Navy in News | December 2017

At the spectacular Passing out Parade (POP) held at Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala on 22 November 2017, 328 cadets of Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard and two international cadets, one each from Tanzania and Maldives, passed out of the hallowed portals of the esteemed institute.

The passing out Midshipmen and cadets belonged to four different courses of Autumn Term 2017, viz., B.Tech, MSc, Naval Orientation Course (Extended) and Naval Orientation Course (Regular). Also, graduating and marching shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts were 20 female cadets from the Indian Navy.

The grand parade was reviewed by the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) and Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Sunil Lanba. The Admiral, after the ceremonial review, awarded medals to nine meritorious Midshipmen and cadets. The reviewing officer in his address congratulated the passing out courses and advised all of them to imbibe and follow the core values of Navy – ‘Duty, Honour and Courage’. Vice Admiral S.V. Bhokare, Commandant, senior officers of the station and others witnessed the momentous occasion. The Passing out Parade (POP) was also witnessed by the proud parents and guardians of all successful Midshipmen and cadets, as well as by a large number of local and outstation dignitaries, trainee recruits and staff from Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Peringome, cadets of Sainik School Satara, Maharashtra, Sainik School Bhubaneshwar, Odisha National Cadets Corps (NCC) cadets, media personnel and students and teachers of local schools and colleges.

The glittering ceremony culminated with the successful Midshipmen and cadets marching with their gleaming swords and rifles held in salute, past the Academy’s Saluting Dias known as the Quarterdeck, in Slow March, to the traditional notes of ‘Auld Lang Syne’, the poignant farewell tune played by all armed forces around the world when bidding adieu to colleagues and comrades. Passing out courses were bid farewell by cadets of junior term who manned the mast as the successful cadets streamed past the sacred quarterdeck.

On completion of the parade, the ‘Shipping of Stripes’ ceremony was conducted. The proud parents and guardians of the Passing Out courses shipped the Naval and Coast Guard epaulettes, popularly known as ‘Stripes’ on the shoulders of their wards, thus symbolising their transformation from ‘cadets’ into full-fledged Navy and Coast Guard officers. The Reviewing Officer and other dignitaries shipped the stripes of the medal winners and congratulated all the trainees for their successful completion of the rigorous training. On completion of the training at the Indian Naval Academy, the officers will proceed to various Naval and Coast Guard ships/ establishments to further consolidate their training in specialised fields.

Officers Delegation and Cadets of INA Visits Myanmar Defence Services Academy

A delegation of five cadets led by Lieutenant Commander Hariom Bhardwaj and Lieutenant Commander Kartik Sachdeva of Indian Naval Academy (INA) visited Myanmar Defence Services Academy (MDSA) located at Pyin Oo Lwin, Myanmar for five days from 13 November 2017. During this period the officers and cadets of INA were acquainted with infrastructure facilities, selection processes, training methodology, academic syllabus, departments and training procedures at the Myanmar Defence Services Academy.

more

The aim of the visit was to build bridges of friendship between the two academies, exchange best practices and to consolidate and enhance bilateral defence relations between India and Myanmar. The visit also gave INA staff an opportunity to learn and understand the training processes and philosophy followed at Myanmar Defence Services Academy. The visiting INA officers and cadets were given opportunities to not only understand the functioning of MDSA, but to form bonds of friendship with Myanmar defence cadets.

The visit of Indian Naval Academy delegation to MDSA closely follows the recently concluded sixth Navy to Navy Staff talks between Indian Navy represented by Principal Director Foreign Cooperation and Myanmar Navy represented by Commander of Panmawady Naval Region Command held at Yangon, Myanmar from 6-9 November 2017. A delegation of five cadets led by Major Thike Zaw Hein and Captain Ko Ko Min of the Myanmar Defence Services Academy visited INA from 1-8 October 2017. The Commander in Chief, Myanmar Navy Admiral Tin Aung San visited India from 18-21 September 2017. These interactions between the Indian Navy and the Myanmar Navy is reflective of the growing level of cooperation between both navies and reaffirmed the universal truth that oceans unite all nations.

The visit of Indian Naval Academy delegation to My