Friday turned out to be a golden day for the Pathankot-based 125 Helicopter Squadron and Chennai-based Mechanical Training Institute of the Indian Air Force as both were honoured with the President’s Standard and Colours respectively by President of India Pranab Mukherjee, who is also the Supreme Commander of the country’s defence forces.
The 125 Helicopter Squadron, known popularly as Gladiators in military parlance, had played stellar role during counter-insurgency as well as peace keeping operations in India and abroad. The squadron was in the news recently for literally immobilising the terrorists who had attacked the Air Force base at Pathankot.
The helicopter squadron raised in 1983 shot into fame when it was deployed in northern Sri lanka along with the Indian Peace Keeping Force in 1987.
Group Captain VD Badoni, Commanding Officer, 125 Helicopter Squadron, received the President’s Standard from the President in a parade held at Tambaram Air Force Station.
The Mechanical Training Institute, which trains three premier trades of the Air Force namely propulsion fitter, structure fitter and weapon fitter, is the oldest training institute. The unit imparts fundamental Technical Training in aircraft maintenance and servicing to the young recruits in mechanical aviation trades. President paid rich tributes to the MTI which imparts training to the air warriors of the country. “The training imparted and the ethos instilled at the Institute, empowers the air warriors to keep abreast with the state-of-the-art technology used in modern weapon platforms. The Unit has always stood by its motto ‘Abhyasah Siddhikaranam’ which means ‘Practice leads to Perfection,” Mukherjee said.
“The Gladiators since its formation in November 1983 has enhanced its operational capability over the years. The Squadron motto is ‘Balidanam Veerasya Bhushanam’ meaning, ‘Sacrifice is the Ornament of the Brave’. When deployed under the UN Flag in Sierra leone, the Gladiators were instrumental in securing the release of 232 captured Indian Army personnel. In January 2016, the Squadron played a stellar role in confining the terrorists to a restricted area during the terror attack on Air Force Station Pathankot, thereby reducing casualties. The Gladiators have stood the test of time by rising to the myriad challenges in times of need,” said the President.
Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa and senior commanders of the IAF took part in the programme which also saw the President releasing the first day covers to commemorate the grand function.