Combined Graduation Parade at Air Force Academy, Dundigal
The Air Force Academy (AFA) at Dundigal witnessed the grand culmination of training for 235 flight cadets from various branches of the Indian Air Force (IAF) during the Combined Graduation Parade (CGP) on June 15. Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari, presided over the ceremony as the Reviewing Officer, conferring the prestigious Presidents’ Commission upon the graduating flight cadets in recognition of their successful completion of training.
The graduating cohort included 22 women officers who were commissioned into diverse branches of the IAF, marking a significant milestone in gender representation within the force. The event was graced by dignitaries from the IAF and sister services, alongside the proud families of the graduating officers.
In a notable first, the CGP also saw the commissioning of 25 cadets who had joined the National Defence Academy four years ago for Ground Duty branches, with officers assigned to administration, logistics, and technical branches of the IAF.
The parade commenced with Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor and Air Marshal S Shrinivas receiving the CAS, who was presented with a general salute by the parade commander. The event featured impressive march pasts, complemented by synchronized fly-pasts featuring Pilatus PC-7 Mk-II, Hawk, Kiran, and Chetak helicopters.
A highlight of the ceremony was the solemn ‘Commissioning Ceremony’, where the graduating flight cadets received their ‘Rank and Wings’ from the Reviewing Officer. They subsequently took the oath administered by the Commandant of the academy, pledging to uphold the security, safety, sovereignty, and honour of the nation.
The reviewing officer acknowledged outstanding achievements by presenting various awards. Flying Officer Happy Singh of the flying branch was honoured with the President’s Plaque and the Chief of the Air Staff Sword of Honour for securing the first position in the pilots’ course. Similarly, Flying Officer Taufeeq Raza received the President’s Plaque for leading the ground duty officers course.
In his address to the parade, ACM V.R. Chaudhari commended the newly commissioned officers for their impeccable turnout, precise drill movements, and high standards of parade. He extended heartfelt congratulations to the officers on their successful commissioning in the IAF, emphasising the significance of their commitment to national defence.
Underlining the theme of ‘Transformation Through Upskilling’ for the year 2024, ACM Chaudhari urged the officers to embrace learning diverse skills to become effective ‘multi-domain leaders’. He emphasised the evolving nature of modern warfare, stressing the importance of innovation and leveraging technology to achieve decisive outcomes.
Reflecting on the core values of the IAF—Mission, Integrity, and Excellence—ACM Chaudhari underscored the critical role of ethical conduct, leadership by example, and pursuit of excellence in every endeavour. He highlighted the IAF’s vision of ‘People First, Mission Always’, urging the officers to earn respect through competence, courage, character, and empathy.
The ceremony concluded with the newly commissioned officers marching out in slow march to the tune of ‘Anandaloke’ by Rabindranath Tagore, marking a poignant moment as they received their first salute from their junior colleagues. The event culminated with aerobatic displays by the SuU-30 MKI, Sarang Helicopter Display Team, and the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT), adding a spectacular finale to the CGP.