At an impressive passing-out parade held at the Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala, 380 cadets of the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard passed through the portals of the INA, on successful completion of their training. This parade marked the commissioning of the cadets of the 87th Indian Naval Academy Course (B Tech) Course into the Indian Navy.

The cadets belonged to the three different passing-out courses of the Autumn Term 2014, viz., the 87th Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC) BTech and MSc courses, the 18th Naval Orientation (Extended) Course and the 19thNaval Orientation (Regular) Course. Also graduating and marching shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts were 43 female cadets from the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard.

The parade was reviewed by the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral RK Dhowan. After the ceremonial review, the chief guest awarded medals to nine meritorious cadets. The Chief of the Naval Staff advised the passing-out cadets ‘to serve the country and Navy with pride and always uphold the values of commitment to make supreme sacrifice for the nation and navy, courage- both physical and moral, compassion towards men and women you lead, credibility in performance and character and finally to have an integrity beyond doubt – always and every time’.

The Presidents Gold Medal. for the cadet adjudged first in the overall order-of-merit of the INAC course was awarded to Academy Cadet Captain Ankush Jasrotia, Chief of the Naval Staff Gold Medal for the cadet adjudged first in overall order-ofmerit for the Naval Orientation (Extended) Course was awarded to Cadet Ankur Jangra. Cadet R. Jangra was awarded the Chief of the Naval Staff Gold Medal for the cadet adjudged first in overall orderof-merit for the Naval Orientation (Regular) Course and Cadet Amita Singh was awarded the Flag Officer Commandingin-Chief (South) Gold Medal for being adjudged the best woman trainee of the course. She also won the Commandant, INA Silver Medal for the cadet adjudged second in overall order-of-merit for the Naval Orientation (Regular) Course.