Bhubaneswar: The fifth batch of Indian Navy Agniveers will march out in style from INS Chilka on Friday evening. The premier training base in Odisha is now gearing up for the Passing Out Parade (POP) that will have Vice Admiral V Srinivas, Flag Officer Commanding-im-Chief, Southern Naval Command, as the chief guest.
“Nearly 2,972 Agniveers will be part of the POP on Friday. This fifth batch also has a large number of women. The proud families of the Agniveers will witness the POP. There will also be several high achiever veterans and sports personalities present, to inspire the Agniveers, as they head towards a bright future,” a Ministry of Defence (MoD) official said.
The Agniveers have undergone 16 weeks of an initio naval training and will now move to various bases, where they will be deployed. Many of them will undergo further specialised training and serve on board warships. Under the Government’s Agnipath scheme, Agniveers serve for four years after which 25% of them are retained. The remaining return to civilian life, having picked up special skills that would help them in future careers.
Several Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and state governments have assured recruitment to Agniveers who return after serving four years in the Indian armed forces. Some banks have also assured special loans, to allow Agniveers opportunities to set up businesses of their own, based on the skills they possess.
INS Chilka is located close to the famous Chilka Lake and is the only naval facility in the country that provides an initio training to sailors who are called ‘sea warriors’. At this facility, trainees are divided into 10 divisions. Each division is headed by an officer of Lieutenant Commander or Lieutenant rank. The training comprises service subjects, academics, outdoor and extra-curricular activities.
Friday’s POP will begin at 5.30 pm and will be livestreamed on Indian Navy’s Youtube channel and Facebook. It will also be telecast live by Doordarshan.
