The Chetwode drill square of the famed Indian Military Academy (IMA) reverberated with unfaltering, determined footsteps of 457 Gentlemen Cadets (GCs) as they marched past with perfect coordination in the Passing out Parade (POP) to become officers in the Indian Army and also in the armies of seven friendly nations on Saturday morning. At the end of the parade, the passing out contingent crossed the Antim Pag (the last step) which heralded start of their career in the armed forces.
These officers were part of 142 Regular and 125 Technical Graduate Courses of IMA.
The contingent led by Aaditya Neekhara marched to the drill square when the markers call was sounded by five markers stationed atop the historic Chetwode hall at 6.37 am. The marching contingent drew regular applause from the audience for their crisp movement and synergy.
A ceremonial guard of honour was presented to the Chief Guest and Reviewing Officer (RO), the Chief of Army Staff, Nepal Army, General Rajendra Chhetri, who rode the famous carriage donated to IMA by Maharaja of Patiala, to arrive at the drill square. Other dignitaries like General Officer Commanding in Chief ( GOC in C) of Army Training Command, Manoj Mukund Naravane, IMA Commandant lt Gen S K Jha and the Deputy Commandant and chief instructor of IMA, Major General J S Nehra also received ceremonial reception by the parade.
In his address, the COAS of Nepal Army General Chhetri thanked the Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat for inviting him for being the chief guest and RO of the IMA’s POP. He said that there is a deep- rooted trust and goodwill between the people and armed forces of India and Nepal. Emphasising on the human aspect of soldiering, the RO told the young officers that leadership is all about sharing and caring. He said that in today’s world, the officers should be technically and tactically proficient and one should always strive for excellence. To the Foreign Gentlemen Cadets (FGC), the RO said that they have received the best army training of the world and they should maintain the bond of friendship forged during their days in the academy.
After the address, the awards ceremony was held in which the GC excelling in different fields were felicitated by the RO.
The prestigious Sword of Honour was handed over to Sachin Kumar Chahar for being the GC adjudged the best all around among the GCs of Passing out Course (POC). The gold medal for standing first in the order of merit in regular course was presented to Aaditiya Neekhara while the silver medal in regular course was bestowed on Aatish Sehgal. The bronze medal for GC standing third in merit from the regular course was presented to Kuldeep Nanasaheb Pawar and the silver medal for GC first in order of merit in technical graduate course ( TGC) was presented to Rohit Dilip Patwardhan. Bukhori Saydulloev of Tajikistan was given the silver medal for being the best Foreign Gentlemen Cadet (FGC) of the POC. The Chief of Army Staff banner was handed over to the Miektlia Company, Thimayya Battalion for standing first among 16 companies of academy in the spring term- 2018.
After the POP, the young officers arrived at the sprawling Somnath stadium for pipping ceremony where epaulettes of officers were put on their proud shoulders. It was followed by the young officers taking oath to serve the nation. At the end of the event, the stadium erupted in celebrations as the young officers broke into ecstasy by jumping in the air, hugging one another and doing combined push- ups to the resounding applaud of the audience.