- Air Force Academy’s Combined Graduation Parade to witness the conferring of the President’s Commission on future military aviators and officers across multiple services
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to review the ceremonial spectacle as India commissions the first batch of women NDA cadets into branch-specific roles in the Indian Air Force
- Precision marching, aerial acrobatics and combat fly-pasts to celebrate the successful completion of pre-commissioning training and the rise of the nation’s next generation of air warriors
NE DEFENCE BUREAU
NEW DELHI, JUNE 9
The skies over Hyderabad’s Dundigal are set to celebrate the making of a new generation of military leaders as the Combined Graduation Parade (CGP) of the 217 Course takes centre stage at the Air Force Academy (AFA) on June 13, blending military precision, tradition and the promise of India’s evolving air power.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will attend the grand ceremony as the Reviewing Officer, overseeing one of the Indian Air Force’s most significant commissioning events that marks the successful completion of pre-commissioning training for Flight Cadets across multiple branches.
During the parade, Singh will confer the President’s Commission on the graduating trainees, formally inducting them into military service. The ceremony will also include the presentation of ‘Wings’ and ‘Brevets’ to Flight Cadets of the Indian Air Force as well as officers and trainees from the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, reflecting the Academy’s growing international and inter-service character.
A defining moment of this year’s parade will be the commissioning of the first batch of women cadets from the National Defence Academy (NDA), Pune, who completed their NDA training and subsequently underwent branch-specific instruction at the Air Force Academy, marking another milestone in the expanding role of women in India’s armed forces.
The Defence Minister will also present the prestigious President’s Plaque to the Flight Cadets securing first position in the overall order of merit across the Flying, Navigation and Ground Duty branches, recognising excellence in training and professional competence.
The ceremonial proceedings will begin with breathtaking demonstrations by the Akash Ganga skydiving team and the Air Warrior Drill Team (AWDT), showcasing exceptional discipline, synchronisation and precision.
The event will be punctuated by a series of spectacular fly-pasts led by Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, featuring four trainer aircraft that shape the country’s future aviators — the Pilatus PC-7 MkII, Hawk, Kiran and Chetak.
The aerial spectacle will culminate with dynamic performances by the SU-30 MKI, the Sarang helicopter display team, and the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT), underscoring the operational capability, technological prowess and ceremonial excellence of the Indian Air Force.
The Combined Graduation Parade stands not merely as a graduation ceremony but as a defining transition—from rigorous training grounds to the responsibility of safeguarding the nation’s skies.
