March 20 will be a red letter day for parents of 127 officer cadets who will witness a metamorphosis taking place.
Ninety two gentlemen, 26 women cadets and nine foreign cadets will low March to the somber notes of Auld Lang Syne and Pass Out of the portals of the Officers Training Academy as Commissioned Officers of the Army, serving at the pleasure of the President of India, the Supreme Commander of India’s Armed Forces.
Taking the ‘Final Step’ will entail a heavy responsibility as they will now carry on their young shoulders the legacy of great Indian Army. The salute to the National Flag and taking an oath of allegiance are touching moments for any one witnessing the event. They dedicate themselves to serve the nation with utmost sincerity and dedication even at the cost of their life. The grand portals of the Parmeshwaran Parade Ground will bear mute witness to this historical moment at the Officers Training Academy.
The Officers’ Training Academy boldly identifies its address with the “Tank Gate” in St Thomas Mount on the Grand South Trunk road, about 2 kms from Chennai International Airport. Its sprawling campus of 650 acres figures prominently in history dating back to the 18th century when it was an important bastion of the British Army of the Madras Presidency. The Mount was the scene of one of the fiercest battles of the Franco – British War in February 1759, subsequent to which the Cantonment was established in the area in December 1774.
The Vice Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen PC Bhardwaj, a highly decorated soldier, will review the parade and honour the cadets excelling in various disciplines of military training at the end of a grueling course of 11 months. This gradual but thorough preparation will culminate with the shoulders of these young men and women being embellished with five-pointed stars of responsibility - the “President’s Commission”.
Also see: Exclusive video: The passing out parade | Fresh blood for the Indian Army | India’s Pride on parade | Wish OTA cadets
