To mark the successful culmination of training of 213 Flight Cadets of the flying and ground duty branches of the Indian Air Force (IAF), a Combined Graduation Parade (CGP) was held at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal in Telangana on December 17, 2023. The parade was reviewed by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, who also conferred the President’s Commission on the graduating Flight Cadets.
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The graduating officers included 25 women who were commissioned in various branches of the IAF. Eight officers from the Indian Navy, Nine from the Indian Coast Guard and two from friendly countries were also awarded ‘Wings’ following the completion of their flying training.
Flying Officer Atul Prakash from the flying branch was awarded the President’s Plaque and Chief of the Air Staff Sword of Honour for standing first in the overall order of merit in the pilots’ course. Flying Officer Amrinder Jeet Singh was awarded the President’s Plaque for standing first in the overall order of merit amongst the ground duty branches.
The CGP was interspersed by a synchronised fly-past by trainer aircraft that comprised Pilatus PC-7 Mk II, Hawk and Kiran, along with Chetak helicopters.
In his address, Shri Rajnath Singh congratulated the newly commissioned officers and complimented them for their immaculate turn out, precise drill movements and high standards of parade. He urged them to not, in any circumstance, lose their openness towards new ideas, innovative thinking and idealism.
Shri Rajnath Singh called for striking a balance between tradition and innovation, describing it as extremely crucial. “If we follow only tradition, we will be like a dead lake. We need to be like a flowing river. For that, we will have to bring in innovation along with tradition. Keep flying and touch greater heights, but maintain your connection with the ground,” he said.
The Parade culminated with the newly commissioned officers marching-out in two columns in slow march to the notes of Rabindranath Tagore’s ‘Anandaloke’. An enthralling aerobatic show by Su-30MKI, synchronous aerobatics by the helicopter display team ‘Sarang’, and ‘SuryaKiran’ Aerobatic Team marked the grand finale of the CGP.
