DEFENCE MINISTER ATTENDS COMMISSIONING CEREMONY FOR FIFTIETH BATCH OF MEDICAL GRADUATES  OF ARMED FORCES MEDICAL COLLEGE, PUNE

Armed Forces Medical College, Pune achieved an important milestone on 31 March 2016 when the fiftieth batch of medical graduates was commissioned into the Armed Forces Medical Services. Shri Manohar Parrikar, Hon’ble Raksha Mantri, Ministry of Defence, Govt of India was the chief guest at the Commissioning Ceremony. This is the only ceremony in the country in which officers are simultaneously commissioned into the Army, Navy and Air Force.

Lt Gen B K Chopra, PVSM, AVSM, PHS, Director General, Armed Forces Medical Services and Senior Colonel Commandant, AMC accompanied the Raksha Mantri in reviewing the parade and commissioning officers. The ceremony was witnessed by Lt Gen Bipin Rawat, UYSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, VSM, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Southern Command and a galaxy of senior serving and retired officers of all three services and the civil administration.

According to Lt Gen A K Nagpal, VSM, Director & Commandant, AFMC, ninety seven medical graduates including seventy eight male officers and nineteen lady officers were commissioned into AFMS. Eighty two graduates will be joining the Army, eight will be joining the Navy and seven will join the Air Force. The solemn ceremony which witnessed a praiseworthy standard of drill, marked the transition of young medical graduates into soldier doctors.

Since 2008, the commissioning ceremony parade has been commanded by a newly commissioned officer. This year the parade was commanded by Medical Cadet (Now Lieutenant) Shivank. He hails from Kangra in Himachal Pradesh and is the second generation of his family to join the Armed Forces.

A total of 6258 medical graduates have passed out of AFMC since 1966. This year, medical graduates of AFMC have completed fifty years in the service of the nation, in uniform. As part of this landmark event, the parade culminated with a martial display  of Khukri Drill by a contingent of 1/9 Gorkha Rifles representing the Indian Army, Air Warriors Drill team representing the Indian Air Force and Brass Bands of INS Shivaji representing the Indian Navy and AMC Centre and College, Lucknow representing AFMS. This underscores the tri-services affiliation of Armed Forces Medical Services.

The Commissioning Ceremony was followed by the Academic Awards Presentation Ceremony. This year, the prestigious “President’s Gold Medal” and “DGAFMS Gold Medal & Kalinga Trophy” were awarded to Surg Sub Lt Abir Mazumder. Twenty three trophies, prizes and medals, to recognize outstanding achievements in academics and all round performance by undergraduates were awarded by the DGAFMS. Another highlight of the occasion was a ‘Hobbies Exhibition’, where the creative talent of Medical Cadets in fine arts were on display. The day ended with a Variety Entertainment Programme by the newly commissioned officers and a banquet in the Officers Mess.