At an spectacular Passing out Parade (POP) held at Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala on Saturday, 26 May 2018, 311 Midshipmen and cadets of Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard including four International cadets from Maldives, Myanmar and Vietnam passed out of the hallowed portals of INA on successful completion of their training.
Vice Admiral AR Karve, PVSM, AVSM, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command reviewing the Passing out Parade Spring Term 2018 at Indian Naval Academy
The passing out Midshipmen and cadets belonged to four different courses of Spring Term 2018, viz., 94 Indian Naval Academy Course (BTech), 94 Indian Naval Academy Course (MSc), 25 Naval Orientation Course (Extended) and 26 Naval Orientation Course (Regular). The parade also saw ten female cadets marching shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts to join the ranks of the Indian Navy.
Glimpses from the Passing out Parade Spring Term 2018 at Indian Naval Academy
The grand parade was reviewed by Vice Admiral AR Karve, PVSM, AVSM, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, who awarded medals to nine meritorious Midshipmen and cadets after the ceremonial review. The reviewing officer in his address congratulated the passing out courses and advised them to imbibe by the core values of Indian Navy “Duty, Honour and Courage”. Prof. Surendra Prasad, Chairman, National Board of Accreditation, Vice Admiral RB Pandit, AVSM, Commandant, INA, senior officers of the station and others witnessed the momentous occasion.
A batch of three Naval Dornier Aircraft carried out a low fly past over the quarterdeck welcoming the new officers to the Navy
The Passing out Parade 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
The Passing out Parade 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. The ‘President’s Gold Medal’ for the Indian Naval Academy BTech course was awarded to Midshipman Pavan Ponnanna Uthappa Kodimaniyanda. The ‘Chief of the Naval Staff Gold Medal’ for the Naval Orientation (Extended) Course was awarded to Cadet Arun Singh. The ‘Chief of the Naval Staff Gold Medal’ for the Naval Orientation (Regular) Course and the ‘Flag Officer Commanding in Chief (South) Medal’ for the best women cadet was awarded to Cadet Kiran Bhatt.
Vice Admiral RB Pandit, AVSM, Commandant, INA and Proud parent of Midshipman Ashish Panigrahi shipped the Naval epaulettes, known as ‘Stripes’ on his shoulders
Medal Winners posing for a group photograph with Vice Admiral AR Karve, PVSM, AVSM, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command and Senior officers of INA
The glittering ceremony culminated with the successful Midshipmen and cadets forming up in two columns and marching with their gleaming swords and rifles held in salute, past the Academy’s Saluting Dias, the Quarterdeck, in Slow March, to the traditional notes of ‘Auld Lang Syne’, the poignant farewell tune played by Armed Forces around the world when bidding adieu to colleagues and comrades. Passing out courses were bid farewell by cadets of junior terms who manned the mast and a batch of three Naval Dornier Aircraft carried out a low fly past over the quarterdeck welcoming the new officers to the Navy.
Jubilant cadet of the passing out course during the Passing out Parade Spring Term 2018 at Indian Naval Academy
On completion of the parade, the proud parents and guardians of the Passing Out courses shipped the Naval, and Coast Guard, epaulettes, 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, these officers will proceed to various Naval and Coast Guard ships / establishments, to further consolidate their training in specialised fields.
