Sainik School’s passing out parade on Saturday to be a special affair

 The coming Saturday is sure to gift special moments to three senior three-star officers of the Indian armed forces.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The coming Saturday is sure to gift special moments to three senior three-star officers of the Indian armed forces.Sainik School Kazhakoottam is about to witness a rare occasion where all three senior officers, who are also alumni of the school, will be present at the passing-out parade of the school’s 2018 batch. Lieutenant General Sarath Chand, who is now Vice Chief of Army Staff; Lieutenant General Cherish Mathson, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Jaipur-based South Western Command; and Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar P, Vice Chief of Naval Staff, will attend the parade and also grace the 57th annual day of the school on December 16. This year, 85 cadets are passing out of the portals of the school.

“The events of this year will be etched in the golden annals of the school’s history as it is poised to be a rarest of rare occasion where three of its illustrious alumni who are now three-star officers at the helm of affairs in the Indian Defence Service will be present,” a Defence spokesperson said.
“‘This is a big moment for the school. All the three bigwigs are coming,” Commander Sam Samuel, who belonged to the same batch as Lieutenant General Sarath Chand and heads the Old Boys’ Association of the school.

“It is a matter of pride for the school it has alumni who are such senior officers of the armed forces,” he said. Sarath Chand, who hails from Kottarakkara, is the second Malayali after Lieutenant General Philip Campose to serve as Vice Chief of Army Staff. He had taken over in January this year. Lieutenant General Mathson was appointed head of the South Western Command in August. He belongs to the 1976 batch of the school. Vice Admiral Ajith Kumar P was appointed Vice Chief of Naval Staff in October. He was commissioned in the Navy on July 1, 1981 and is a specialist in missiles and gunnery.

The three officers will spend an entire day at their Alma Mater. Sarath Chand will take the salute at the parade and review it. The parade will be followed by dedication of two battle tanks and the inauguration of the new ‘motivation hall.’ The valedictory function will be held at 11.30 am. Prizes for various inter-house competitions and outstanding achievements of students would be given away at the function. 

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