The hallowed grounds of the Air Force Academy (AFA) witnessed a momentous occasion today as 235 flight cadets from the flying and ground duty branches of the Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully culminated their rigorous training at the Combined Graduation Parade (CGP).
Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), presided over the ceremonial event as the Reviewing Officer, conferring the President’s Commission upon the graduating cadets. Among the newly commissioned officers were 22 women officers, who earned their place in various branches of the IAF. The ceremony was graced by dignitaries from the IAF, sister services, and the families of the graduating officers, making it a truly momentous occasion.
In a remarkable achievement, nine officers from the Indian Navy, nine from the Indian Coast Guard, and one from a friendly foreign country were also awarded their coveted ‘Wings’ upon successful completion of their flying training. Moreover, this CGP marked a historic first, as 25 cadets who joined the National Defence Academy four years ago for Ground Duty branches were commissioned as officers, with 5 in the Administration branch, 3 in the Logistics branch, and 17 in the Technical branch of the IAF.
The Reviewing Officer, Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari, was received by Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Training Command, and Air Marshal S Shrinivas, Commandant AFA. The parade commenced with a General Salute presented to the Reviewing Officer by the parade commander, followed by an impressive march past. The spectacle was further enhanced by well-coordinated and synchronized fly-pasts by four trainer aircraft, including the Pilatus PC-7 Mk-lI, Hawk, Kiran, and Chetak helicopters, showcasing the IAF’s prowess in the skies. The highlight of the parade was the ‘Commissioning Ceremony,’ where the graduating flight cadets were awarded their ‘Rank and Wings’ by the Reviewing Officer. The newly commissioned officers then took an oath administered by the Commandant of the academy, pledging to safeguard the security, safety, sovereignty, and honor of the nation.
Recognizing exceptional performance, the Reviewing Officer bestowed various awards upon the graduating officers who excelled in various disciplines of training. Flying Officer Happy Singh from the flying branch was awarded the President’s Plaque and the Chief of the Air Staff Sword of Honour for standing first in the overall order of merit in the pilots’ course. Flying Officer Taufeeq Raza received the President’s Plaque for being first in the overall order of merit in the ground duty officers course. In his address, the CAS commended the newly commissioned officers for their immaculate turnout, precise drill movements, and high standards of parade. He congratulated them on the successful completion of their training and welcomed them into the ranks of the IAF. The CAS also extended his congratulations to the officers from the Indian Navy, the Indian Coast Guard, and the friendly foreign country who earned their ‘Flying Wings’ on this momentous day. Emphasizing the importance of transformation and upskilling, the CAS urged the newly commissioned officers to learn diverse skills and become ‘multi-domain leaders.’ “Tomorrow’s conflicts cannot be fought with yesterday’s mindset. The architects of new standards would always trump the followers of the old,” he emphasized. Addressing the dynamic nature of modern warfare, the CAS reminded the cadets that it is increasingly influenced by complex data networks and advanced cyber technologies. “As leaders, you all need to adopt, innovate, and leverage technology effectively for proving decisive in winning wars,” he added. Highlighting the core values of the IAF-Mission, Integrity, and Excellence-the CAS stressed the utmost importance of mission accomplishment for maintaining direction, efficiency, and overall success. He emphasized the need for ethical choices, upholding the highest standards of conduct, and leading by example to inspire trust and loyalty among team members. He urged the officers to strive for excellence through consistency, discipline, positive attitude, and passion for every task at hand. Echoing the IAF’s vision statement of ‘People First, Mission Always,’ the CAS encouraged the newly commissioned officers to earn the respect of their subordinates through professional competence, physical and moral courage, character, and empathy. This cohesion and teamwork developed across the service, he added, would prove to be a force multiplier. As the parade culminated, the newly commissioned officers marched out in two columns to the traditional notes of ‘Anandaloke’ by Rabindranath Tagore, receiving their first salute from their immediate juniors. The grand finale featured an enthralling aerobatic show by the SU-30 MKI, synchronous aerobatics by the Sarang Helicopter Display Team, and the ‘Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT),’ leaving the spectators in awe. The commissioning ceremony remains an unforgettable moment in the lives of Air Force officers, as they earn their ‘rank’ in the presence of their proud parents, embarking on a journey of service to the nation.
