Training camps for over 300 junior naval cadets conclude

KOZHIKODE: Over 300 trainees, including 16 women cadets, took part in the four-day concurrent camps for Naval Orientation Courses and second term cadets from October 7, organised by the Indian Naval Academy (INA) at nearby Ezhimala.

The camps "Rookie" and "Barracuda" which ended last night, were aimed at inculcating qualities of leadership, camaraderie and team spirit under severe physical and mental duress to make the trainees ready for combat stress and completing tough tasks inherent in the military, an INA release said today.

Camp "Rookie" saw women cadets taking part in all exercises shoulder-to-shoulder with their male counterparts.

Vice Admiral P Ajit Kumar, Commandant, INA, presented trophies and individual prizes to the winners of various competitions, it said.

The exercises undertaken by the trainees included endurance marches, land navigation, crossing land and seamanship obstacle course, small arms firing, seamanship activities and whaler rowing and sailing in backwaters.

A triathlon covering a difficult multi-terrain run of 15 km in full battle gear was followed by completing an obstacle course run and swimming, on the last day, the release said.