339 cadets of Indian Navy, 67 cadets of Indian Coast Guard and one cadet from Tanzanian Navy passed out at an impressive Passing out Parade held at the Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala on 26 November 2016. The parade was reviewed by the Vice Admiral AR Karve, AVSM, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command. The passing out cadets which included 25 female cadets belonged to four courses of Autumn Term 2016, viz., 91st Indian Naval Academy Course (B Tech), 91st Indian Naval Academy Course (MSc), 22nd Naval Orientation Course (Extended) and 23rd Naval Orientation Course (Regular). The ‘President’s Gold Medal’ for the Indian Naval Academy B Tech course was awarded to Flotilla Cadet Adjutant Anmol Bhatia. The ‘Chief of the Naval Staff Gold Medal’ for the Naval Orientation (Extended) Course was awarded to Cadet Harsimranjeet Singh Sidhu.
The ‘Chief of the Naval Staff Gold Medal’ for the Naval Orientation (Regular) Course was awarded to Cadet Hitharth P Gopikrishnan. The parade was also witnessed by the parents and guardians of all successful cadets, and a large number of local and outstation dignitaries, media personnel, sainik school cadets and school children. The ceremony culminated with the successful cadets forming up in two columns and marching in salute, past the Academy’s Saluting Dias known as the Quarterdeck, in slow march, to the traditional notes of ‘Auld Lang Syne’, the poignant farewell tune played when bidding adieu to colleagues and comrades. Passing out courses were bid farewell by cadets of junior terms who manned the mast as the successful cadets streamed past the quarterdeck.
On completion of the parade, the ‘Shipping of Stripes’ ceremony was conducted. Parents and guardians of the passing out cadets shipped the Naval and Coast Guard epaulettes, popularly known as ‘Stripes’ on the shoulders of their wards, thus symbolising their transformation from ‘cadets’ into Naval and Coast Guard Officers. The Reviewing Officer and other dignitaries shipped the stripes on the medal winners and congratulated all the trainees for successful completion of the training.
