Two AFPI alumni commissioned as officers, 16 others pass out from NDA

Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service
Mohali, May 29

Two alumni of the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (AFPI) here became commissioned officers in the armed forces today while another 16 cadets passed out of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Kharakvasla.   

Sub-Lieutenant Vishvajit Singh, who happens to be the grandson of Lt Gen Gurinder Singh, a former General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Northern Command, has been commissioned into the Navy from the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, where the passing out parade was reviewed by Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command.

He had joined the fifth batch at AFPI in 2015 and thereafter was selected for joining the NDA as part of 138th Course, from where he proceeded to the Naval Academy for the final one year of training. His father, Vikram Singh, is a hotelier and mother, Man Mohinder, is a housewife.

Lieutenant Barjot Singh Dhillon passed out from the Officers Training Academy, Chennai, on completion of his training with the 111 Short Service Commission Course and has been commissioned into the Jat Regiment. The passing out parade was reviewed by Lt Gen YK Joshi, GOC-in-C, Northern Command.

He had joined AFPI in 2011 as part of the First AFPI Course and hails from Patiala. His father, Kuldeep Singh, is a technician and mother, Gurpreet Kaur, is a teacher in a government school. He also has two sisters.

Maj Gen BS Grewal (retd), Director AFPI said that with this, the total number of AFPI cadets commissioned as officers has gone up to 71. This number is expected to further increase on June 12, when the passing out parade at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, is scheduled to be held.

At the NDA, as many as 16 cadets from AFPI passed out on completion of their three year training as part of the 140th Course. They will undergo one more year of training at respective service academies that they have opted for before being commissioned as officers in the armed forces. The parade was reviewed by Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Karambir Singh.

So far 162 alumni from AFPI, which had commenced the two-year training of cadets in April 2011, have joined the NDA and other service academies from the first eight batches. Of these 71 have already become officers and the rest are undergoing training.

Currently, there are three batches at AFPI. Cadets of the 9th batch are awaiting to take their final Class 12 board examinations for which dates are expected to be announced by the government soon. Cadets of the 10th batch are studying in Class 12 and are now preparing for the NDA entrance exam scheduled to be held in September this year. Another 42 boys have been selected as part of the 11th batch that commenced training on May 24.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, all training is being carried out online. Notwithstanding the interruption of normal training routine from January 2020 to May 2021 due to the pandemic, as many as 28 cadets from AFPI have joined service academies.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.