Marching in step and pledging to serve the nation in one voice, as many as 139 flight cadets in immaculate blue uniform — including a fighter pilot from among the 24 women — graduated from the Air Force Academy in Dundigal here on Saturday to join the cadre of Air Force as officers.
Chief of the Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat presided over combined graduation parade and formally inducted the cadets into the mainstream by presenting ‘Wings and Brevets’ to cadets of the flying branch, Indian Navy and Coast Guard who successfully completed training.
Flying Officer Sukhmandeep Singh was awarded President’s Plaque and Chief of the Air Staff Sword of Honour for standing first in overall merit in Pilot Course. Flying Officer Rashmi Kumari and Flying Officer Abhishek Mandyal were awarded President’s Plaque for coming first in overall merit in Navigation and Ground Duty Branches respectively.
Only one fighter pilot, Priya Sharma from Pilani in Rajasthan, who graduated at the parade is the 7th fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force.
While addressing the parade, the Army chief complimented the newly commissioned flying officers and said, “It is a matter of great pride to review the Combined Graduation Parade of Indian Air Force”.
He advised the graduating trainees to be alert to various situations, rapidly changing geopolitical scenario and constantly strive to keep themselves fighting fit at all times to take on any task. “Be it flying or ground duty, remember that the need of the hour is ‘technologically adept’, airmen, sailors and soldiers, congruent to the requirements of the modern battlefield,” he said.
Concurrently, the primacy of soldiering, leadership, morals and integrity remain supreme to the fabric of a soldier, the Army chief said and added that challenging situations will enable them to resolutely choose the harder right against the easier wrong.
“Years ahead will have their fair share of challenges that will put your resolve as a leader to test. So march ahead from today with confidence and bring glory to your individual service and the nation,” General Rawat added.
Earlier in the day, the amber sky dawned sagely over the academy and spectators were mesmerised with the breathtaking aerobatic display by ‘Sarang’, the helicopter aerobatic team of IAF, ‘Suryakiran’ the Hawk Aerobatic display team and PC 7 aircraft. The skydiving team of Indian Air Force ‘Akash Ganga’ enthralled the spectators by painting the blue skies of Dundigal with tricolour and a perfect landing right in front of them.