Under the Chennai sun, 342 cadets stood tall as they transformed into commissioned officers of the Indian Army on Saturday. The Passing Out Parade at the Officers Training Academy marked not just a ceremonial milestone, but the beginning of leadership journeys for these new lieutenants—including 17 from seven friendly foreign nations.

Key facts

  • 342 cadets commissioned as Army officers
  • 17 cadets from Bhutan, Eswatini, Lesotho, Seychelles, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe
  • Admiral Krishna Swaminathan reviewed the parade
  • Three medals awarded for top performance

Pride and Tradition

In the crowd, Rigzin Ladol and Tundup Tsering from Zanskar district watched their daughter Stanzin Tsangyang take her oath. The 24-year-old engineering graduate becomes the first in her family to serve in the Army. "I was interested in sports, and I was in the NCC during my college days," she explained, her voice steady with purpose.

Nearby, Lieutenant Ritika Dubey from Gorakhpur similarly broke new ground as her family's first armed forces member. Yet for Lieutenants Mohit Arora, Prashant Gurung, and M. R. Raswanth, this moment continued generations of military service.

A Message of Courage

Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Chief of the Naval Staff, reviewed the parade at Parameswaran Drill Square. His words resonated across the formation as he spoke about the nature of modern warfare and the timeless quality of courage.

"Courage is a muscle. It strengthens every time you use it. Whether physical or moral, courage more often than not, means the ability to stand alone to your convictions. It cannot be downloaded in a crisis; it is built and engrained over time in the small choices we make every day."

He reminded the new officers that despite technological advances, combat outcomes would still be determined by "the men and women who fight, lead, inspire, persist, and persevere."

Honors and Recognition

The Admiral presented the prestigious 'Sword of Honour' and Bronze Medal to Battalion Under Officer Gurkeerat Singh Hora. Academy Under Officer Abhinab Chauhan received the OTA Gold Medal, while Academy Cadet Adjutant Niket Singh Tomar was awarded the Silver Medal—recognizing excellence among the newly commissioned leaders.