Altogether 198 recruits were attested as soldiers at a colourful attestation parade held at the Parade Square of 58 Gorkha Training Centre (GTC), Shillong. Air Marshal Ashok Goel, Senior Air Staff Officer, Eastern Air Command reviewed the parade and took the general salute. The parade was commanded by Recruit Roshan Lama. The recruits took the oath to serve the country with dedication and pledged to make the supreme sacrifice for the nation when called upon.

Of the total recruits attested, 121 belonged to 5 Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force) while remaining 77 belonged to 8 Gorkha Rifles. It may be mentioned that the training centres of the two regiments were amalgamated as a combined training centre, namely the 58 GTC on October 10, 1952. The recruits, mostly from central and western Nepal inhabited by Gurungs and Magars constituted the bulk force and have contributed immensely to the rich heritage of the regiment.

Air Marshal Goel gave away the prizes for the best Recruits to Ntra Bahadur Thapa and Roshan Lama of 5 GR (FF) and 8 GR respectively, and the prizes for best in drill to Recruit Tika Prasad Thapa, best in PT to Nil Prasad Rasyali, best in sports to Pardeep Gurung, best in firing to Mr Santa Bahadur Rana.

Later, addressing the jawans, Air Marshal Goel congratulated the newly attested soldiers and lauded their performance and best turnout in drill. He said that choosing the profession of a soldier was indeed a noble and demanding one where one can be called upon to make the supreme sacrifice for honour of the nation, regiment and unit. The parade was witnessed by officers, jawans of the regiment and their families.