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

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 29

Two alumni of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (AFPI), Mohali, were commissioned as officers in the armed forces today while 16 cadets passed out from the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Khadakvasla, Pune.

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 the AFPI in 2015 and was thereafter 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 house wife.

Lieutenant Barjot Singh Dhillon passed out from the Officers Training Academy, Chennai, on the 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 the 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 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 the AFPI passed out on completion of their three-year training as part of the 140th Course. They will undergo another 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 the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Karambir Singh.

So far, 162 alumni from the 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 the AFPI. Cadets of the 9th batch are waiting to take their final Class XII board examinations for which dates are expected to be announced by the government soon.