When dreams get wings: Farmers' son gets 'Sword of Honour' in IAF pilots' course

LUCKNOW: The dreams of two boys from Uttar Pradesh, Bijnor's Happy Singh and Taufeeq Raza from Jhansi, came true on Saturday when they aced Indian Air Force's 213 graduation course with flying colours.

In a grand combined graduation parade ceremony at Air Force Academy in Dundigal, Telangana, 235 flight cadets of flying and ground duty branches, including 22 women cadets, were commissioned as officers.

Among the commissioned officers, Flying Officer Happy Singh from the flying branch was awarded the President's Plaque and the Chief of the Air Staff Sword of Honour for standing first in the overall order of merit in the pilots' course. Happy is the son of a farmer from Bijnor.

Flying Officer Taufeeq Raza was also awarded the President's Plaque for being first in the overall order of merit in the ground duty officers' course. A second generation defence officer, he is the son of an air force veteran from Jhansi who is now settled in Bengaluru. Raza, an alumnus of National Defence Academy (NDA), is also an outstanding sportsman. He was awarded the Chief of Air Staff Trophy for first in overall merit in the administration branch of 213 course.

The family members of both the flying officers were present during the ceremony.

According to IAF, for the first time in CGP, 25 cadets including Raza who joined NDA four years ago for ground duty branches were also commissioned as officers. Five of these officers were commissioned in administration branch, three in logistics and 17 in technical branch of IAF.

Among the commissioned cadets, nine each were from Navy and Coast Guard, and one from a friendly foreign country. They were awarded 'Wings' on successful completion of flying training.


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