Kochi. Seven officers of the Indian Navy and 3 of the Indian Coast Guard from the 87th Permanent Commission Course, 12 naval officers- including 11 women officers from the 18th Short Service Commission (SSC) Course, graduated as “Observers” and joined the aviation arm of the Navy and Coast Guard at an impressive Passing Out Parade held on July 27, 2018 at INS Garuda, Kochi. In addition 5 officers also passed out as “Qualified Navigation Instructor”(QNI ) on completion of the their “instructor” training. Commodore R R Ayyar, Commanding Officer INS Garuda reviewed the parade and awarded the coveted ‘Wings’ and ‘Instructor Badges’ to the passing out officers respectively. Captain Prashanth Mohanan, Officer-in-Charge, Observer School was the Conducting Officer of the parade.
Lieutenant Kailash Kabbur was awarded the Uttar Pradesh Trophy on being adjudged ‘First in the Overall Order of Merit’ in the 87th Permanent Commission Course, while Lieutenant Parikshit Rao was awarded the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command Trophy for being adjudged ‘Best in Flying’. Lieutenant Kailash Kabbur was also awarded Sub Lieutenant RV Kunte Memorial Book Prize on being adjudged ‘Best in Ground Subjects’.
In the SSC course, Sub Lieutenant Akshaya was awarded the Book Prize for being adjudged ‘Best in Flying’ and Sub Lieutenant Shruti Sood was awarded Book Prize for being adjudged ‘Best in Overall Order of Merit’. Lieutenant Varsha Yadav was awarded Book prize for being adjudged the ‘Best in Ground Subjects’ and Lieutenant Pranav Kumar Pandey was awarded Book Prize for the ‘Best Project’.
The officers were trained in tactics employed in air warfare, anti-submarine warfare and the exploitation of airborne avionic systems, in addition to basic training in air navigation and flying procedures. These officers would serve as ‘Airborne Tacticians’ onboard maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft of the Indian Navy and Coast Guard.
Similarly, the qualified instructors were trained in instructional techniques in various ground subjects and flying procedures. In addition, they were provided in-depth knowledge of tactics and equipment exploitation at various schools at Kochi. These officers would function as ‘Qualified Navigation Instructors’ at Observer School and proceed further to take up operational assignments in various naval air squadrons.
