Indian Military Academy Honours SLA Inviting Commander as Chief Guest to PoP

The country’s most prestigious, Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, for the first time in its lifespan of over 78 years, honoured the Sri Lanka Army on Saturday (10) by inviting its Commander, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya as the Chief Guest of the Passing Out Parade (PoP) of the IMA.

 

Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, as the first-ever Sri Lankan Army Commander to have been invited to the occasion as the Chief Guest, reviewed the PoP at the IMA Drill Square at the invitation of the Parade Commander and took part in the presentation of mementos to the Colour recipients and cane orderlies who excelled in various disciplines before he posed for a photograph together with award winners.

 

The visiting Commander afterwards was ushered to meet the IMA Commandant, Lieutenant General Rajinder Singh Sujlana and senior officers at the Commandant’s office where a broad spectrum of training issues, pertaining to Cadet Officers, was taken up for discussion. An exchange of mementos on the occasion signified the sound bonds of goodwill and cooperation that prevail between the two organizations for generations.

 

The visiting Commander was escorted to review the PoP on a ceremonial carriage drawn by horses, in accordance with traditions that had been adopted for royalties in the past.

 

The second segment of the day’s ceremony kicked off with the pipping of selected foreign ‘Gentlemen’ Cadets who underwent successful training at the IMA. The visiting Commander extended best wishes on their achievements and witnessed the oath taking ceremony after he left his signature in the IMA’s Visitors’ Book as a symbol of memory of the visit.

 

The IMA parade, considered to be the most colourful and reputed one among all the Indian military establishments, is held annually with the purpose of grooming future military leaders of the Indian Army.

 

In addition, ever since the IMA became functional in 1932 with a course strength of 40 Gentlemen Cadets, the IMA continues receive cadet trainees from Afro-Asian countries. Those Gentlemen Cadets from 18 countries including Sri Lanka have received IMA training.

 

Here follows the visiting Sri Lankan Army Chief’s brief address to the IMA cadets at the PoP;

 

“Dear Commandant of the Indian Military Academy, Deputy Commandant and all staff at the IMA, distinguished invitees ,parents and well wishers gracing this morning, officer cadets being commissioned today,

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

 

I am delighted with the rare honour bestowed upon me to create history as the first Commander of the Sri Lanka Army to review the commissioning parade of the prestigious Indian Military Academy.  

 

This magnanimous gesture reflects the strong bonds our Armies share. I am indeed thankful to the COAS of the Indian Army and the defence establishment of the Government of India for affording me this unique opportunity.

 

At the outset, I wish to congratulate the officer cadets receiving their commissions for having successfully completed training at the Indian Military Academy. I am sure that during your stay here, your mentors would have endeavoured to broaden your knowledge base, develop necessary skills and help build your character.
 
These are the three pillars on which the entire philosophy of your training is built so that, you pass out from this academy as competent and confident young officers ready to shoulder the responsibilities the stars on your shoulders endow you with.

 

The destiny of a country is shaped in educational institutions and training establishments. It is widely accepted that our thoughts and actions are generally affected by the spirit of the place we live in. In your case each one of you would have been dominated by the spirit of the Indian Military Academy throughout your stay in this great institution.

 

Soon, you will become a part of the great tradition of the Indian Army. I am confident that the spirit of the Indian Military Academy will guide all of you in your future courses of action.

 

You will soon join the officer corps of your great army as junior leaders. Hence, reminding you of some of the most important attributes is not out of place. Firstly, you must always endeavour to achieve greatness in whatever you do. Even if the allotted tasks appear trivial, you must try to inject excellence into it. You should always be discerning in your approach to every problem that you encounter to achieve greatness in your work.

 

The most important aspect of your career as military leaders is the men and women you will have the honour to command. Therefore, your first concern must be to train and dedicate yourself to be able to lead them with honour. If you are true to them, you will earn their gratitude, respect and loyalty and they will follow you anywhere, anytime. Soldiers serve under the most difficult conditions in adverse situations without any complain.

 

It would be your responsibility to ensure that they remain highly motivated and continue to serve with the same dedication. Remember at your level, leadership is always by personal example.

 

Your task as a leader is quite onerous and challenging. At times your passions and emotions may pull you in one direction, while your duty may call upon you to take a totally different course. The outcome of the battle against such strong feelings, determines the leadership acumen or the lack of it in any commander.

 

Though a conceptual understanding of leadership is necessary in its own right, it must be remembered that, in effect, leadership does not exist in a vacuum. The leader is required to lead a group towards a goal in a situation.

 

Leadership, therefore, operates at the meeting point of the three-cornered interaction among the leader, the group and the situation. The safety, honour and dignity of your motherland depend to a large extent, on your ability as leaders in the years to come. This is a big trust and obligation that your nation has entrusted you with. You have to strive very hard to live up to the expectations of your countrymen.

 

It is my pleasure to compliment the commandant and his team of dedicated officer and other rank instructors who have toiled hard to mould and shape you into very fine young officers capable of fulfilling the aspirations of the Nation in the years ahead.

 

I wish to applaud the parents of the officer cadets receiving their commissions today for encouraging their children to respond to the call of national duty. We distinguish each one of you as patriotic citizens of India who have done your duty by your motherland.

 

I extend my heartiest congratulations to the recipients of awards presented this morning. I congratulate each one of you on parade for your immaculate turnout, smart bearing, precise drill and excellent parade.

 

I wish each one of you a very successful and rewarding career and good luck in all your endeavours. Thank you !”