NDA Institutes Commandant’s Motivation Award In Honour Of Late Lt. Ummer Fayaz

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Shikha Chaurasia

Pune, December 3, 2020: The National Defence Academy (NDA) has introduced a new award for displaying overall improvement in performance, it is known as the Lieutenant Ummer Fayaz trophy and a silver medal with it. The story behind the award is one of courage and martyrdom.

Lt. Ummer Fayaz was born in Sursunu village in the Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir. He had studied from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Anantnag and later, he joined the 129th course of the National Defence Academy to pursue his dream of becoming an Army Officer. During his training at the NDA, he demonstrated outstanding improvement in his performance in all disciplines.

Due to his excellent abilities, Lt. Ummer was commissioned into the 2 Raj Rif of the famous and one of the oldest rifle regiment Rajputana Rifles. He was commissioned on 10 December 2016 and was deployed in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu and Kashmir. However, in an unfortunate and dastardly act at the start of the month of May 2017, while on leave at his native place, he was kidnapped by some militants and was brutally murdered.

The life and martyrdom of Lt. Ummer Fayaz is indeed an inspiration for today’s youth especially from the Valley for joining the Indian Armed Forces. In memory of the Late Lt. Ummer Fayaz, Commandant’s Motivation Award for displaying overall improvement in performance has been instituted from this term onwards by the NDA.

The winner of the new Commandant’s Motivation Award including the Lt. Ummer Fayaz Trophy and Silver medal for displaying Overall Improvement in Performance has been awarded to 38717/E/139 Cadet Vijay Bahadur.