Chilika: The decks of INS Chilka reverberated with pride and enthusiasm as the Passing Out Parade (POP) of the third batch of Agniveers on March 15. A total of 2,630 Agniveers, including 396 women, marched with precision and dedication in a post-sunset ceremony reviewed by Adm R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff. V Adm V Srinivas, Flag Officer Commanding-in -Chief, Southern Naval Command, graced the occasion as the conducting officer, while Shri Sudarshan Sahoo, the renowned sculptor and recipient of Padma and Padma Vibhushan, adorned the event as the Guest of Honour.
The Parade was also privileged to host distinguished sports personality and Arjuna awardee M Suranjay Singh, MCPO I (PT), along with various veteran achievers, who added a touch of inspiration to the momentous occasion. Proud family members of the passing out course stood witness to the solemn event, marking the culmination of 16 weeks of ab-initio Naval training for the Agniveers.
Congratulating the trainees on parade for their impeccable turnout, Adm R Hari Kumar emphasized the significance of adapting to new challenges emerging from the global security scenario. He urged the Agniveers to hone their skills, stay technologically abreast, and uphold Navy’s core values of Duty, Honour, and Courage while serving the nation with dedication. Expressing appreciation to the parents of the Agniveers, he acknowledged their invaluable contribution to the country.
The Chief Guest also had the honor of awarding medals and trophies to the meritorious Agniveers. Prathamesh Amit Darekar and Sanni Kumar Rajak were awarded the Chief of the Naval Staff Rolling Trophy and Gold Medal for Best Agniveer SSR & MR, respectively, in the men’s category. Samruddhi Khandave emerged as the Best Woman Agniveer in the overall order of merit and received the prestigious Gen Bipin Rawat Rolling Trophy.
During the valedictory function, the Chief of the Naval Staff presented the overall Championship Trophy to Angad Division and the Runners-Up Trophy to Shivaji Division. The event also witnessed the unveiling of the summer edition of Ankur, the bilingual trainees’ magazine of INS Chilka, symbolizing the journey of these young Agniveers as they embark on their new voyage in the Indian Navy.
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