NCC cadets aim at armed forces, police

Meritorious National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets, who attended the 63rd NCC Day celebrations at the NCC group headquarters in Pune on Saturday, have all pointed to careers in either the armed forces or the police. This has pleased the local NCC authorities, who train cadets to develop in them an interest for careers in the armed forces.

A cross-section of 200 cadets from Pune and Solapur, who attended Saturday's event, told DNA that their heart was set on a career in the armed forces or the police.

Cadet Kiran Raut, a standard XI student of the city-based Muktangan Junior College was adjudged the best naval cadet at the Republic Day camp in New Delhi in January 2011. She said, "I am enjoying my time as an NCC cadet and am keen to become an air force pilot. I would love to fly planes for the Indian Air force."
Kiran said her short tenure in the NCC proved to her that nothing was impossible.

However, junior under officer Mrunalini Dahibhate, a standard XII student of the Abasaheb Garware College, was keener on becoming a police officer. "The NCC has given me a lot of self-confidence. I know I can achieve my dreams," she said.

Senior under officer, Kaushal Kumar, a third year B.Com student at Poona College, who took part in the Republic Day parade in New Delhi in 2009, said he was keen to become an army officer.

He is aiming to join the Indian Military Academy (IMA). "The NCC has instilled in me a love for sport and fitness. It has improved my confidence and makes me stand out in a crowd," Kaushal said.
Senior under officer, Dhaivat Mehta, an engineer by training and the best NCC army cadet at the Republic Day camp in New Delhi in 2010, said he rued the fact he could not get into the army as an engineer. He is now concentrating on passing the Union Public Service Commission examinations to become an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer. "The NCC has groomed us so well that we are confident of doing well in any field," Dhaivat said.

Senior under officer, Abhijeet Kalbhor, a second year commerce student of the Garware College of Commerce, who recently won a silver medal at a national NCC camp, is keen to become a police officer. "I am confident that my NCC training will come in handy when I attempt the police sub-inspector's examination," Abhijeet said.

Col GK Pandey, group commander, NCC Pune said, "I am happy with the performance of the NCC cadets in Pune. They are hard working and have consistently done well at national level camps."