In a significant milestone, 168 officers of the Indian Armed Forces, including seven officers from Sri Lanka, successfully graduated from the Defence Services Technical Staff Course (DSTSC)-07 at the prestigious Military Institute of Technology (MILIT), Khadakwasla. This flagship program is meticulously designed to equip mid-career officers across all three services with the skills needed for future command and staff appointments in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
The graduation ceremony was graced by Lt General Dhiraj Seth, PVSM, AVSM, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command, who attended as the Chief Guest. The event saw the presence of senior dignitaries from Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS), Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT), IIT-Bombay, defence industries, academia, and senior officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Top Performers Felicitated
The Chief Guest presented awards to the top-performing officers from each service:
- Army: Major Akash Awasthi
- Navy: Commandant (Junior Grade) Sheikh Kasim
- Air Force: Wing Commander Prince Arora
In addition, the prestigious Purple Trophy, instituted by HQ IDS to promote jointness among tri-service officers, was awarded to the officer demonstrating exceptional inter-service synergy and technological acumen.
Focus on Future-Ready Leadership
In his valedictory address, Lt General Dhiraj Seth highlighted the indispensable role of cutting-edge technologies in modern warfare. He emphasized the necessity for technologically proficient and strategically astute military leaders, urging the graduating officers to continually upgrade their knowledge in emerging and niche technologies to ensure the optimal integration of advanced systems into the Armed Forces.
The General commended MILIT’s efforts in blending traditional military technical education with contemporary modules on emerging technologies, significantly enhancing the operational capabilities of future military leadership.
Advanced Infrastructure at MILIT
The event also marked the inauguration of the Advanced AI-Integrated Drone Lab at MILIT. Lt General Seth visited the new facility and lauded Rear Admiral Nelson D’Souza, NM, Commandant of MILIT, for spearheading the modernization of the institute’s training infrastructure, further solidifying MILIT’s standing as a premier center of excellence in defence technology training.
Setting New Benchmarks
With the successful graduation of DSTSC-07, MILIT reaffirms its commitment to shaping technologically adept, strategically agile military leaders, fully prepared to meet the complex challenges of modern and future warfare.
