CHENNAI: In a prestigious ceremony at the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai, a total of 297 officer cadets were commissioned into the Indian Army. The event, held on Saturday, saw 258 Indian officer cadets and 39 female officer cadets complete their rigorous training and step into their new roles. The 'Passing Out Parade,' conducted at the Parameshwaran Drill Square, was reviewed by Vice Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General N.S. Raja Subramani. The ceremony marked the end of nearly a year of intensive training for these cadets. In addition to the Indian cadets, ten officer cadets and five female officer cadets from friendly foreign countries also completed their training, highlighting the international cooperation fostered by the OTA. This event was a significant milestone for these future leaders of the Indian Army. The cadets, part of the 118th batch of the Short Service Commission course and the 32nd batch of the Short Service Commission Course (women), demonstrated exceptional skill and discipline during the parade. The parade featured flawless marching in perfect unison, with martial music setting a patriotic tone. Lieutenant General N.S. Raja Subramani awarded several honors: the Sword of Honour was presented to Battalion Under Officer (BUO) Samrath Singh, the OTA Gold Medal to BUO Simran Singh Rathi, the Silver Medal to Academy Under Officer Tanishka Damodran, and the Bronze Medal to Academy Cadet Adjutant Devesh Chandra Joshi. In his address, the Vice Chief of Army Staff praised the cadets and OTA staff for their achievements. He emphasized the importance of upholding the values of 'Selfless Service to the Nation' and striving for excellence. He encouraged the newly commissioned officers to lead with integrity, make difficult decisions with courage, and continuously improve their leadership skills. The ceremony concluded with the Pipping Ceremony, where the new officers donned their insignia and reaffirmed their commitment to the Constitution of India and their duty to protect the nation. Army Leads Efforts to Repair 100-Metre Breach in Vijayawada Flood Crisis Indian Army and Jammu & Kashmir Police Enhance Village Security with VDG Training Initiative Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Lauds Indian Armed Forces at Joint Commanders' Conference 2024