In order to create awareness on the valour and the sacrifices made by the Indian Navy during war and peace, and various employment avenues available for the youth, especially students, to exhibit their patriotic fervour by joining the world’s one of the largest Naval forces, Commander V P Senthil elaborates on the salient features of celebrating the Navy Day.
On the occasion of Indian Navy Day today, President Ram Nath Kovind extended wishes on Navy Day.
“On Navy Day, my good wishes to all officers and men and women of the Indian Navy. Nation is proud of your commitment in protecting our maritime frontiers, securing our trade routes, and providing assistance in times of civil emergencies. May you ever rule the waters. Jai Hind!” President Kovind tweeted.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also greeted Navy personnel, saying their service and sacrifice has made India safer. “On Navy Day, we salute our courageous Navy personnel. Their valuable service and sacrifice have made our nation stronger and safer,” PM Modi tweeted. He also posted a short video on Indian Naval history.
Taking to Twitter, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also conveyed his best wishes to the Indian Navy personnel and saluted their invincible courage on Navy Day.
“On the Navy Day, I convey my best wishes and greetings to all the Indian Navy personnel and their families. The nation has unwavering faith and pride in the Indian Navy. It is the manifestation of India’s maritime power. We salute their indomitable courage and valour,” Mr Singh tweeted.
Navy Day is celebrated every year on December 4 to commemorate the attack on the Karachi harbour during the Indo-Pakistan war on this day in 1971 by the Indian Navy.
This year the theme of the Navy Day is “Indian Navy-Salient, Strong and Swift”.
Activities mark Navy Week celebrations
Various events and activities have been conducted by various Naval Commands and Establishments or Units as a part of Navy Week Celebrations from November to December throughout the country.
Few of the them are: blood donation camps, medical camps, dental camps, motivational lectures on various career avenues in the Indian Navy, Inter-School Quiz, Painting, and Debate, visit to orphanages, Swatch Bharat activities, Opening of Naval Base to School & College students, Visit to Naval ships, Family day at Sea, Press & Media interaction, Marathons, Run for fun, Military Photo Exhibition, Naval band concert at Public places, etc.
The 2 Tamil Nadu Naval NCC unit in Madurai holds career guidance programme
The NCC Day falls on the fourth Sunday of November every year and the Navy Day falls on December 4 every year. In Madurai, we, the team of 2 TN Naval NCC Unit Madurai, celebrated both the NCC Day as well as Navy Day on December 4, 2019. In November 2019, we have conducted tree plantation drives in five districts, Career guidance programme in schools and colleges on various career avenues in Indian Navy as Sailors and Officers, Swatch Bharat at various places in rural and urban areas, Awareness rally by our Naval NCC Cadets on dengue, rain water harvesting, water conservation, etc.
We have also organised an Inter-School Painting Competition for the schoolchildren in and around Madurai. We have also conducted a Naval NCC Exhibition, for the first time in Madurai, honoring Naval veterans and tree plantation drive.
Indian Navy catches them young
As compared to other profession in the civilian world, the Indian Navy has a great deal to offer to young men and women. They can join the Navy as Sailors and Officers. Advertisements inviting applications are published in the Employment News and all leading National and Regional Newspapers every year.
Sailors Entry : Advertisements for recruitment of Senior Secondary Recruit (SSR), Matric Recruit (MR), Musician (MUS), Sports Entry and Artificer Apprentices (AA) are published in December/January and June/July every year
Officers Entry: Selection for Permanent Commission through NDA/NA cadet entry and CDSE (Graduate) entry is through a written examination conducted by the UPSC, followed by an interview by the Service Selection Board (SSB). For all other Permanent Commission entries and Short Service Commission entries there is no written examination. Applicants are short-listed as per criteria laid down by the Naval Headquarters, (Directorate of Manpower Planning & Recruitment). Selection is through merit alone.
