AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

NT Bureau
Chennai, Sept 22:
 

Lieutenant General Susheel Gupta taking a salute during the passing-out parade at Officers Training Academy in Chennai today.

        The number of army officers has to be increased by 24 per cent which would account to nearly 11,000 officers to meet the shortage, said Lieutenant General Susheel Gupta.

        He was speaking to reporters in Chennai after reviewing the passing out parade of young officers cadets, who completed their training at the Officers Training Academy (OTA). The young officers, comprising 193 gentleman cadets and 80 lady cadets, would now be commissioned as officers in the army.

        Susheel said that as a major step, the induction for OTA had been increased from 650 to 750 cadets and mass awareness at various levels through several programmes had been included to attract more people to join the army.

        Besides, steps would be taken to reduce voluntary retirement from army, facilitate early promotion and improve other facilities to the officers.

        When queried about the increase of payment for officer, he said the matter had been placed before a panel with which talks were underway. Indicating that low salary was one of the causes for the low number of people joining the defence force, he said there would be a definite hike in the salaries during the Sixth Pay Commission.

        In addition, Susheel said cadets were trained intensively to tackle the new ways of terrorist attacks and battle conduct. The programmes were being upgraded by especially introducing information technology.

        On introducing lady cadets for combat operations, he said the matter was under discussion.

        Earlier, during the parade the cadets marched out meticulously from the hallowed precincts of the Parameshwaran Drill Square to the tunes of Auld Lang Syne.

        The passing-out parade had something unique this time, as it had 10 cadets from Afghanistan. They were selected by the Afghan government and sent to OTA for the training.

        One of the cadets, Lieutenant Ahmad Mzaufir, who after getting graduation and the scholarship from the Afghan government, said,'the training has really made us tough and we are all geared up to serve our country.'

        It was a proud moment for Rajander Singh Phartjul, who is commissioned into the Indian army. said hard work and determination had paid. And he felt very proud.