Indian Air Force (IAF) got a new batch of officers with 142 newly commissioned Flying Officers graduating from the Air Force Academy (AFA), at Dundigal near Hyderabad.
Marshal of the IAF Arjan Singh DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross) reviewed the Combined Graduation Parade (CGP) and awarded President’s Commission to the graduating cadets that included 22 women Flight Cadets.
Among the senior IAF officials present at the CGP included Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Training Command, Air Marshal D Kukreja and AFA Commandant, Air Marshal PR Sharma. Civil dignitaries, retired and serving defence officers, parents and relatives of the newly commissioned officers were among others who witnessed the parade.
Addressing the newly commissioned IAF officers, the Marshal of the IAF impressed upon building intrinsic qualities of leadership by placing the highest value on honour, integrity and selflessness before one’s own, always and every time.
Stating Aerospace Power has revolutionised all other forms of warfare and expecting more dramatic changes in Weapon Technology in this decade, the Marshal of the IAF exhorted the young officers to acquire full understanding and knowledge of application of new technologies to exploit the true potential of Aerospace Power.
The Marshal of the IAF also welcomed the new officers to the Indian armed forces fraternity and advised them to meet any challenge with determination and bring glory to the service and to the motherland.
Flying Officer Tejas Subhas Kawale, who commanded the parade, was awarded the President’s Plaque and the Chief of the Air Staff ‘Sword of Honour’ for standing first in overall order of merit in Pilot Course.
President’s Plaque for standing first in the overall order of merit in the Ground duties branch was awarded to Flying Officer CS Pandey, and for Navigation branch to Flying Officer Rahul Singh Rajawat.
The parade marked the successful culmination of training of the Flight Cadets at various IAF Training Establishments including AFA, Air Force Administrative College, Coimbatore, Air Force Stations – Hakimpet, Yelahanka and Begumpet.
Of the 142 commissioned, 78 are pilots and 13 navigators. The remaining 51 are from the ground duties branches of administration, logistics, accounts, education and meteorology.
The newly commissioned officers received their first salute from their immediate juniors as they slow-marched out of the parade to the tune of ‘auld lang syne’.
The IAF Air Warrior Drill Team later displayed thrilling synchronized movements with their rifles with bayonets at the parade square.
Fly past by Chetak helicopters, Kiran Mk-II trainer aircraft, AN-32, Dornier and Hawk aircraft heralded the occasion. There was also a scintillating aerial ballad by Sarang – IAF’s helicopter display team and a spectrum formation by Avro and Dornier aircraft.
Please wait...
