Batch includes 21 cadets from foreign countries
Gentleman cadet Ramachandran embracing his mother after passing out from OTA on Saturday. (Photo: DC/File)
Chennai: Yet another spectacular passing out parade and yet another batch of budding army officers took their first steps towards realizing their dream career of military service. With proud parents and relatives witnessing the moment from close quarters, numerous tales of sheer hardwork and emotion unraveled at the occasion.
For Colonel Raman, the passing out of his son Arvind Subramaniam was always destined as he was brought up in family where military service is seen more of an individual fulfilling his/her duty. Colonel Raman's brother is also a military officer and interestingly even his daughter is all set to pass out of the OTA next year. Arvind who has a LLM degree from NALSAR said, "I studied in various army schools around the country and in a way, it was naturally within me to enter military service."
Being the first person in the family to enter military might be daunting for some, but not for Ajitha, civil engineering graduate. Her parents Vijayakumar and Manimegalai couldn't be more proud of their daughter. "She has always been a straightforward and bold lady. She was focused and strove to pursue this," said Vijayakumar.
Another cadet Anuradha, also a civil engineer, had in the past tuned down placements at TCS and another MNC firm. "My parents have been very encouraging. My father speaks about women empowerment; this (joining the Army) is definitely the way to achieve it," she said.
At the end though, it is undeniable that parents' posses mixed emotions. While on one hand, they can be jubilant of their wards becoming an officer in Indian Army, it comes with a prayer.
246 cadets pass out of OTA:
A total of 246 cadets, 42 of them lady cadets, were on Saturday passed out of the Officer's Training Academy at St Thomas Mount after successfully completing their nearly 49-week rigorous training. The latest batch of cadets commissioned into the Army service has 204 gentlemen cadets including 21 cadets from foreign countries. Amonag them, 16 are from Afghanistan, four from Seychelles and one from Lesotho.
Reviewing the spectacular passing out parade was Lt Gen Philip Campose, Vice Chief of Army Staff, accompanied by Lt Gen S.S. Jog, commandant, OTA, and Maj Gen G. Murali, deputy commandant, OTA.
Delivering his congratulatory speech, Lt Gen Campose commended the new officers for their dedication and perseverance. He emphasised the need for officers to keep abreast of latest technology and modernisation process. He also distributed awards to meritorious cadets.
The sword of honour, the highest individual prize of OTA, was presented to academy cadet Adjutant Maninder Pal Singh and the gold medal for standing first in the order of merit was bestowed on the battalion under officer Preeti Mudela.
After the parade, a traditional pipping ceremony, wherein the stars of the cadets are revealed by their parents and close ones, and oath-taking ceremony was witnessed, finally leading to jubilant scenes of celebrations among the cadets. So far, the academy has seen more than 26,000 cadets commissioned into the Indian Army.
( Source : dc )
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