Kochi (Kerala) [India], January 17: The Passing Out Parade of the 100th Naval Air Operations Course (Centennial Course) was held at INS Garuda, Kochi, where the trainees proudly donned their coveted golden wings.
Vice Admiral AN Pramod, AVSM, Director General Naval Operations at Naval Headquarters, was the Chief Guest for the event. He congratulated all the trainees for their impeccable turnout, smart drill, and sharp movements. He praised the young graduates for their remarkable accomplishments and commended the NAO School for its vital role in transforming these officers into skilled “Airborne Tacticians.”
The prestigious ‘Wings of Gold’ were awarded to the graduates, symbolizing the end of their intensive and challenging training. These officers will now join various frontline Naval Air Squadrons, where they will continue to develop their skills on their assigned aircraft, serving as the essential “Eyes and Ears” of the fleet.
Awards were given to those who excelled during the course. The Uttar Pradesh Trophy, instituted by the Government of Uttar Pradesh, was presented to Lt Sreeramdas Nitish for his all-around performance. The Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command Rolling Trophy was awarded to Lt Aditya Pandey for standing first in the order of merit in flying.
The officers of the 100th Ab-initio Air Operations Course were trained in Maritime Air Operations, focusing on tactics used in Air Warfare and Anti-Submarine Warfare.
The NAO School, established at INS Garuda in 1960, has since grown in both stature and capability. The school now boasts world-class training facilities, including state-of-the-art flying and tactical simulators. The flying training is conducted on modern Dornier aircraft, and upon completing the course, the graduates are prepared to undertake a wide range of operations, including maritime reconnaissance, Search and Rescue, and Anti-Submarine Warfare.