For more details website https://www.joinindiannavy.gov.in can be visited
Physical Fitness Test for Sailors
The Physical Fitness Test (PFT) will consist of 1.6-Km run to be completed in 7 minutes, 20 squats and 10 Push-ups. Candidates will have to do this at their own risk.
Service Selection Boards holds two-stage tests
The candidates are assessed for various Officer Like Qualities (OLQ) in two stages at the Service Selection Boards (SSB). The qualities include planning & organising ability, social adaptability, social effectiveness and dynamic ability.
(i) Stage I Intelligence Test, Picture Perception and Discussion test.
(ii) Stage II Psychological testing, Group testing and personal interview.
Successful candidates are thereafter required to undergo medical examination (Approximate duration of 03 to 05 days).
My SSB experiences and entry to Navy
I appeared for my SSB at Bangalore in the year 2005. Frankly speaking, I haven’t prepared anything specially for this exams and it was my first attempt and first All India exam too. Candidates from all over India appeared for the SSB. I did not know Hindi and swimming during my SSB days so I myself thought it would be a great drawback for me in my selection to become a Naval Officer. One of my unforgettable experience was my shoe got torn a few minutes before I enter the interview hall. There was no stopping back, really! I was the only candidate who got selected in the entire batch of students.
Career graph goes northwards
I was appointed as an Instructor in the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, Pune, the first tri-service academy in the world, where cadets of the three services, the Army, the Navy and the Air Force are trained. And based on merit was selected on deputation by the Ministry of Defence (Navy) to Vietnam Naval academy, Nha Trang where I was commended for my devotion to duty by the Naval authorities of Vietnam People’s Navy (VPN). Also served as Head of Department at the Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala the largest naval academy in Asia where the initial officer training of the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard are provided, Recruitment Officer in naval Air Station INS Rajali Arakkonam, and presently serving as the Commanding Officer , 2 TN Naval NCC Unit, Madurai.
In 18 months, 2 TN Naval NCC Unit, Madurai blazes a new trail
I was appointed as the Commanding Officer , 2 TN Naval NCC Unit, Madurai in June 2018, During my 18 months tenure, the Cadets of our Unit have achieved and excelled in various International and national level events. Our Cadets have been selected for the Youth Exchange Programme (YEP) to Russia; Overseas Deployment (OSD) to South Africa, Mauritius, and Seychelles; won medals in All India Best Cadet Competition and Ship Modelling in the Republic Day Camp (RDC) at New Delhi; All India Nau Sainik Camp (AINSC) at Karwar and Vishakapattnam; All India National Shooting Championship Competition at West Bengal; and 35 Cadets of our Unit have been selected to join the Indian Army and Indian Navy which is a remarkable achievement of any NCC Unit.
First time in the history of fifty years, the Unit was also awarded the “Overall Best Naval NCC Unit” among the entire Directorate, a remarkable feat.
The Tamil Nadu NCC Directorate team has recently won the “Overall Best Directorate Trophy in Naval NCC”; First Runner-Up Trophy and maximum Trophies in the Republic Day Camp (RDC) at New Delhi among the all 17 NCC Directorates of the nation.
Arise, Awake and Stop Not…
The Indian Armed forces (Army, Navy and Air force) has a lot of openings in both Officers category as well as PBOR (Person Below Officer Rank) for the youth. To make a career in the Tri-Services, students should improve their communication skills and study well in their graduation / college. They should make use of these golden opportunities. And parents should motivate their children to join the INDIAN NAVY which is a noble and proud profession in serving the nation with pride and dignity. Heads of Institutions should make use of us in conducting the CAREER GUIDANCE PROGRAM IN THEIR INSTITUTIONS. Institutions interested can contact Our Office 2 (TN) Naval Unit NCC, II cross, Kalai Nagar, Madurai and we can be reached at 0452-2649450 and also by mail to 2tnnunccmdu@gmail.com
The author of this article is Commander VP Senthil, Commanding Officer, 2 (TN) Naval Unit NCC, Madurai. He is a motivational speaker too.
