The FOST organisation, instituted in 1992, is responsible for operational sea training of all personnel of Indian Naval and Coast Guard ships and submarines. The organisation also provides training to personnel fo select friendly maritime security forces in the region. The training is aimed at achieving stipulated standards of crew proficiency and battle worthiness in all disciplines related to the role of a warship.
An alumnus of Sainik School, Korukonda, Andhra Pradesh, and the National Defence Academy in Pune, Rear Admiral Pawar was commissioned into the Navy in July 1982. A specialist in navigation and direction, he has had seagoing experience in various capacities for close to 25 years. As the Navigating Officer of INS Magar, he participated in Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka in 1989-90 and was the Fleet Navigating Officer of the Western Fleet during the Kargil War in 1999. He was the Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet during 2008-09, when the Navy undertook its largest deployment to the Atlantic Ocean and also commenced anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden.
His commands at sea include the indigenously built INS Nashak as the commissioning Commanding Officer, INS Kuthar, INS Talwar and also the Flag Ship of the Mauritius National Coast Guard – Vigilant. A graduate of the Royal Naval Staff College, Greenwich, U.K.; College of Naval Warfare, Mumbai; and the National Defence College, New Delhi; he won awards at each of these institutions including the prestigious Herbert Lott Prize at the Royal Naval Staff College. The Rear Admiral has been decorated with Vishist Seva Medal.
