Vice Chief of the Army Staff reviews 25^th Passing Out Parade of Officers’ Training Academy, Gaya

New Delhi. The Silver Jubilee (25^th) Passing Out Parade of Officers’ Training Academy, Gaya took place on June 8. The parade witnessed a total of 118 officer cadets passing through the Antim Pag and becoming Commissioned Officers in the Indian Army and the Assam Rifles. Fifty eight (58) officer cadets of Special Commissioned Officers Course (Serial Number 52), including 15 from Assam Rifles; and 60 of Technical Entry Scheme (Serial Number 43) were commissioned as Officers during the event. The details are as below:

Special Commissioned Officers Course – 52

• Special Commissioned Officers – 43 Officer Cadets
• Assam Rifles – 15 Officer Cadets

Technical Entry Scheme course – 43

• Cadet Training Wing, MCEME, Secunderabad – 20 Officer Cadets
• Cadet Training Wing, CME, Pune – 24 Officer Cadets
• Cadet Training Wing, MCTE, Mhow – 16 Officer Cadets

Vice Chief of the Army Staff Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi was the Reviewing Officer of the parade. The skillful, crisp and synchronised drill manoeuvres ignited a sense of pride amongst all the spectators. Academy Under Officer Pankaj Sharma was the Parade Commander of the 25^th Passing Out Parade. The Vice Chief of the Army Staff also gave away the medals to the officer cadets who have displayed exemplary performance during their training. The awards are as follows:

• Battalion Under Officer D Subhash won the coveted Sword of Honour and the Gold Medal for being the Overall Best Officer Cadet in the Technical Entry Scheme Course Serial Number-43. He is commissioned into the Madras Regiment.
• Battalion Cadet Quartermaster Subham Singh Tanwar won the Silver Medal for being adjudged as the Overall 2^nd Best Officer Cadet in the Technical Entry Scheme Serial Number-43. He is commissioned into the 8^th Gorkha Rifles.
• Academy Under Officer Pankaj Sharma won the Bronze Medal for being the Overall 3^rd Best Officer Cadet in the Technical Entry Scheme Serial Number-43. He is commissioned into 235 Bengal Engineers Regiment.
• Academy Cadet Adjutant Jagsir Singh won the Silver Medal for being adjudged the Overall Best Officer Cadet in the Special Commissioned Officer Course Serial Number-52. He is commissioned into the Corps of Army Aviation.
• Gurez Company won the Chief of the Army Staff Banner for being the Champion Company.

Addressing the Officer Cadets of the Passing Out Courses, the Reviewing Officer called upon the young military leaders to uphold the values, traditions and ethos of the Army. He stressed upon the importance of compassion complimented by professional competence while leading the valiant soldiers of the motherland in peace as well as in war.

Following the traditions of the Armed Forces, wreath-laying was carried out at the War Memorial. The Reviewing Officer, the Commandant, Officers Training Academy, Gaya and other senior officers and dignitaries offered their respect at the War Memorial to the fallen heroes.

The Pipping Ceremony was a gratifying and moving moment for the officer cadets as well as their family members. At the sound of the bugle, the Officer Cadets donned the stars on their shoulders and became officers.

On June 7, 2024, as an integral part of a plethora of events for the Passing Out Parade of OTA, Gaya, a multi-activity display was organised for the families of the Passing Out Courses. The event was also witnessed by Vice Chief of the Army Staff Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi; Commandant OTA, Gaya Lieutenant General Paramjit Singh Minhas; civil dignitaries and officers of OTA, Gaya. The event comprised Equestrian Display, Motorcycle Stunts, Gymnastic Display, Aerial Manoeuvres by Microlights, Combat Free-fall, Gatka and Bhangra.