Agniveers at INS Chilka were told on Friday that a longer career in the Navy is now within reach, but only for those who earn it. Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), gave the message as he reviewed the passing out parade of the largest single batch in the training establishment's history.

An addition to the Agnipath scheme, made while the batch was still in training, gives them an additional opportunity to become regular sailors, he said. He urged each trainee to aim for a full career in the Service.

"The Navy can offer you the opportunity, but you must earn it through your performance, conduct, behaviour, commitment and competitiveness," Admiral Swaminathan said. "So, work hard from day one, make the most of every facility and opportunity you get, and strive to be among the best."

Agniveers at INS Chilka get a second route to regular service

The Union Cabinet approved the change on 4 November, according to reports at the time. Until then, up to 25 percent of each Agniveer batch could move into regular service on merit at the end of four years. Under the revised provision, Agniveers can extend their service by two more years and then get a further chance at regular enrolment, subject to willingness and selection criteria.

The CNS also reminded the batch how far they had already come. Of the lakhs of young aspirants who applied, only about 1.5 percent made it through the selection process. "You have earned your place through a very competitive selection process. And you are joining the Navy at a particularly opportune time," he said.

Batch 02/26, the ninth batch of Agniveers, numbered 3,358 trainees. It comprised 2,756 Agniveers including 142 women, 286 Medical Assistants of the Indian Navy and 316 Naviks of the Indian Coast Guard.

Navy Chief sets three expectations for the new sailors

Master your profession, he said first. "Excellence is not about doing something extraordinary once. It is about doing your duty exceptionally well, every single day."

He described the sailor he wants to see. An alert sailor notices something unusual, a competent one understands what it means, and a responsible one acts in time without waiting to be told. The trainees, he said, should become the sailors others turn to for guidance when the task is difficult and the stakes are high.

Second, never stop learning. He put it in three words: Train. Learn. Execute.

Third, live by the Navy's core values of Duty, Honour and Courage, which are displayed across Chilka, including on the parade ground. "Let Duty be your commitment. Honour be your character. And Courage be your strength," Admiral Swaminathan said.

Sailors matter more as warfare changes, says CNS

Admiral Swaminathan joined the Navy in 1987 and said the battle space had changed tremendously since. Satellites, drones, Artificial Intelligence, quantum technologies and autonomous systems are changing how navies fight at sea, a subject also taken up at the Naval Commanders' Conference in New Delhi in late September, where AI, quantum and cybersecurity were on the agenda.

Will smarter machines make sailors less important? His answer, given in Hindi, was a firm no. The smarter the machines, the more important the sailors who give them direction and take the right decisions.

Women Agniveers and families get special mention

The 142 women Agniveers, he said, had become role models for millions. Somewhere in a small town or village, a young girl watching them would decide she wanted to do the same. Earlier this year, nine women officers completed the tri-service Samudra Pradakshina all-women circumnavigation.

He also spoke to the parents in Hindi, thanking them for the sacrifice, values and trust behind their children's success. Sending them to the Navy was the right decision, he said, and they should keep guiding and encouraging them.

Veterans Lajvir Singh, Narpat Singh and Sanjeet Singh, who went on to excel in public administration, business and education after their naval service, attended the parade, as did Arjuna Awardee Chief Petty Officer Muhammad Ajmal. "Your accomplishments are an inspiration to our young sailors," the CNS told them.

Largest batch passes out of Chilka

The parade opened with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Chilka War Memorial, followed by a march past. Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, attended with senior officers, dignitaries, veterans and families.

Nachiketa Sanasam, SSR (Med Asst), and Arbaz Amin, AVR (MR), received the Chief of the Naval Staff Rolling Trophy and Gold Medal for Best Trainee in the SSR and MR categories. Deeksha, AVR (SSR), was named Best Woman Trainee in the Overall Order of Merit, while Amar Sakthi M, NVK (GD), and Arpit Sangwan, NVK (DB), were adjudged Best Navik (GD) and Best Navik (DB).

At the Valedictory Function on Thursday, Marakkar Division won the Overall Championship Trophy and Shivaji Division finished runner-up. Ankur, the bilingual trainees' magazine of INS Chilka, was also unveiled.

The previous batch, 01/26, numbered 3,011 when it passed out in June, a mark this batch has now passed. The first batch of 2,585 Agniveers at INS Chilka passed out in March 2023, and the third batch in March 2024.