IAF’s new Garud commandos pass out after gruelling special forces training
New Delhi, May 23. The Indian Air Force (IAF) on May 23 marked the successful completion of training for a new batch of Garud Special Forces commandos with the ceremonial Maroon Beret Parade held at the Garud Regimental Training Centre (GRTC) at Air Force Station Chandinagar.
Air Vice Marshal Rahul Gupta, Assistant Chief of Air Staff Operations (Space), reviewed the parade as the chief guest and congratulated the newly inducted commandos on successfully completing one of the force’s toughest training programmes.
During the ceremony, the Commandant of the Garud Regimental Training Centre briefed the senior officer on various aspects of the specialised training regimen undertaken by the trainees.
Addressing the passing-out commandos, Air Vice Marshal Gupta underlined the importance of intensive training and continuous enhancement of Special Forces capabilities in view of the rapidly evolving security environment. He presented the coveted Maroon Berets, Garud Proficiency Badges and Special Forces Tabs to the successful trainees and also distributed trophies to outstanding performers.
The ceremony featured a series of combat demonstrations by the newly trained Garuds, including combat firing, hostage rescue operations, assault drills involving explosives, obstacle navigation, wall climbing, slithering, rappelling and military martial arts.
The Maroon Beret Parade marks the culmination of an extremely demanding training cycle and symbolises the transformation of the trainees into fully operational members of the elite Garud Special Forces unit of the IAF.
The Ministry of Defence said the induction of the new commandos would further strengthen the IAF’s capability to undertake specialised missions, particularly in the context of the evolving operational requirements highlighted during Operation Sindoor.
