Written by Niyati Kanotra, a grade 12 student.

“Two stars on my  shoulder are better than millions in the sky”  – Major Dhruv Yadav

The aspirants who want to join the defence forces aim to join institutions like the National Defence Academy, Indian Military Academy (IMA), Cadet’s Training Wing (CTW) as well as Officer’s Training Academy (OTA) . Recently, IMA and CTW MCEME ( Cadet Training Wing, Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering) conducted their passing out parades in the midst of the ongoing pandemic. IMA was established in the year 1932 in Dehradun because, after the performance of the Indian Military in World War-1, Indian leaders recognized the need of a local institution to recruit young officers to meet the needs of an armed force loyal to sovereign India. The first batch of IMA only consisted of 31 cadets. After one and a half years of training, a cadet is ready to serve as a lieutenant in the Indian army and live with the motto  “valour and wisdom”. CTW MCEME was established in the year 2000 with the motto  “power through knowledge”, cadets arrive at CTW after going through a year of training at OTA, Gaya. They receive their commission after one year of military training and three years of engineering training.

 The passing out parade (POP) of IMA was conducted on 13^th June with over 423 cadets parading with their masks on in absence of their guardians due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The parade was broadcasted on Youtube as well as Doordarshan for the benefit of the families of the cadets to view them marching live on screen. This was the year’s first passing out parade which saw 333 Indians and 90 cadets from nine foreign countries become army officers. The POP was held in Dehradun and was reviewed by Army General Manoj Mukund Naravane. It symbolises the transformation of a gentleman cadet into a young officer. While addressing young cadets at IMA, General Naravane motivated them by saying that the country is going through a tough phase and its safety and honour depends upon the ability of its young officers as military leaders. The parade started with Gentleman cadets (GCs) parading while wearing masks and maintaining distance from each other. The pipping ceremony was conducted differently this time since family members were not allowed to attend the ceremony this year, the stars were instead put on the shoulders of cadets by IMA staffers and their wives who played the role of parents.

The passing out parade of CTW was held in Pune on 13^th June as well with 28 gentlemen cadets including two foreign cadets of the Bhutanese Army as well. CME Commandant Lieutenant General P P Malhotra was the reviewing officer of the parade. The parade started off with a general salute to the reviewing officer followed by the presentation of the awards to the medal winners. It ended with the pipping ceremony at Bhagat lawns of the CME where officers crossed the “Pehla Kadam” which was organised for the first time in the history of CTW. Reviewing officer Lieutenant General P P Malhotra addressed the young cadets and congratulated them for their drill as well as highlighted the importance of being a commissioned officer and encouraged them to render selfless service in order to make the nation proud.

Though the Passing Out Parades were streamed live too but the young cadets were a bit emotional for not having their family around to see them come out with flying colours. A newly commissioned officer from Dehradun said “Obviously it felt bad that my parents couldn’t see me wearing the officer’s uniform despite living in the same city. But then, it is for the safety of all. We are thankful for our instructors at the academy who played the role of our parents and made us realise once again, that we all are one big family”. POPs hold  great importance in the life of an Army officer, it takes them a step further into the armed forces where they get to serve their nation. POPs have always had a charismatic aura to them and are always awaited for eagerly. Even in this ongoing fight against the virus, POPs still did not lose their essence and were taken place with great enthusiasm. We congratulate our young commissioned officers who will now go on to make their motherland proud;  after all, it’s a matter of great pride and dignity. Jai Hind.

“A star on the shoulder is better than a million in the sky” – such are the and in order to achieve that institutions like National Defence Academy, Indian Military Academy (IMA), Cadet’s Training Wing (CTW) as well as Officer’s Training Academy (OTA) are the goals of any defence aspirant. Recently, IMA and CTW MCEME conducted their passing out parades in the midst of the ongoing pandemic. IMA was established in the year 1932 in Dehradun because, after the performance of the Indian Military in World War-1, Indian leaders recognized the need of a local institution to recruit young officers to meet the needs of an armed force loyal to sovereign India. The first batch of IMA only consisted of 31 cadets. After one and a half years of training, a cadet is ready to serve as a lieutenant in the Indian army and live with the motto  “valour and wisdom”. CTW MCEME was established in the year 2000 with the motto  “power through knowledge”, cadets arrive at CTW after going through a year of training at OTA, Gaya. They receive their commission after one year of military training and three years of engineering training.

 The passing out parade (POP) of IMA was conducted on 13^th June with over 423 cadets parading with their masks on in absence of their guardians due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The parade was broadcasted on Youtube as well as Doordarshan for the benefit of the families of the cadets to view them marching live on screen. This was the year’s first passing out parade which saw 333 Indians and 90 cadets from nine foreign countries become army officers. The POP was held in Dehradun and was reviewed by Army General Manoj Mukund Naravane. It symbolises the transformation of a gentleman cadet into a young officer. While addressing young cadets at IMA, General Naravane motivated them by saying that the country is going through a tough phase and its safety and honour depends upon the ability of its young officers as military leaders. The parade started with Gentleman cadets (GCs) parading while wearing masks and maintaining distance from each other. The pipping ceremony was conducted differently this time since family members were not allowed to attend the ceremony this year, the stars were instead put on the shoulders of cadets by IMA staffers and their wives who played the role of parents.

The passing out parade of CTW was held in Pune on 13^th June as well with 28 gentlemen cadets including two foreign cadets of the Bhutanese Army as well. CME Commandant Lieutenant General P P Malhotra was the reviewing officer of the parade. The parade started off with a general salute to the reviewing officer followed by the presentation of the awards to the medal winners. It ended with the pipping ceremony at Bhagat lawns of the CME where officers crossed the “Pehla Kadam” which was organised for the first time in the history of CTW. Reviewing officer Lieutenant General P P Malhotra addressed the young cadets and congratulated them for their drill as well as highlighted the importance of being a commissioned officer and encouraged them to render selfless service in order to make the nation proud.

Though the Passing Out Parades were streamed live too, the young cadets were a bit emotional for not having their family around to see them come out with flying colours. A newly commissioned officer from Dehradun said, “Obviously it felt bad that my parents couldn’t see me wearing the officer’s uniform despite living in the same city. But then, it is for the safety of all. We are thankful for our instructors at the academy who played the role of our parents and made us realise once again, that we all are one big family”. POPs hold  great importance in the life of an Army officer, it takes them a step further into the armed forces where they get to serve their nation. POPs have always had a charismatic aura to them and are always awaited eagerly. Even in this ongoing fight against the virus, POPs still did not lose their essence and were taken place with great enthusiasm. We congratulate our young commissioned officers who will now go on to make their motherland proud;  after all, it’s a matter of great pride and dignity. Jai Hind.