President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday urged officers of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force to work in unison as effective leverage of the combat power of the three forces protects national interest.
Delivering the 71st convocation address at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, near here, he said if the graduating officers understood with utmost maturity and prudence to effectively leverage the combat power when the country required, they would be able to preserve sovereignty and remain as custodians of peace and security.
He implored the officers to work with utmost loyalty, distinction and steadfastness and patriotic fervour.
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Mr. Mukherjee said that history of warfare bore testimony that ultimate victory in war would be achieved through the jointness among the three services — the Army, Navy and Air Force.
The foremost example of excellent synergy exhibited in military history was during the 1971 war. No strategic military victory had ever been so achieved by any armed force in the world as the 1971 war, which culminated in the birth of a nation, Bangladesh.
He told the graduating officers to remain well-informed in latest military technological advancements and scientific developments for their application in the armed forces. “Study the numerous perceptions of various conflicts that had been chronicled and conscientiously study the evolution of potential flashpoints and their evaluated outcomes. For, it was only they sought knowledge that they would gain wisdom in life to take coherent and timely military decisions that directly affected the lives of forces at their command,” he said.
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To the 35 graduating officers from 25 foreign countries, Mr. Mukherjee said that as ambassadors of their countries they would have received professional insight of not only the Indian armed forces but also the country. They should use the knowledge gained at the college to deepen bonds of friendship and camaraderie that they had forged in the past one year of training to deepen the ties between their country and India.
Officers from 25 countries
As many as 458 officers, including 35 officers from 25 countries, successfully completed the Master of Science in Defence and Strategic Studies programme, the degree awarded by the University of Madras.
Award for institute
Commandant of the college S.K. Gadeock said that the college had won the Golden Peacock Award for best training institute in the country. He also spoke about the various awards such as the Maneckshaw Medal, Thimmaiah Medal that the college presented to outstanding graduating officers. Governor K. Rosaiah was also present.