independence era, evolving from the lessons learned during World War II. One of the significant lessons from the war was the necessity for full integration and operational cohesion among the three services to effectively function as a unified strike force during wartime.
Also Read: Maiden Passing out Parade of “Agniveers” of the First Batch Held at INS Chilka
