A total of 547 airmen trainees in various trades in the domain of administration passed out of the Administrative Training Institute (ATI) at Air Force Station, Tambaram in Chennai after completion of one year training. Air Marshal RC Mahadik, Air Officer-in-Charge of Administration at the Air Headquarters reviewed the parade and presented awards to the meritorious trainees. It was the first major passing out parade in the past two years at the institute which moved to the present location from Belgaum. Air Craftmen JK Das and S Lal scored top grades and Das was declared the best allrounder.

Congratulating the newly inducted airmen, the Air Marshal advised them to keep abreast of the rapid developments in technology and not to remain content with the basic knowledge acquired during training. The task ahead of them is to guard airspace with utmost awareness of flight and maintenance safety, he said. He reminded the airmen to be security conscious and also guarded against the forces inimical to interests of the country.

The passed-out air warriors have been trained under the new concept of ‘Joint Basic Phase Training’ in which airmen trainees of all trades such as clerical, logistical, equipment are put under training together. Apart from rigorous physical training, the airmen have been imparted professional knowledge including knowledge in computer operations. Special emphasis was laid on the new concept of air warrior.