Passing out parade of INA and CSG cadets held

The passing out ceremony of 301 cadets of Indian Naval Academy and Indian Coast Guard was held at the academy premises at Ezhimala in Kannur district today.
They include 234 cadets of Indian Navy, 64 cadets of Indian Coast Guard and three cadets from friendly foreign countries.
The parade, reviewed by the Chief of Army Staff, General Dalbir Singh, marked commissioning of the cadets of 90th Indian Naval Academy Course INAC (BTech) and 90th Indian Naval Academy Course INAC (MSc) Courses in the Indian Navy, an INA release said.
Medals were also awarded to eight meritorious cadets on the occasion.

Congratulating the passing out cadets, the Chief of Army Staff advised them to prepare themselves for the challenges of tomorrow. He also emphasised that professionalism, integrity and attitude should form the cornerstones on which their military careers are to be built.
The passing out cadets belonged to four different courses of Spring Term 2016, namely, 90th Indian Naval Academy Course INAC (BTech), 90th Indian Naval Academy Course INAC (MSc), the 21st Naval Orientation Course (Extended) and the 22nd Naval Orientation Course (Regular), the release said.

Also graduating and marching shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts were 25 female cadets from the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard.

Rear Admiral MD Suresh, Deputy Commandant and Chief Instructor of INA, and Rear Admiral K S Venugopal, Principal, INA, attended the function.
On completion of the parade, the 'Shipping of Stripes' ceremony was conducted with the Reviewing Officer and other dignitaries "shipping the Naval or Coast Guard epaulettes, popularly known as stripes on the shoulders of their wards, symbolizing their transformation from 'cadets' into full-fledged naval or coast guard officers," it added.