OTA Chennai Honours Parents of Passing Out Officer Cadets with Gaurav Padak
Chennai, September 4, 2026: The Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai, on Friday honoured the parents of Officer Cadets of the Passing Out Course with the “Gaurav Padak”, recognising the family support behind their decision to join the Indian Army.
The ceremonial presentation was led by Lieutenant General Michael AJ Fernandez, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, Commandant of OTA Chennai, who addressed the gathering and вручed the medal to the parents of the graduating cadets. The event highlighted the academy’s practice of acknowledging not only the cadets’ own effort and discipline, but also the role played by families in helping them choose and sustain a career in the Armed Forces.
The Gaurav Padak is presented as a mark of the Army’s gratitude to parents whose encouragement, values and sacrifices support their sons and daughters through the demanding process of military training. At OTA Chennai, the honour is associated with the culmination of training and the transition of Officer Cadets into commissioned officers.
By presenting the award to parents, the academy formally recognised the collective journey that begins long before commissioning. The source article notes that behind every Officer Cadet stands a family that has supported the young trainee through the pressures of preparation, training and the demands of a life of service. The medal is therefore a symbolic reminder that the decision to enter military life is often sustained at home as much as it is in the academy.
Addressing the parents, Lt Gen Michael AJ Fernandez praised the noble contribution made by their wards in choosing to serve the nation with pride. The ceremony also marked a moment of transition for the cadets, who are preparing to move from life as Officer Cadets to their first appointments as officers in the Indian Army. For the families, it was a proud recognition of the months of rigorous training their children have undergone and of the responsibility that now lies ahead.
The Gaurav Padak ceremony is among the important events that form part of the Passing Out Course at OTA Chennai. The academy has continued this tradition in recent years; a similar ceremony held there in March 2026 also honoured the parents of the Passing Out Course, reinforcing the institution’s emphasis on recognising the role of families in shaping future Army officers.
As the cadets approach the end of their training, the ceremony served as a public acknowledgement of the sacrifices and encouragement that made their journey possible. The academy’s gesture reflected its broader approach of celebrating the achievement of its Officer Cadets while also recognising the families whose support remains an integral part of their passage into military service.
