New Delhi, April 5

At an impressive Passing Out Parade held on 05 Apr 21 at INS Garuda, Kochi, eleven officers of the Indian Navy and two officers of the Indian Coast Guard graduated as Observers. Rear Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, AVSM, VSM, Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) reviewed the parade and awarded the coveted ‘Golden Wings’ to the passing out officers.

The officers of the 92th Regular were trained in air navigation, flying procedures, tactics employed in air warfare, anti-submarine warfare and exploitation of airborne avionic systems. These officers would serve on-board Maritime Reconnaissance and Anti-Submarine Warfare aircraft of the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard.

­Lieutenant Ankush Kumar Yadav from the regular observer course was awarded the Uttar Pradesh Trophy on being adjudged ‘First in the Overall Order of Merit’ while ­Lieutenant Ravinder Nain was awarded the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command Trophy for being adjudged ‘Best in Flying’. Assistant Commandant Ankur Singh Pawar was awarded Sub ­Lieutenant RV Kunte memorial Book Prize on being adjudged ‘Best in Ground Subjects’.

The occasion also had 04 officers of the Indian Navy being graduated as Qualified Navigation Instructors (QNIs). The QNIs were trained at imparting instructional techniques on ground and during flying. They were provided in-depth knowledge of tactics and sensor exploitation. These officers would function as Qualified Navigation Instructors at Observer school before proceeding to take up operational assignments at various frontline naval air squadrons. The successful QNIs were also awarded the ‘Instructor Torch’ by FOST.