'Course completion ceremony' held at INA, adhering to COVID-19 safety protocol

A total of 259 trainees of Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala near Kerala's Kannur turned up in whites with mask and gloves at a unique event organised for the cadets who completed their training to join the force, adhering to the COVID-19 safety protocol.

Kannur: For the first time since its establishment a decade ago, the Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala near here on Saturday organised a unique event for the cadets who completed their training to join the force, adhering to the COVID-19 safety protocol.

A total of 259 trainees of the academy smartly turned up in whites with mask and gloves for the event christened as Course Completion Ceremony, in lieu of the traditional Passing Out Parade.

The Passing Out Parade (POP) for any Armed Forces Academy is a solemn occasion usually conducted with grandeur and sheen witnessed by parents, guests and dignitaries.

However, in times of the COVID-19 crisis, the ceremony was aligned to follow the safety protocols, wherein health and
safety of all trainees, is of paramount importance, a Defence release said.

To prevent congregation of people from myriad states and Union Territories, parents and guests were not invited for the ceremony organised implementing all precautionary protocols of COVID-19.

"Ever since the establishment of present Naval Academy at Ezhimala in 2009, this is the first time that the training of a batch culminated without a ceremonial march past due to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic situation," the release said.

As the nation navigated the lockdown and the exit in phases, training structure at INA too was modified with effect from March 24, 2020 to ensure adherence to all Government of India, Government of Kerala and Naval Headquarters directives, it said.

Training was carried out initially by online assignments, and later with dispersed seating with minimum 6 feet interspacing in Stringent precautionary measures instituted by the academy has helped in accomplishing the challenging goal of training more than 900 cadets and successful culmination of the Spring Term with nil COVID-19 cases at INA.

The ceremony witnessed completion of training for the Midshipmen and cadets of the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, and friendly foreign navies belonging to the 98th Indian Naval Academy Course (BTech), 98th Indian Naval Academy Course (MSc), 29th Naval Orientation Course (Extended) and 30th Naval Orientation Course (Regular), the release said.

The successful trainees from friendly foreign countries comprised seven trainees; two trainees each from Sri Lanka and Myanmar, and one each from Maldives, Tanzania and Seychelles.

Vice Admiral Anil Kumar Chawla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, the Reviewing Officer for the occasion, awarded medals to nine meritorious trainees.

Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Commandant, Indian Naval Academy was the Conducting Officer.

PTI