Nine Officers including four women Officers, two Coast Guard Officers and one Officer from Sri Lankan Navy graduated as Observers from the portals of Observer School, at Naval Base Kochi. Amongst the Passing Out courses, the short service commission officers’ course this time was an all women course, a first in the Navy.
The young Observers were awarded ‘Wings’ at an impressive Passing Out Parade by Commodore MR Ajay Kumar VSM , Naval Officer-in-Charge , Kerala and a veteran observer himself. Wings are worn by Naval aviators on the chest as part of their uniform.
In an inspiring address to the Passing Out course, Commodore Ajay Kumar said that Observers are the long arm and the eyes and ears of the fleet at sea. Exhorting them to be conscious of this onerous responsibility, the Commodore also asked them to imbibe professionalism and technology to master their craft.
During the course, the Indian officers were trained in Tactics employed in Air Warfare, Anti Submarine Warfare and the exploitation of electronic intelligence systems in addition to the basic training in Air Navigation and flying procedures. These officers would now join Maritime Reconnaissance and Anti-submarine warfare aircraft of the Navy. The officers were trained at Observer School, commanded by Commander PVGK Nambiar .
Lieutenant B Pradhan was awarded the Flag Officer Commanding in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command rolling trophy for standing first in Flying, Sub Lt RV Kunte Memorial book prize for being adjudged best in ground subjects and Uttar Pradesh Trophy for first in overall order of merit and best all round trainee respectively. Sub- Lieutenant Priya Jeyakumar from the Short Service Commission Officers Observer Course was adjudged best in ground subjects, Sub Lieutenant Santosh Kumari as best in flying and Sub Lieutenant Swetha was adjudged first in overall order of merit. The officers were awarded certificates and book prizes.
The Parade witnessed by the families of the graduating officers and a host of dignitaries was conducted by Captain Himanshu S Sapre, Commanding Officer, INS Garuda. Lieutenant
[mappress] Source: indiannavy, June 6, 2011;