More than 3,300 trainees are due to complete 16 weeks of initial training at INS Chilka when the Indian Navy holds the Passing Out Parade (POP) for its ninth batch of Agniveers and Indian Coast Guard Naviks on November 13. It will be the largest batch to pass out from the naval training establishment in Odisha.
Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Chief of the Naval Staff, will attend as Chief Guest and Reviewing Officer. The parade will mark the end of the training programme, which aims to prepare recruits to serve as disciplined, physically agile, mentally resilient and professionally competent sea warriors.
Training and ceremony
The Ministry of Defence said the curriculum at INS Chilka combines academics, physical conditioning, swimming, parade training, outdoor activities and camps. It also emphasises character building, leadership, discipline, camaraderie and teamwork, alongside the core naval values of Duty, Honour and Courage.
Trainees’ families are expected to attend the ceremony, along with naval veterans and other distinguished guests. The occasion marks the completion of the trainees’ training and the start of their careers in the maritime forces.
Valedictory function and awards
Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, will preside over the Valedictory Function. Awards will recognise meritorious trainees, the champion division and the best instructor. The event will also include the unveiling of ‘Ankur’, the bilingual trainees’ magazine.
The Indian Navy will livestream the parade on its official social media platforms. INS Chilka, near Chilika in Odisha’s Khordha district, is the Navy’s primary ab-initio training establishment for sailor recruits. It has been training successive batches of Agniveers under the Agnipath scheme; the size of this ninth batch reflects the continued induction of personnel into the Navy and Coast Guard under the scheme.
