Twenty cadets from the Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala, Kerala, visited the Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre (MLIRC), Belagavi, from September 17 to 20, 2026, as part of an initiative aimed at strengthening Tri-Service synergy and promoting greater understanding between the Armed Forces.
During the four-day visit, the naval cadets gained first-hand exposure to the Indian Army’s infantry ethos, regimental traditions and training practices. The interaction provided them with an opportunity to understand aspects of Army life and the professional culture associated with one of the Indian Army’s infantry regiments.
Exposure to the Army’s training environment enabled the cadets to observe the traditions and practices that shape the professional identity of infantry personnel. Such interactions also provide future officers with an understanding of the roles, training approaches and institutional ethos of sister Services.
The visit formed part of a series of cadet engagements at MLIRC aimed at encouraging greater interaction between personnel and cadets of different Services. Such programmes provide opportunities for participants to exchange experiences and gain familiarity with the professional environment of other branches of the Armed Forces.
Adventure activities formed another component of the visit, with the cadets undertaking white-water rafting on the Kali River at Dandeli. The activity provided an opportunity for the participants to experience a demanding outdoor environment while developing teamwork, coordination and mutual confidence.
White-water rafting also added an element of adventure to the professional exposure programme, allowing the cadets to work together in an unfamiliar setting. The experience reinforced the importance of communication and collective effort while strengthening camaraderie among the participants.
The visit to MLIRC combined exposure to military traditions and training with an adventure activity, giving the naval cadets a broader understanding of the experiences and challenges encountered by personnel of the Indian Army.
For future naval officers, such interactions can contribute to a wider appreciation of jointness by providing direct exposure to the functioning, traditions and training practices of another Service. Similarly, participation in common activities helps build professional relationships among cadets before they enter their respective Services.
The four-day engagement at Belagavi thus provided a platform for the 20 INA cadets to learn about the infantry ethos and regimental traditions of the Army while participating in activities designed to encourage teamwork and camaraderie.
The programme highlighted the importance of inter-Service exposure in developing a shared understanding among future officers. As the Armed Forces continue to place emphasis on jointmanship and integrated operations, such cadet-level interactions provide an early opportunity to build familiarity and professional bonds across the Services.
The visit concluded with the cadets carrying back experience of the Army’s regimental environment as well as the lessons in teamwork and camaraderie gained through the Kali River rafting activity at Dandeli.
