Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad   

Army Chief asks IAF officers to be tech savvy

By Our Staff Reporter

Hyderabad Dec. 20. Ravi Nanda was awarded the President's Plaque and Chief of Air Staff Sword of Honour for standing first in the 172 Pilot Course of the Air Force Academy, at the Combined Graduation Parade at Dindigal, near here, on Saturday. Vikrant Deshpande received the President's Plaque in 113 Ground Duty Course while K. Bhattacharya was given the President's Trophy for standing first in 96 Navigation Course.

Forty-six other cadets were commissioned in the Flying Branch and 87 in Ground Duty branches. Of these there are two women in the Flying Branch and 35 in the Ground Duty branches.

Addressing the newly commissioned officers, the Chief of Army Staff, N. C. Vij, reminded them of the rapid technological and strategic changes in the armed forces in the coming decade, which would fundamentally alter the very nature of warfare. He exhorted them to continuously upgrade their knowledge and understanding about the application of these new technologies to be able to exploit the full potential of air power.

General Vij underlined the growing importance of air power in modern warfare but added that victory depended on synergy between the different wings of the armed forces.

He welcomed the young officers into "the noblest and most honourable profession" of defending one's country and its people and called upon them to imbibe the highest values of honour, integrity and hard work, which would help them, become leaders of men.

The graduation parade was witnessed by B. K. Pandey, AOC-in-C Training Command and V. K. Verma, Commandant of the Air Force Academy, along with a large number of senior and retired officers of the armed forces and parents of the newly commissioned officers.

The parade was punctuated with precision flypast by groups of Chetak helicopters, Kiran, HPT-32, AN-32 and Dornier aircraft. The ceremony ended with a spectacular air display by the Surya Kiran aerobatic team.

<167,9p><15,0p,,0>(Another report and

<15,0p,,0> picture on page 18)

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Army Chief asks IAF officers to be tech savvy
• BJP meet discusses poll strategy
• Telugu Desam plans more regional meets
• States can make contract appointments
• Dalit Swadhikar countrywide rally to enter State today
• Train services to be regulated
• Sex selective abortions spreading tentacles in rural areas

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu