Khordha: The passing out parade (POP) of the first batch of Agniveers recruited under the Agnipath scheme was successfully conducted on Tuesday (March 28) at Indian Naval Ship (INS) Chilka.
The POP marks the successful completion of four months training of 2585 Agniveers including 273 women.
The parade was reviewed by Admiral R. Hari Kumar, Chief of Naval Staff, in the presence of Vice Admiral M.A. Hampiholi, the flag officer commanding-in-chief, Southern Naval Command.
During his address, Admiral Hari Kumar urged the Agniveers to hone their skills further and develop a strong foundation of knowledge, willingness to learn and commitment to excel in their respective careers that lay ahead. He also urged them to uphold the Navy’s core values of duty, honour and courage, in pursuit of nation building.
The Admiral also awarded medals and trophies to the meritorious Agniveers on the occasion.
Amalakanti Jayaram and Ajith P., among men, were awarded with Chief of Naval Staff Rolling Trophy and gold medal for Best Agniveer SSR and MR, respectively.
Kushi was adjudged the best woman Agniveer in the overall order of merit. A Rolling Trophy, instituted to commemorate the vision of late General Bipin Rawat, the first Chief of Defence Staff, was awarded to her by the daughters of General Rawat.
Earlier in the day, during the valedictory function, the Chief of the Naval Staff gave away the overall championship trophy to Eklavya Division, and runners-up trophy to Angad and Shivaji Division.
This is the first-ever passing out of the Agniveers from any training institution in the country.
PT Usha, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), who is popularly known as the ‘Queen of Indian Track and Field’ and Payyoli Express, a proud recipient of the Padma Shri award and President of the Indian Olympics Association, former India cricket captain Mithali Raj and some naval veterans were also present during the POP.
As part of their transformation to Sea Warriors, the Agniveers underwent 16 weeks of ab-initio training at INS Chilka, the premier sailors’ training establishment of the Indian Navy. The training at INS Chilka encompassed academic, service and outdoor training, based on the core Naval values of Duty, Honour and Courage.
This first batch of Agniveers also includes those women and men Agniveer who were part of the Indian Navy RD Parade Contingent at the Kartavya Path on 26 January this year.
