The Gentlemen Cadets (GCs) of Indian Military Academy (IMA) marched perfectly to beats of the military bands and displayed a spectacular IMA commandant’s parade on Thursday.
The parade, which is like a full-dressed rehearsal for the Passing out Parade (POP), was reviewed by the IMA commandant lt Gen Manvender Singh AVSM, VSM.
The contingents of 135 Regular Course, 24 Technical Entry Scheme (TES) and 118 Technical Graduate Course (TGC) started the parade with the sounding of bugle from the top of the historic Chetwode building.
The parade led smartly by the senior under Officer Bhanu Pratap Singh and under the command of parade Adjutant lt Col Sudhakar Thakur -mounted on charger stallion Aurangzeb- drew applause from the audience for its synergy, enthusiasm and coordination.
In his address lt Gen Singh complimented the GCs for an exceptional parade and turn out.The academy has witnessed their transformation from college going graduates to fine officers. The IMA commandant exhorted the would be officers to ensure that they develop a bonding with the soldiers at their command. The IMA has the best training resources at its disposal and provides world’s best training to the GCs but even then he feels that it accounts for only 15 percent of what it needed for a true leader.
lt Gen Singh said that the training is a continuous process and the officers should read and share their experiences regularly to update them. He was of the view that the new officers should command the soldiers and not just manage them and should strictly follow the service ethics.