Army veterans celebrate golden jubilee of SS-8 Commissioning at OTA

Army veterans of Short Service Commission (SS-8) batch on Sunday celebrated the Golden Jubilee of their commissioning in the country’s premier defence training establishment Officers Training Academy (OTA) here.

About 200 veterans with their wives landed here from all corners of the nation to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of their commission here at OTA.Exactly 50 years back, on this day in 1970, a batch of 400-plus young officers were commissioned into various services of the Indian Army and dispatched to their respective unit locations in far flung areas. The courage and leadership qualities of these officers were put on anvil just year-and-a-half later when they led the troops into 1971 war against Pakistan on both the eastern and western front. They played a laudable role in forcing Pakistan into a crushing defeat.

Thirteen of these young officers made supreme sacrifice by laying down their lives in the operation. The country honoured their contribution and awarded many of them with various gallantry awards.

SS-8 batch has distinguished itself on many platforms and finds a well recognised place among other batches.