Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 12: Over 180 youth from Jammu and Kashmir today donned olive uniform and took oath to serve and defend nation at a colorful passing out parade ceremony here in Srinagar.
Defence spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said 185 young soldiers from J&K passed out from Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAKLI) Regimental Centre here at Rangreth on city outskirts. “Recruit Course Serial number 110, on having completed one year of strenuous training was attested today at a glittering parade at the Bana Singh Parade Ground of JAKLI Regimental Centre,” he said.
The passing out parade, depicting graduation of a recruit and his transformation into a young soldier, was reviewed by Lt General Satish Dua, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, Ministry of Defence and Colonel of the JAKLI Regiment Centre and was attended by over 1000 parents and relatives of young soldiers besides number of civil and military dignitaries, the spokesman said.
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Speaking to reporters, Lt General SK Dua said it was a “proud moment” for him today and “I am feeling very happy that 185 recruits of 110 course number have been inducted into Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry as young jawans”. “You people are seeing that they are from every area of Jammu and Kashmir and the way they have taken oath on three religious books, it is an example of national unity, not only in J&K but whole country,” he said.
Asked how recruitment of army would impact youth of Kashmir, Dua said it indeed would leave an impact. “These are all also youth of Kashmir and the (recruits) are the real face of Kashmiri youth which want to work for the country. Although some of the youths are indeed misguided but they (recruits) who want to tread good path are real face of J&K youth,” he said.
The top Army officer, when asked about threats to those youth who join security forces including Army, said that in Army, “there is always a risk to your own life”. “That is why we take that pledge as you saw them taking a pledge that to defend their motherland if they have to risk their lives they will not hesitate to do so and that is the pledge of every soldier and that holds very good even for the soldiers who come from J&K as you saw today,” he said.
He said that the Army would provide a platform for youth of Jammu and Kashmir and assimilate them into mainstream. “Yes and you have seen army is always providing this platform, providing such a forum where the youth can be assimilated into the mainstream, whether it is by the way of recruitment in the Army units or in Territorial Army units or other security forces or it is by the way of engagement by the Army of the youth in J&K. Army always provides them to assimilate them in the mainstream,” Gen Dua said.
General Dua congratulated the young soldiers for their immaculate parade and impressed upon them to render selfless service to the nation. He praised their contribution towards encouraging more and more youth from J&K to come forward to join the security forces and also highlighted the vital role played by their parents in motivating their wards to join this noble profession.
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