The first group of 2,600 Agniveers, which included 273 women and was hired through the defense ministry’s Agnipath program, graduated on Tuesday after 16 weeks of training at INS Chilka.
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R. Hari Kumar watched the passing out parade at Balugaon in Khurda district on the shores of Chilika Lake. He then gave different awards to the best Agniveers.
A spokesperson for the INS Chilka said that the Agniveers were split into nine groups and trained in boating, sailing, sports, and firing weapons. From this group of Agniveers, 25 people, including 11 women, took part in the Republic Day parade in New Delhi.
Admiral Hari Kumar congratulated the new Agniveers and said that this was the first time that Agniveers had graduated from any training center in the country. “It’s a big step toward a new start for the military and the country as a whole,” he said.
“The fact that our women Agniveers were there showed how much we cared about naari shakti” (women empowerment). The Agniveers went through a lot of training, so they are ready to be in charge of protecting the country. Admiral Hari Kumar Kumar said, “The Agniveers have been promised a firm and disciplined career.”
For the first time in the armed forces, the passing out parade was held after dark, which was not the norm. Most of the time, these kinds of parades happen in the morning.
During the passing out parade, the Navy announced that General Bipin Rawat, the first Chief of Defence Staff, would be given an award for his service.
The General Bipin Rawat Rolling Trophy was given to a woman Agniveer who was at the top of the list of merits by his daughters. Others, like the sprint queen and MP PT Usha, were also there.
“Two of my sons graduated with this group. I’m so proud that both of my sons are now in the Navy. “Having my sons in the first group of Agniveers in the country is also a special moment,” said a parent, Rithika Mohapatra.
At INS Chilka, the training of the new recruits began in November 2022. Under the Agnipath program, the Navy received more than 10 million applications, of which 82,000 were from women.
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