- Thursday, February 27, 2025
In a historic address as the first Indian to represent the King at the academy, General Pande said it is the unwavering resolve, courage and valour of soldiers on the battlefield that will determine the ultimate victory.
By: Shubham Ghosh
INDIAN chief of army staff General Manoj Pande on Friday (11) represented King Charles III as the inspecting officer for the 201st Sovereign Parade held at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst.
In a historic address as the first Indian to represent the King at the academy, General Pande said it is the unwavering resolve, courage and valour of soldiers on the battlefield that will determine the ultimate victory.
“The advancements in cyber, space, the information domains and progression in the capabilities of the instruments of war are making the present day battlespace more complex and lethal,” he said, adding, “Despite the emergence of these technologies on the battlefield, the significance of the man or woman behind the gun remains undiminished. It is the unyielding resolve, courage and valour of soldiers that determines victory.”
At the parade, 185 officer cadets of commissioning course No. 223 passed out from the academy, although they had to wait a few hours more until the stroke of midnight to officially take up their King’s Commission duly celebrated with friends and family at the Commissioning Ball.
The Indian armed forces chief advised the officer cadets to lead by example as they “don the mantle of a military leader” and hone their ability to adapt to change.
Besides those passing out into the British army, there were 43 international cadets from 28 nations from as far afield as Ethiopia and Papua New Guinea, the British Army said in a press release.
They will return to their respective militaries taking with them the best leadership training available to serve as commissioned officers.
General Pande, escorted by the Royal Military Academy’s commandant, Major General Zac Stenning, inspected the ranks of the senior division on parade, those who have completed the 44-week long commissioning course, stopping periodically to review the impeccable turn out and chat with the cadets standing to attention before him.
Honouring the academy towards the end of his address, he said, “As you march up the steps of Old College be cognisant of the fact that you follow in the path taken by generations of distinguished British officers, you will do well to follow their example in the virtues standards and values that they stood for.”
General Manoj Pande’s final duty as the Sovereign’s Representative was to present the awards for the top performing cadets on the course, who were as follows:
• Sword of Honour: Senior Under Officer WJ Clark: who commissions into the Royal Gurkha Rifles. Considered by the commandant to be the best cadet in the Intake.
• The Queen’s Medal: Officer Cadet Grimbaldeston-Cherry: who commissions into the Royal Signals. Top military, academic and practical scores in the Intake.
• International Sword: Officer Cadet Daniel Chintu, Zambia. Considered by the commandant to be the best International Cadet in this Intake.
• The International Award: Officer Cadet Paul Milbers, Germany. The top international cadet in military, academic and practical scores.
The parade saw a timely conclusion with the Sword of Honour winner, Officer Cadet W Clark, being the last to march into Old College closely followed by the Academy Adjutant, Major Andrew Dunlop, riding up the steps and in through the doors on his mount, Sovereign Shadow.
(With PTI inputs)
